Wifi through concrete slabs

W

WillJo

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Here is the challenge, I have a Linksys WRT3200ACM router on the second floor of an apartment block.
I want the wifi signal to reach the parking area, for which it has to go through 2 flooring slabs.
The Linksys router gets through one slab but not 2.

Thoughts are:
  • I need to stick to 2.4GHz, rather than 5.
  • I could wire a tp-link CPE210 9dBi access point to the router and point it downwards - it's described as directional. It's also described as outdoor, so there may be health concerns if it's used indoors.
  • Or, I could spread a 3 node mesh network around the second floor. Not sure if this works with a separate modem/router or the set incorporates it's own modem.
Any inputs on which (if either) is a better plan? Or, what WOULD work?
 
Or run the lan through some conduit, hide a router in the parking somewhere.
 
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Yes, I know, cable very good and if I drill at night, the neighbours might not notice the holes in their ceiling and floor.
Running cable down the outside would be difficult, so is the very last option.
So, the subliminal message is that wifi isn't going to get though 2 slabs...
How about going through the powerline? (something else I know zilch about)
 
WillJo said:
Yes, I know, cable very good and if I drill at night, the neighbours might not notice the holes in their ceiling and floor.
Running cable down the outside would be difficult, so is the very last option.
So, the subliminal message is that wifi isn't going to get though 2 slabs...
How about going through the powerline? (something else I know zilch about)
Click to expand...
Mount a router/booster outside your window against the wall in a waterproof enclosure?
 
WillJo said:
Yes, I know, cable very good and if I drill at night, the neighbours might not notice the holes in their ceiling and floor.
Running cable down the outside would be difficult, so is the very last option.
So, the subliminal message is that wifi isn't going to get though 2 slabs...
How about going through the powerline? (something else I know zilch about)
Click to expand...
Powerline devices aren't great and often die due to load shedding. If you stick some directional wifi device outside and point it to your location that would be the easiest. Trying to do the same through concrete probably isn't going to work well. Running a cable externally would be the best option so do that if its possible.
 
WillJo said:
Here is the challenge, I have a Linksys WRT3200ACM router on the second floor of an apartment block.
I want the wifi signal to reach the parking area, for which it has to go through 2 flooring slabs.
The Linksys router gets through one slab but not 2.

Thoughts are:
  • I need to stick to 2.4GHz, rather than 5.
  • I could wire a tp-link CPE210 9dBi access point to the router and point it downwards - it's described as directional. It's also described as outdoor, so there may be health concerns if it's used indoors.
  • Or, I could spread a 3 node mesh network around the second floor. Not sure if this works with a separate modem/router or the set incorporates it's own modem.
Any inputs on which (if either) is a better plan? Or, what WOULD work?
Click to expand...
If the physical cabling route is unacceptable (do you have power in the parking area?), consider connecting a directional 2.4 GHz antenna on the outside of the building, facing downwards towards the parking. If it's still bad, use a a 4x4 Mu-MIMO Wifi6 AP to power the antenna.
 
RonSwanson said:
If the physical cabling route is unacceptable (do you have power in the parking area?), consider connecting a directional 2.4 GHz antenna on the outside of the building, facing downwards towards the parking. If it's still bad, use a a 4x4 Mu-MIMO Wifi6 AP to power the antenna.
Click to expand...
spot on . ubiquiti makes some powerfull units ,pricey but work well .
 
DapperDanMan said:
And now, satellites and space comms will suffer due to the amplified interference aimed at that angle.

Thanks a lot, Ron!
Click to expand...
Satellites and space comms LOL? I know that microwave uses the 2.4GHz band, but they are old school, even way before SDH. Satellite comms use a far higher band, 4GHz and upwards.
 
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soulie said:
spot on . ubiquiti makes some powerfull units ,pricey but work well .
Click to expand...
Good quality, but a little expensive, then that's Ubiquiti for you. Poynting also make some excellent products.

Or if the OP is handy with a soldering iron, he could also just wire one up himself, following one of the Yagi or Bi-Quad designs from Andrew McNeill's channel. He's a serious old skinflint (will make @backstreetboy proud ) and he has some really cool designs.
 
RonSwanson said:
Good quality, but a little expensive, then that's Ubiquiti for you. Poynting also make some excellent products.

Or if the OP is handy with a soldering iron, he could also just wire one up himself, following one of the Yagi or Bi-Quad designs from Andrew McNeill's channel. He's a serious old skinflint (will make @backstreetboy proud ) and he has some really cool designs.
Click to expand...
poynting installed antenna for me at home .very professional and top quality .in the 80s we used a runner between floors with pieces of writing paper with written notes ,worked quite fine ,youth are just lazy these days .
 
WillJo said:
Yes, I know, cable very good and if I drill at night, the neighbours might not notice the holes in their ceiling and floor.
Running cable down the outside would be difficult, so is the very last option.
So, the subliminal message is that wifi isn't going to get though 2 slabs...
How about going through the powerline? (something else I know zilch about)
Click to expand...
So you have power in the basement / 1st floor parking and 2 stories directly up is the gateway
Powerline is a terrible idea as it should only be used on the same circuit. It can work from one circuit to the next, but you are now wanting to go from one db to another. Just dont as even on the same circuit they can be a pain

Blasting wifi down is an idea, but you need to be able to blast back up. So your phone and laptop wont do that, but you could try 2 high powered 2,4ghz devices, set to 20mhz. Nobody here can say if it will work as its going through slabs with concrete, and steel. The bottom device can be set as an AP so clients in the parking can connect, but that will greatly affect the throughput

2 devices on the side of the building with line of sight will work, again the bottom device can be used as an AP. Better to have a dedicated point to point and then another device in the parking as an AP

Everybody is telling you to run cable as it is by far the best solution if possible

There are no health concerns with these high powered wifi devices. You can search that and see them compared to cellphones.
 
Ok, I get the point, not the result I was hoping for but I appreciate the advice from those who know the subject and aren't trying to make a sale.
I will forget all about wifi 6, mesh networks and powerlines and invest in a big reel of ethernet cable.

Thanks for the inputs!
 
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