Home Smart Home The Best Long-Range Outdoor Wi-Fi Antennas
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If you’re working from home more often, you’ve probably experienced some network issues from time to time. One of the biggest issues is when you run out of your networking area. We’ve all been there: the wireless network is working perfectly fine, and then you move a workstation into the back bedroom and find out that it has no signal, or you add a smart TV to your house and discover that the “up-to-300 feet” part of your router’s range description was optimistic at best. You may just need a few extra feet of coverage area, or you may need to get signal on an outbuilding miles away from your access point. Regardless of the scenario, you may need a Wi-Fi antenna that can do a better job than the one that came in the box from the cable company.
As more and more workers have moved to an at-home environment instead of traditional office spaces, maintaining a solid connection is more important than ever. While it’s reasonable that many of us sit just feet away from our router when it’s plugged in next to our sofa, users who frequently move around their house and away from their wireless source may experience difficulty connecting. Luckily, long-range Wi-Fi antennas help you keep moving around without losing out on internet access, no matter where you are in your house. Many of these antennas cost pretty much the same as standard routers, but they still give you the same speeds you’ve come to expect. Here are the best long-range wireless antennas you can buy in 2022.
The fact that Premiertek Outdoor 2.4GHz Directional High-Gain N-Type is a 24dBi antenna makes it hard to beat. You can rest assured that the antenna focuses on distance and strength, but it’s lacking in the convenience department. It’s a uni-directional antenna, so you will have to ensure that you point it to a Wi-Fi source. Since it was made for the outdoors, you can expect its aluminum die-cast construction to withstand harsh weather conditions. The company says it can survive wind speeds of up to 148 mph and temperatures between -40-+80°C. Regarding its connector, the antenna features an N-type female rf connector. We believe the Premiertek Outdoor 2.4GHz 24dBi Directional High-Gain N-Type Antenna is worth the price because of the performance and reliability it offers.
Can withstand hard weather conditions24dBi gain
Uni-directional design isn't for everyoneNot the most affordable
If you’re looking for a more affordable option but still want a quality, high-gain Wi-Fi antenna, you might want to check the Tupavco TP511 Panel Antenna 2.4GHz Wi-Fi 20dBi Wireless Outdoor Antenna. It will only cost you about $50, and it can transfer data at 300Mbps and boasts a frequency range of 2.4 GHz. It has a transmission power of 36 dBm and a maximum range of roughly 328 feet (again, this depends on the specific environment surrounding the antenna). The TP511’s MIMO and CCA technology improves wireless transfer performance and signal stability. It supports several kinds of encryption, so you don’t have to worry about your extended signal being hijacked. Users can focus their signal in a particular direction, resulting in increased reception and better gain figures. This outdoor antenna can survive all the harsh conditions it will experience when you leave it outside your home since it has a rugged weatherproof housing and is made from corrosion-resistant materials. The entire antenna is compact and lightweight, so you won’t have trouble finding space and installing it. For such a budget-friendly price tag, there’s no denying that the Tupavco TP511 Panel Antenna 2.4GHz Wi-Fi 20dBi Wireless Outdoor Antenna is a bang for the buck.
CheapHigh range
Somewhat frustrating setup processPlastic build
The CC Vector Long-Range Wi-Fi Repeater System looks a lot like the NASA-grade G2424 but has a different purpose. The CC Vector allows you to piggyback off a public Wi-Fi installation up to *three miles* from your location. It then acts as a wireless repeater to distribute that signal around your home, office, or other sites. This version of the CC Vector is intended to be mounted on a building; if you need a mobile solution, an RV-based CC Vector model is also available. Three miles is the effective maximum range and would require truly perfect conditions; the company advises that 1,200 feet is a more realistic range expectation. That still means you could link up with a public Wi-Fi network anywhere from a quarter-mile to a half-mile away from your location and use that Wi-Fi signal. You could also use the Vector to connect a distant outbuilding to your own Wi-Fi network, but there are much less expensive options (like the G2424) that do that job equally well. The 15 dBi parabolic antenna increases speed, reduces interference from other Wi-Fi networks, and is connected to the repeater by a 30′ USB cable. The Vector will support up to 150 Mbps on an 802.11n network, and the repeater has two Ethernet ports to connect to another router or a PC. At the 1,200-foot recommended distance, the Vector can support two devices watching standard-definition video streams or several people surfing the Web. Longer or shorter distances will, of course, provide lower or higher data rates. If you have a site within a reasonable distance from a public Wi-Fi network, the CC Vector Extended Long Range Wi-Fi Repeater will let you link to that network and enjoy free Internet in your home or office. It’s not the most affordable, but it’s worth the investment.
Incredible rangePowerful
Really expensiveLarge body
The SimpleWiFi Ultra Long-Range Extender might be overwhelming for you at first glance because of its large size, but it’s perfect if you live in a big house. As soon as you set the antenna up, you can expect it to increase your Wi-Fi network’s performance, quality, and speed. It can increase your device’s range by up to three to four times. The antenna supports dual-band Wi-Fi, so you can use it for your 2.4 GHz or 5GHz network. It offers a directional signal of 14 dBi with a 32-degree beam width. The SimpleWiFi Ultra Long-Range Extender boosts your Wi-Fi performance using its directional signal radiation pattern. It will focus on your network’s transmission or reception to seek longer distances. Customers can pick between three color options for the antenna: Black, Clear, and White. For those who don’t need its dual-band capabilities, you can also get it in a 5 GHz-only or 2.4 GHz-only model.
Sturdy and durableExcellent data transfer ratesCan survive extreme weatherEasy setup
BulkyOn the pricier side
Don’t let the TP-Link EAP225 AC1200 Wireless MU-MIMO Gigabit Indoor/Outdoor Access Point’s relatively small size fool you. With the ability to transfer data at speeds of up to 300Mbps, 2×2 MIMO technology, and two detachable 5 dBi, omnidirectional antennas, this unit packs an impressive punch and full 360-degree coverage. The AC1200 transmits at a more-than-respectable 27 dBm and has a simple yet powerful mounting design that makes it perfect for outdoor patios. It’s integrated into Omada’s Software Defined Networking (SDN) platform that lets administrators easily manage hundreds of EAPs at once. You will also love how it supports remote Cloud access, so you can have centralized cloud management of your network. A fantastic thing about the TP-Link EAP225 is that it’s IP65-Rated, meaning you can rest assured it will withstand harsh weather conditions. The dual antennas help provide stable wireless coverage at a range of up to 200 meters in outdoor settings such as pools and gardens, and PoE support means a single cable provides both a data connection and electric power to the device. Bottom line: For those potential buyers who are looking for a solid outdoor Wi-Fi antenna for a wide area around their main Wi-Fi base, we recommend checking this unit out.
Cheaper than our top pickIP-65 weather resistance
Can't be used as a bridgeNon-standard PoE
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