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Best Wifi Repeater?

asdaven

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Mar 22, 2024
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Hi-

Whats the best Wifi repeater for the Tello that can be bought currently on the market? The Xiaomi repeater is not made anymore.

I currently have the TP Link N300 which does a decent job. It was the only one on Youtube that was tested and is currently still available. But im wondering if there's a more powerful booster available that will work off a USB powerbank.

I live in an area with lots of WiFi interference so my goal is more to boost the signal for a stable picture versus boosting range. So signal stability is more my goal than range but would like to get as much range as possible.
 
Подойдет любой репитер необходимого диапазона с возможностью питания от 5В (usb). Мощность ретрансляторов и маршрутизаторов Wi-Fi в большинстве стран ограничена 20 дБм (100 мВт). Поэтому все они имеют примерно одинаковую мощность. На вашем месте я бы использовал направленную антенну, подключенную к ретранслятору, для улучшения качества и увеличения дальности связи.
 
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I just successfully setup a TPLINK N300 from Newegg refurbished. I think its new because the packaging and protector film on the unit, but who knows. I like the refurbish price for sure.
I had to use the TP-Link Tether app. Going to tplinkwifi.net no longer works. So the instructions on YouTube by Gadget Inspector need updating.

Was getting dark so a fast test I know will indicate if working or not. Set the max altitude to 100ft. Before it was 90dB ground level and 70dB at 40 feet. At 100ft it was still 90dB. WoW!
Hardware version is 4.6, I see there is a later 4.80.

I use a cheap-o 4 cell 18650 power bank. It works with 1 or 4 cells. I'm curious about the TX directional. I will enjoy the better video feed at distance.

1728177079178.png
 
I just successfully setup a TPLINK N300 from Newegg refurbished. I think its new because the packaging and protector film on the unit, but who knows. I like the refurbish price for sure.
I had to use the TP-Link Tether app. Going to tplinkwifi.net no longer works. So the instructions on YouTube by Gadget Inspector need updating.

Was getting dark so a fast test I know will indicate if working or not. Set the max altitude to 100ft. Before it was 90dB ground level and 70dB at 40 feet. At 100ft it was still 90dB. WoW!
Hardware version is 4.6, I see there is a later 4.80.

I use a cheap-o 4 cell 18650 power bank. It works with 1 or 4 cells. I'm curious about the TX directional. I will enjoy the better video feed at distance.

View attachment 7275
This is one of the worst. I bought one many years ago for 3€ 2nd hand. Never worked after the setup. Sometimes it was so slow, that the Tello overheated. Or the akku went empty. And I think there's no range extender mode, just repeater. But I liked it, because managed to sell it for 5€ 😂
 
Not the same case for me. Nothing slow about it and it does extend. Sounds like you had a defective one. Their have been four versions since the original
 
Not the same case for me. Nothing slow about it and it does extend. Sounds like you had a defective one. Their have been four versions since the original
This drone is almost 7 years old model. Many, many people before you tried these tp link mini / nano routers (I tried 3 different models, the mrP_20241009_054521_p.jpg3040 still collecting dust somewhere...) and proven to be junk. Those models, that have ranger extender mode are okay. Better, than nothing, but that's it. The other models, that have repeater mode, they are simply useless.

This no name chinese repeater was 10€ on amazon does much better job.P_20241009_053831_p.jpg
 
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Makes me feel lucky. Enjoying mine.
The problem with these cheap travel mini routers, that they are designed to cover small places like a hotelroom or a part of office, not big open areas. They have low transmission power and no outside antennas. Looks like you are very beginner pilot, so it will do the job for you.
 
I can appreciate your words. And this thread being tilted "Best WiFi Repeater" I guess I'll admit this one is not it.

Yes total new wanna be pilot. I want to get into a mini but decided to get stick thumbs on the Tello first to have a lesser expensive test drone. Very surprised how much I like the Tello.
And repeater being a cube I wondered about the signal directional.

I circled my house today standing on my rear deck with a metal roof with and without repeater and it stalled and pixelated a couple times but I coaxed it around somehow.
With repeater it was all good, with one time screen pixelateing. I expected to have to retrieve it without repeater and almost did have to.
All this showed me is its doing something. I circled the house because I needed to see if i could fly the drone without looking at it and not crash. I have been practicing here and there but its hard to stay in the screen right now. I need more time.

Thanks
 
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The biggest problem with your router, that it's a repeter. I tested it 2 years ago. The repeater clones the source network and after setup, transmits the same SSID. So, you have only one available network, transmitted from 2 sources. The smartphone picks totally randomly. Many times the smartphone connects to the drone, not to the repeater. The only way, to make sure, that after connected, open the wifi settings on your phone, click on the network and check the netspeed (or if you have old android 7 or 8 tablet. If the drone connects, no live feed, if the router, there's live feed). If it's a low value, that's the drone, if higher speed, that's the repeater. (That's the reason, why you think, that your router works better, than others...😎) The problems come, if you think that you're connected to the router, start to fly. At some point, when the signal strength drops, the smartphone will swap sources. During the handover, you have no control over the drone. If you're lucky, will reconnect quickly. If not, you're facing difficulties, because after a certain time, if the tello not connected, goes to failsafe mode and lands wherever it is.

I highly recommend you to buy anything with external antenna. There are many on amazon. And those are good, that's range extender (creates new "tello_ext" or "tello_plus" network to connect)

The very best one, is the Xiaomi R1CL (nano) router (the smaller router on the pic. The bigger one is for indoors). Volatello and I use it with great succes (more, than half a km range). Very strong signal, but impossible to find this device. I found only 1. Bought it 2nd hand from the south korean ebay...

I have these:
IMG_20240730_090442.jpg
 
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Thanks, The two white ones on the left, are there fake ones known to be out there?
 
Thanks, The two white ones on the left, are there fake ones known to be out there?
They are Xiaomi repeater2 s. In my country it's easy to find them used. And very cheap. They were 5€ each. I recommend to try to find them on websites, where people selling old stuffs.
Other ones you can find on amazon. I bought the black one on amazon. Very easy setup and gives surprisingly good connection. Just type in: usb wifi range extender. Look for any with foldable antennas.

61Vcgjk3d1L._AC_SX679_.jpg
 

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