Increasing the WLAN range to 500 m: This is how it works

by Pramith August 21, 2023

written by Pramith August 21, 2023

In order to increase the WLAN range to 500 metres, you need the right devices. This will prevent you from losing bandwidth at this distance.

Increase the WLAN range to 500 metres: Use repeaters

The WLAN range can be increased to 500 metres by using repeaters.

WLAN repeaters are devices that pick up the WLAN signal from the primary router and retransmit it. This makes it possible to cover larger ranges.

The repeaters are connected to sockets for this purpose and have different frequency bands (2.4 GHz/5 GHz) depending on the model. To enable an interference-free connection, dual-band repeaters are recommended in combination with dual-band routers.

Ideally, the repeaters also have crossband repeating. This function enables the frequency band to be changed automatically, depending on the users and the current connection strength. This optimises the WLAN connection for greater ranges.

Place the repeaters in such a way that an obstacle-free transmission is possible. Walls, pipelines and other buildings in particular restrict the connection, which can make multiple repeaters possible. Depending on the signal strength, you may need to try different positions for optimal coverage.

For outdoor use, there are repeaters that are weatherproof and thus provide you with WLAN permanently outdoors. Pay attention to the protection classes, for example IP67.

To enable a WLAN range of 500 metres, you probably need to prioritise the 2.4 GHz band. It doesn’t offer as high bandwidths, but it is much more stable over longer distances.

If you want to increase the WLAN range in larger buildings, a powerline system is a good solution.

Powerline adapters with integrated WLAN are connected to the router via sockets. They receive bandwidth at LAN speed and forward it via WLAN to the desired receivers.
Because powerline systems do not lose bandwidth due to obstacles such as walls, this variant is ideal for use indoors. It is even possible to use the system on the entire property with suitable outdoor models.
On average, the adapters support a range of 300 to 400 metres before another adapter needs to be plugged in. This means that two adapters can already provide the desired range with WLAN.
Depending on the situation, a powerline system is better suited to amplifying the range than a WLAN amplifier. If you also need to bridge several floors, powerline adapters are also useful.