Can I use a Wi-Fi Repeater(range extender) to boost a restricted Wifi network's signal?

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kathir-5ghz

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Jun 15, 2013
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So, I have my university Wifi router in my hostel. But my room is the last one, so I get pretty much no signal, unless I go to the corridor. The thing is that, this Wifi network is not just password protected, it's restricted to connect to only registered devices (using Mac id). Before using , one has to get their device(only laptops, no mobile phones) registered at the Wifi desk. They register the device and give us each a unique user ID and password to Sign into the network. Even if we use this user id and password and the initial Wifi ssid password in another device, it does not allow connection(because mac ID is not the same). So my question is, can I use a Wi-Fi Repeater to boost my existing wifi? Does the repeater have a Mac ID? Does it identify itself as a user to the network or does it just blindly amplify the signal?

Edit: The wifi router is password protected. Then, there is a user ID and password to Sign into the network. Then there is mac ID checking. And I don't want to use a registered laptop as a repeater.(I know that it can be done, I have tried)
 
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Could try building a Passive Repeater.

Get a high-gain directional(Yagi, cantenna, etc.) antenna for whichever band(or both) your Uni uses, and connect it via length of RF cable to an omni-directional antenna. Plop the omnidirectional close to your device, and play around with the Directional's position and facing. Keep in mind w/ RF, pointing directly at the transmitter may not actually be the strongest signal due to interference and signal reflection. If you want some more indepth info on signal strength, I've used InSSIDer before as a site survey tool.
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DesertRat810

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Could try building a Passive Repeater.

Get a high-gain directional(Yagi, cantenna, etc.) antenna for whichever band(or both) your Uni uses, and connect it via length of RF cable to an omni-directional antenna. Plop the omnidirectional close to your device, and play around with the Directional's position and facing. Keep in mind w/ RF, pointing directly at the transmitter may not actually be the strongest signal due to interference and signal reflection. If you want some more indepth info on signal strength, I've used InSSIDer before as a site survey tool.
 
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kathir-5ghz

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Jun 15, 2013
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Oh, okay. But we are only allowed to register our laptops. No other devices.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Thereby leading to the above answer of 'no, you can't do this'.
 
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kathir-5ghz

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Jun 15, 2013
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Yes, obviously.
 
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