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Old 01-04-2018, 02:23 PM
 
20,615 posts, read 8,384,269 times
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I hate those ugly spikes. Makes it awkward to hide away. Is there anything smaller than this one, which got good reviews for small apartments? I only use my laptop to watch videos and live news on youtube, streaming workouts from a fitness website and general email and internet reading.
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Old 01-04-2018, 03:26 PM
 
4,690 posts, read 10,348,772 times
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So you want something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Wirel...02lifewire2-20

It's a "travel router" and good for a single room, like a hotel room. May, or may not, cover a 1br apartment... but it's smaller than what you linked, and since that was your only listed criteria....
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Old 01-04-2018, 05:07 PM
 
14,394 posts, read 11,102,146 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian_M View Post
So you want something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Wirel...02lifewire2-20

It's a "travel router" and good for a single room, like a hotel room. May, or may not, cover a 1br apartment... but it's smaller than what you linked, and since that was your only listed criteria....
They generally work well for light loads and range within say 6-10 feet. I bought one once for laptop travel before I got an iPad.

What I'd worry about in an apartment complex is available channels. You put one of these nano routers against a high powered one in the next apartment and it may be hard to connect. Any 2.4GHz router really only has 3 "true" channels - 1, 6 and 11.

OP, if your laptop supports 5GHz (i.e. 802.11ac) get a router that supports that protocol. Check Google's solution - a little less intrusive looking.

https://www.amazon.com/Google-Wifi-s...02.11ac+router
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Old 01-04-2018, 10:26 PM
 
28,803 posts, read 47,510,640 times
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This is ours. It's on top of a bookcase in the living room. We consider it to be an art piece.



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Old 01-05-2018, 01:22 AM
 
20,615 posts, read 8,384,269 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by markjames68 View Post
They generally work well for light loads and range within say 6-10 feet. I bought one once for laptop travel before I got an iPad.

What I'd worry about in an apartment complex is available channels. You put one of these nano routers against a high powered one in the next apartment and it may be hard to connect. Any 2.4GHz router really only has 3 "true" channels - 1, 6 and 11.

OP, if your laptop supports 5GHz (i.e. 802.11ac) get a router that supports that protocol. Check Google's solution - a little less intrusive looking.

https://www.amazon.com/Google-Wifi-s...02.11ac+router
I like the look of that one. No 'twigs' to accidentally break off! Wall mount bracket is an option. You can even get one for the ceiling. What is the diameter? Expensive. Have no idea what my laptop supports. I'm using a TP-Link CE1588.
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Old 01-05-2018, 07:31 AM
 
14,394 posts, read 11,102,146 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PilgrimsProgress View Post
I like the look of that one. No 'twigs' to accidentally break off! Wall mount bracket is an option. You can even get one for the ceiling. What is the diameter? Expensive. Have no idea what my laptop supports. I'm using a TP-Link CE1588.
4.17 x 4.17 x 2.7 in

Your laptop should support it as it has all standards. That WiFi dongle won't give you much performance though.
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Old 01-05-2018, 08:51 AM
 
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
16,460 posts, read 19,486,360 times
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Why are you so worried about it breaking? Not like you ever have to touch it.
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Old 01-06-2018, 03:27 PM
 
28,803 posts, read 47,510,640 times
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I get ads for these:

https://www.ebay.com/i/173073609593?chn=ps

http://buy-static.norton.com/norton/...5|c&country=US

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Old 01-24-2018, 02:50 PM
 
Location: Bexley, Ohio
6,931 posts, read 217,554 times
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You can get creative with most routers. I’ve seen them placed in baskets. Or wall-mounted behind the TV. Just check to make sure it’s not getting hot, and that you arent blocking the signal.
Editing: This is not such a good idea, unless you have a large basket with good airflow. I still think there may be ventilated space behind certain objects though. YMMV

Last edited by SullyinOhio; 01-24-2018 at 04:06 PM..
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Old 01-25-2018, 03:01 AM
 
14,612 posts, read 17,312,990 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PilgrimsProgress View Post
I hate those ugly spikes. Makes it awkward to hide away.

...
I only use my laptop to watch videos and live news on youtube, streaming workouts from a fitness website and general email and internet reading.
If you really only use one device, then consider returning your router/wi-fi access point to the cable company and simply using an ethernet CAT5-e wire.

A lot of these wi-fi solutions that cost hundreds of dollars seem silly, when sometimes a plain old fashioned wire will do the trick.

Last edited by PacoMartin; 01-25-2018 at 03:19 AM..
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