WiFi to my shed
 

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[Closed] WiFi to my shed

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Following on from powering my trainer in the shed, I reckon WiFi might be a good idea, so I tried a BT N300 wireless extender today, I get good signal up to the door of the shed and ad soon as I'm inside it drops to 1 bar, so not enough to do much at speed really.

The chap I spoke to in Currys said there are much more powerful wireless extenders available, so should this solve the issue?

I can't run those plug in ones as the socket I'll be plugging my extension lead into is on a different ring main to that which the main router is plugged into - we had a big extension which is fed from a different consumer unit, albeit fed from the same incomer.

So the wireless extender is my only viable option. For info the shed is 35m from the back of the house, so it's a fair distance.


 
Posted : 06/10/2019 9:58 pm
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The plug in ones still work on different circuits.


 
Posted : 06/10/2019 10:07 pm
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The plug in ones still work on different circuits.

They don't appear to in my house, I tried the power links to connect the tele and now TV box in the new part of the house and they didn't work.


 
Posted : 07/10/2019 8:16 am
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You could try a mesh network but you'd likely need an access point in the house closest to where the shed is (and one in the shed). There are outdoor antenna options but that's likely overkill for 35m. Or if you're running power cable down there why not just run an Ethernet cable as well?


 
Posted : 07/10/2019 8:27 am
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I'd say that's unusual. There is another thread at the moment with the opposite problem and the OP's adapters are talking to next door. Maybe a set up problem. If that really won't work then look at a directional WiFi rather than super power. You could try a cantenna


 
Posted : 07/10/2019 8:29 am
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This should do it https://linitx.com/product/ubiquiti-airmax-nanostation-m5-ptp-kit-(up-to-1km)/14282 . The website has some useful set-up information too.

That may be overkill and a couple of these may be better for your needs https://linitx.com/viewproduct.php?prodid=15217

Set-up info is here http://blog.linitx.com/howto-ptp-ubiquiti/

I don't have any link with the site other than to buy kit for work as a customer.


 
Posted : 07/10/2019 8:30 am
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+1 for Sandwich (another round?)
Anyway we use a nanostation bridge to get wifi to an outbuilding, there’s a separate wireless TP access point attached at the end. The nanostations set up easily but do follow the instructions to the letter if you have a BT home hub and BT IPTV (like bt sport) as you can end up with network unhappiness


 
Posted : 07/10/2019 8:42 am
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The chap I spoke to in Currys said there are much more powerful wireless extenders available, so should this solve the issue?

Max Tx power is limited by law, so you they all pretty much put out the same power, bar the very cheapest. Some of the more expensive ones have better antennas / sensitivity so can achieve better ranges, but I'd be surprised if there's that much in it.

We run CAT-5 to our workshop and then have a cheap Wifi AP in the workshop.


 
Posted : 07/10/2019 9:18 am
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I had a similar issue. After messing about with WiFi this and WiFi that. I just ran a long ethernet cable.
Seems like a simple fix especially if you're running a power cable too


 
Posted : 07/10/2019 9:52 am
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I just tacked the CAT-5 along the fence, but with hindsight this was a bit daft as the neighbour is bound to put a nail through it at some point putting up a trellis etc. I should have stuck it in some for of conduit...

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/8645/15968927105_72a7f63789_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/8645/15968927105_72a7f63789_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/qk7VFp ]Dual CAT-5 running along fence[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr


 
Posted : 07/10/2019 9:59 am
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There's no permanent power, I just run an extension lead up there when I need it


 
Posted : 07/10/2019 10:09 am
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There’s no permanent power

May as well go all in and hire a thrust borer and operative (let them pay for trashing any underground services that they hit). You can then run power and ethernet underground and job's a good 'un.


 
Posted : 07/10/2019 10:14 am
 jeff
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+1 for running a CAT5 cable to outbuildings

Also, I get useable wifi with decent routers (Asus/Latest BT home hub) but not with the last gen Sky hub I'm forced to use now.


 
Posted : 07/10/2019 12:44 pm
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If you are running cat5 you might want to consider how  you are going to earth it as it enters your building.  The last thing you would want is a lightning strike taking out all of your electronics and fancy devices.  Don't imagine that because you terminate it in a network switch that is powered from a grounded plug then that is the shortest path to earth.  The shortest path is whatever the lightning thinks it is 🙂

When I've run cable externally I try to keep it sheltered or in conduit.  It is unlikely you will have problems but I've had a telephone exchange taken out in one building so I'm a bit wary.  If it were me I'd be using nanostations or fibre


 
Posted : 07/10/2019 12:58 pm
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Hijack for the dim. My pub is at the top of the garden in a posh shed. I've got fully earthed power up there which is supplied from a sub board which is powered from the main consumer unit and it's probably 25/30m from the router which is at the front of the house. I want to be able to get wifi up there so I can watch a smart telly. What's the best reliable way of doing it?


 
Posted : 07/10/2019 1:04 pm
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If you are running cat5 you might want to consider how you are going to earth it as it enters your building. The last thing you would want is a lightning strike taking out all of your electronics and fancy devices.

Earthing CAT-5 is quite complex, you can't just earth the screen, you need voltage suppressors on each core. We use special junction boxes at work (Telecoms kit) which does this.

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/6044/6850105834_3000f5b828_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/6044/6850105834_3000f5b828_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/brjzP1 ]VSG Lightning protection[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/6115/6850105606_a1abba1486_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/6115/6850105606_a1abba1486_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/brjzK5 ]VSG Lightning protection[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr

They also need to be mounted outside the building, normally at the ingress point, to stop any surge entering the building.

Or you could just not bother and on the very rare occasion you get a nearby strike, just buy a new £20 wifi router.


 
Posted : 07/10/2019 1:12 pm
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Or you could just not bother and on the very rare occasion you get a nearby strike, just buy a new £20 wifi router.

Good God, man, did you forget you were on STW?


 
Posted : 07/10/2019 4:15 pm

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