wi-fi in workshop 100M from house

[singlecoil]

I want to get wifi in my garage/workshop which is some distance from the house, reachable with a 100M cable. The cable seems to be straightforward but what would be the best unit to have at the workshop end, so I don't have to connect devices with a cable?

I tried Googling this but the results are smothered with wifi extenders that I can plug an ethernet cable into, which isn't the same thing.

[skilly1]

This will work

TP-Link AC750 Dual Band Wi-Fi Travel Router (Support Router Mode/Hotspot Mode/Range Extender Mode/Client Mode/Access Point Mode, 1 USB 2.0 Port/1 Micro USB Port, 1 WPS Button, UK Plug (TL-WR902AC)) https://amzn.eu/d/dQAcS4W

Put it in hotspot mode.

[Captain_Morgan]

singlecoil said:

I tried Googling this but the results are smothered with wifi extenders that I can plug an ethernet cable into, which isn't the same thing.

It is the same thing.

Or you can buy a router that has a wan port and offers a access point mode, tp-link, Linksys etc do loads.

You can also put a point to point WiFi bridge between the buildings if you have line of site for ~£100 last time I looked if that is easier than running the cable 100m

Edited as autocorrect changed wan to lan

Edited by Captain_Morgan on Sunday 26th June 12:13

[sgrimshaw]

I have a lot of TP Link kit, including the AC750 linked to above.

Whilst it is an excellent device which works very well, it doesn't provide a particularly strong wi-fi network connection.
It's absolutely fine for a hotel room when travelling and being powered by USB power cable it's a great travelling device.

BTW - It should be setup in Access Point mode, not Hotspot mode.

For home use, something capable of giving you a stronger wi-fi connection would be my choice.

I've been running one of these for over 7 years and it's been faultless:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B084BGKJZT/ref=twister...

there's a newer version for the same price (£20):

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B087MSF7BR/ref=twister...

but if buying today, I'd get the latest version (£39):

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B087MSF7BR/ref=twister...

[mikef]

I’ve previously used a Ubiquiti UAP outdoor access point, but recently bought this for use in a more sheltered location: Ubiquiti Flex HD. Great kit

[biggiles]

If you already have mesh wifi in the house, then use another mesh device.

If you don't, this could be a good opportunity to move to mesh (as you need to buy a device anyway). E.g. TP-Link's Deco is good, there are other choices.

[LeoSayer]

I agree with the mesh idea. I use BT whole home discs.

I have two in the house and one in the garage at the end of my garden connected by 20m ethernet cable.

The main benefit is being on the same wi-fi as the rest of the house.

[Lucas Ayde]

For most people living in a house, mesh is a must IMO.

The broadband hubs/routers supplied by ISPs almost all have rubbish WiFi, both in terms of range and performance.

A halfway decent mesh system will give a robust service over a much wider area.

[xeny]

You're not going to get workable WiFi meshing over 100M - if the OP is happy with the wireless in the house as things are, then an AP in the workshop is likely to be rather cheaper.

[singlecoil]

Last night I used my Leica Disto to measure the direct distance to the (brick built) workshop from the house, turned out to be only 40M, although as the only practical cable route is circuitous, 100M probably won't be enough.

So I'm thinking that one of these is worth a try

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-MU-MIMO-Wireless-...

I can return it if it doesn't do the job.

[The_Doc]

I've been through this and I had a similar problem.

Only the barn I want WiFi in is damp and minus 8 in the winter and 100m away.

Toyed with drilling a hole in the house wall and running armoured Cat5 over to it. I have a full Orbi mesh system in the house.

But easier was an old mobile phone and a £6/month SIM to provide tethered 4G mifi in the barn.

The kids know no difference, the whole kit can come indoors to the warm and we only need 4G and 10Gb a month in the barn

Sometimes simple is the answer

Edited by The_Doc on Monday 27th June 18:20

[LeoSayer]

xeny said:

You're not going to get workable WiFi meshing over 100M - if the OP is happy with the wireless in the house as things are, then an AP in the workshop is likely to be rather cheaper.

The mesh system I mentioned earlier allows connections via ethernet

[xeny]

LeoSayer said:

The mesh system I mentioned earlier allows connections via ethernet

Great.

I'd still rather buy one AP than 3 mesh units _if_ I'm happy with the Wifi in the house and the outbuilding is so far away (100M in this case) that going between house and outbuilding I'm pretty much guaranteed to lose connectivity.

No reason not to have the same SSID and password in each location to make it simple, but hard to see a benefit of a mesh in that scenario.

[dmsims]

mikef said:

I’ve previously used a Ubiquiti UAP outdoor access point, but recently bought this for use in a more sheltered location: Ubiquiti Flex HD. Great kit

So it should be £204 - spit

[loafer123]

Your problem is most easily solved with a better aerial;

https://www.solwise.co.uk/WL-PATRIOT-USB-A

I used these guys for a similar problem, but they seem to be out of USB ones;

https://www.broadbandbuyer.com/products/43459-solw...

They are generally epic for stuff like that, though.

[Griffith4ever]

singlecoil said:

Last night I used my Leica Disto to measure the direct distance to the (brick built) workshop from the house, turned out to be only 40M, although as the only practical cable route is circuitous, 100M probably won't be enough.

So I'm thinking that one of these is worth a try

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-MU-MIMO-Wireless-...

I can return it if it doesn't do the job.

That will likely work, perhaps less so inside the garage. Put one at each end and they are incredible. I have similar ones at each end of 120m, through dense trees, and I get a flawless full speed link. On mine you can set the far end one to repeating mode, so it makes the link AND then provides local WiFi for devices.