mesh network/wi fi to outbuilding

[xyz123]

Hi -I have BT broadband (FTTC). I have a master socket in hallway and a standard wi-fi router placed there. I have a office at the end of the the garden and there is a ethernet cable between house and outbuilding. The cable is not connected at either end. Annoyingly the cable in house does not reach to master socket and there is no other socket in the house.

How do i get wi-fi to office? Can i get a mesh network with 3 routers and place one near master socket, one near where the cable ends in house and third one at the other end of cable in outbuilding? I dont know if the mesh network "outputs" internet so i can plug in the ethernet cable? Or are there any other solutions?

Do i need a "modem" with the mesh to put near the master socket?

Cheers
P

[manracer]

I have the BT mesh (black), the router has mesh built in.

I have mesh disc on second floor with an ethernet from that to a switch, then ethernet to USB-C into my laptop.

I have 500MB FTTP and before I got the mesh I would get around 160MB on speed test from the the laptop. I then used the mesh wirelessly and it went to around 210MB, now with ethernet I get around 270MB.

You could use a powerline adaptor from router to wall socket, then another at the house end of the ethernet, and then a switch or AP in the office.

[Freakuk]

Is there a power socket near the network cable in the house and is there a spare power socket next to your router?

You could buy a pair of powerline adapters to physically connect the Cat5/6 cable via the power socket to your router, that's one end done.

At the other end in the office, you could connect the Cat5/6 to a Wireless Access Point.

[RizzoTheRat]

Mesh systems usually have ethernet ports that be used for wired backhaul (communicate to the main router by cable), or to connect other wired devices as a wifi bridge, so one option would be a 3 pack of mesh nodes, one connected to your router, and one on either end of the ethernet cable to the office

A better option would be to get a wired connection between the cable to/from the shed, and the router, either by just using an extension cable or by fitting some additional ethernet points. I had various phone points in my current house that I didn't need and used the old phone cables to pull ethernet cables through the ducts, so I now have ethernet cables from my utilities cupboard to 2 different rooms, and I can then put wireless access points in each room.

Another option as above is to use powerline, which sends the signal over your electrical cables. Some people swear by it, some swear at it, personally I've found it to be stable but pretty slow.

[xyz123]

Thanks for the replies. I had power line in the past and didnt like it at all so am not keen on that.

I will look into mesh network. I am not a very tech savvy person so will need to look up how to connect and what things needed other than mesh network itself (e.g. someone mentioned a switch?). Any pointers to products will be much appreciated.

[mikef]

How long is the Ethernet run? I have a ubiquiti POE access point at then end of a 50+ meter Ethernet cable with the POE injector next to the router at the house end

In fact it’s an outdoor access point with at least a 25m connection range

[RizzoTheRat]

The TP Link Deco stuff is pretty decent mid range kit, but several other manufactures offer similar (Netgear Orbi, Linksys Velop, etc). The M4 or M5 are a few years old but will do what you want, or the newer X series stuff is Wifi 6 and faster. I have the P9 which is basically an M4 with built in powerline as a backup, and seems to manage 250 Mbps all round the house..

[manracer]

xyz123 said:

Thanks for the replies. I had power line in the past and didnt like it at all so am not keen on that.

I will look into mesh network. I am not a very tech savvy person so will need to look up how to connect and what things needed other than mesh network itself (e.g. someone mentioned a switch?). Any pointers to products will be much appreciated.

What router do you have now?

[biggiles]

xyz123 said:

How do i get wi-fi to office? Can i get a mesh network with 3 routers and place one near master socket, one near where the cable ends in house and third one at the other end of cable in outbuilding? I dont know if the mesh network "outputs" internet so i can plug in the ethernet cable? Or are there any other solutions?

Yes you are correct, that would work. The first ("master") mesh unit would be plugged into your existing router.

I personally find the TP-Link Deco mesh units really easy to use, but there are other suppliers if you prefer.

[xyz123]

manracer said:

xyz123 said:

Thanks for the replies. I had power line in the past and didnt like it at all so am not keen on that.

I will look into mesh network. I am not a very tech savvy person so will need to look up how to connect and what things needed other than mesh network itself (e.g. someone mentioned a switch?). Any pointers to products will be much appreciated.

What router do you have now?

Standard unbranded WiFi router given by broadband supplier.
It's plusnet so I don't think it can be converted to modem only mode based on Google search

Edited by xyz123 on Thursday 11th May 15:35

[manracer]

xyz123 said:

manracer said:

xyz123 said:

Thanks for the replies. I had power line in the past and didnt like it at all so am not keen on that.

I will look into mesh network. I am not a very tech savvy person so will need to look up how to connect and what things needed other than mesh network itself (e.g. someone mentioned a switch?). Any pointers to products will be much appreciated.

What router do you have now?

Standard unbranded WiFi router given by broadband supplier.
It's plusnet so I don't think it can be converted to modem only mode based on Google search

Edited by xyz123 on Thursday 11th May 15:35

In that case a mesh network with one plugged into your router and one into each end of your ethernet will most likely be the easiest and cheapest solution.