How to improve my wifi in my garage?

[winterwonderland]

Any thoughts regarding my last post and about that Netgear EX6110?

 

[Bill_Bright]

My background is in radio maintenance. I like RF devices (or at least their antennas) to be physically located as high up as possible. Most wall outlets are down low. If you can locate that Netgear on the far right side of your house, perhaps height would not matter. A direct a line of sight (the fewer number of barriers - walls, floors, ceilings - as possible) between the router and the Netgear would be best.

Is there no way you can relocate your router to a more central location in your home? Or on the right side of your house?

 

[newtekie1]

Wouldn't a repeater work like a charm for my solution, perhaps?

Nope. You'd have to put the extender in the house still and hope the signal will reach the garage. The signal that reaches the garage won't really be any better. WiFi just doesn't travel through exterior walls that well.

The only options that will give decent results will either be Powerline adapters with a WiFi Access point or running a wire.

 

[eidairaman1]

My background is in radio maintenance. I like RF devices (or at least their antennas) to be physically located as high up as possible. Most wall outlets are down low. If you can locate that Netgear on the far right side of your house, perhaps height would not matter. A direct a line of sight (the fewer number of barriers - walls, floors, ceilings - as possible) between the router and the Netgear would be best.

Is there no way you can relocate your router to a more central location in your home? Or on the right side of your house?

Still applies today umbrella effect

 

[Bill_Bright]

Still applies today umbrella effect

Well, over the short distances of a wifi network, RF travels in straight lines, unless reflected off an object or absorbed by a thick concrete wall, for example. The main thing with an antenna up high is there tends to be fewer barriers in the line-of-sight the RF needs to travel through. This may include the curvature of the Earth for long distant communications. But in a home with wifi RF, height really does not matters. For me, it is just more a habit thing.

In a typical home a central location is typically best for the best compromise for the effective "range" to all points in the house - unless that would put the broadside of a large refrigerator, oven, washing machine or other large metal surface directly in the line-of-sight. Then perhaps mounting the antenna up high to get over those reflective barriers would be helpful.

Of course, all of this is dependent on the antenna type used but typically, wifi access points use [more or less] omni-directional antennas.

This brings up a point for this computer located in the garage. A directional wifi antenna may solve your problems.

 

[Shou Miko]

If you have the money then go with 2xUniFi NanoBeamAC it can provide a solid connection from point a to b.

Their end models can give internet up to 15km+ so 6meters with clearance shouldn't be an issue.

Link: https://www.ui.com/airmax/nanobeam-ac-gen2/

 

[Bill_Bright]

New member first post - sure sounds like a sales pitch.

 

[winterwonderland]

If you have the money then go with 2xUniFi NanoBeamAC it can provide a solid connection from point a to b.

Their end models can give internet up to 15km+ so 6meters with clearance shouldn't be an issue.

Link: https://www.ui.com/airmax/nanobeam-ac-gen2/

A tad bit extreme that, innit? It's only for myself. Wouldn't 1 be enough? And i don't need it to stretch further than my garage...

New member first post - sure sounds like a sales pitch.

Hmm? New member? Me?

 

[Shou Miko]

@minstreless you a sender and a receiver sadly but you can properly find a older version used somewhere.

It will be the best way to get something wirelessly from the house to the garage because it's point to point.

I manage 3 older non-ac pairs at a school with like 20 UniFi AP's and 5 UniFi 8 ports switches and it just works with a hosted software controller on a virtual Ubuntu.

 

[agentnathan009]

Get one of these, attach to the side of your house and run Cat 6 ethernet cable to the PoE (power over Ethernet module) supplied with unit and then a Cat 6 cable to your router. The PoE gives unit more power for better wifi performance. I bought a different indoor unit and these enterprise grade units are good stuff to use, though pricier than consumer grade stuff. Follow instructions to set up and you should get wifi in your garage. Based on your drawing and router location, you will never get wifi that far, I have the same router and its radio power isn't that high. I installed a
TP-Link Omada AC1750 Wireless Access Point and put it in the basement facing up to the first floor and I get pretty good wifi signal strength throughout the whole house. I was using an extender but it kept losing the wifi signal and was causing consternation with the rest of the family that just wants the wifi to work.


Alternatively, you could string wire robe across from house to garage and attach Cat 6 ethernet cable to it to put unit in your garage.

TP-Link EAP225-Outdoor Omada AC1200 Wireless Access Point

 

[winterwonderland]

@minstreless you a sender and a receiver sadly but you can properly find a older version used somewhere.

It will be the best way to get something wirelessly from the house to the garage because it's point to point.

I manage 3 older non-ac pairs at a school with like 20 UniFi AP's and 5 UniFi 8 ports switches and it just works with a hosted software controller on a virtual Ubuntu.

Interesting. My friend uses a Ubiquiti AC Lite connected to a TP-Link router, and wow... what a reach it has... I get almost full reception even though our houses are like 25m apart...

You mention an older version... so... would Nanobeam M5 16 do the trick for me, or?

Get one of these, attach to the side of your house and run Cat 6 ethernet cable to the PoE supplied with unit and then a Cat 6 cable to your router. I bought a different indoor unit and these enterprise grade units are good stuff to use, though pricier than consumer grade stuff. Follow instructions to set up and you should get wifi in your garage.

Alternatively, you could string wire robe across from house to garage and attach Cat 6 ethernet cable to it to put unit in your garage.

TP-Link EAP225-Outdoor Omada AC1200 Wireless Access Point

Hmm... I see the TP-Link EAP225 (regular or whatever it is called), seems to be the same as the above-mentioned Nanobeam, or it's something else entirely?

 

[agentnathan009]

Interesting. My friend uses a Ubiquiti AC Lite connected to a TP-Link router, and wow... what a reach it has... I get almost full reception even though our houses are like 25m apart...

You mention an older version... so... would Nanobeam M5 16 do the trick for me, or?



Hmm... I see the TP-Link EAP225 (regular or whatever it is called), seems to be the same as the above-mentioned Nanobeam, or it's something else entirely?

EAP225 is not a point to point unit but a 360 degree coverage unit that is likely powerful enough to reach into your garage if mounted outside on garage side of house. Point to point beam type have a narrow beam where you would have to aim it. The Omada line is super easy to set up compared to Ubiquiti line of hardware. I did a comparison between the TP-Link enterprise and Ubiquiti line and TP-Link is way easier to set up and manage without the management units or Linux server to manage.

 

[Shou Miko]

@minstreless yeah it's the m3 I manage and with a tweak every 2 years or so because they shoot between 2 threes and with tweaks we have 95% signal strength.

The nanobeams have their own web interface so you don't need a controller.

I usually put the sender nanobeam as master because it's the one on the main network.

 

[winterwonderland]

@minstreless yeah it's the m3 I manage and with a tweak every 2 years or so because they shoot between 2 threes and with tweaks we have 95% signal strength.

The nanobeams have their own web interface so you don't need a controller.

I usually put the sender nanobeam as master because it's the one on the main network.

Interesting, so would 1x Nanobeam M5 16 do the trick for me then, or? What does it need to connect up against my asus rt ac66u? "Nothing"?

 

[Shou Miko]

Interesting, so would 1x Nanobeam M5 16 do the trick for me then, or? What does it need to connect up against my asus rt ac66u? "Nothing"?

No you need 2 it's point to point you can't as far as I know pair with other not nanobeam products and they both will sit on the outer wall.

One in the house and the other in the garages so depends on what you need of speed and how many devices.

You properly wanna use more then one device in your garage could be a old laptop for repair guides, music you name it and your phone.

Everyone uses Wi-Fi differently even on their garage

 

[winterwonderland]

No you need 2 it's point to point you can't as far as I know pair with other not nanobeam products and they both will sit on the outer wall.

One in the house and the other in the garages so depends on what you need of speed and how many devices.

You properly wanna use more then one device in your garage could be a old laptop for repair guides, music you name it and your phone.

Everyone uses Wi-Fi differently even on their garage

Ah...

Well, this bums me out... I cannot afford 2 nanobeams, for sure. They will cost $170 here where i live, which is way too much above my budget.

I guess i will just opt for the device you can just plug into your outlet and then "pair" it with my router... That should improve the signal quality a tad bit, don't you reckon so?

Did you look at the drawing i made, by the way? As you can see, the house is very small. 1 floor. and the distance to the garage is not that far... so maybe that outlet-option will work?

 

[Bill_Bright]

Hmm? New member? Me?

LOL No, not you. My reply originally and immediately followed a post by a new member that sounded like a sales pitch. Apparently, a mod thought it sounded like a sales pitch too because that post is now gone. Sorry for any confusion.

 

[Vario]

In my opinion, the best way to handle this situation is to run an ethernet cable out to the garage. If wifi is a must, put a wireless router in your garage on that cable. Anything else will be frustrating.

 

[Bill_Bright]

While I agree Ethernet is always best when possible it often is not practical. And this is one of those scenarios. It would involve punching holes through the exterior walls of the both the house and the garage. That also involves poking holes through the home's and garage's (if it has any) insulation. And then with holes, that involves ensuring they are sealed not only from the elements, but insects too. Plus, it needs to be exterior grade Ethernet cable. That's a lot of issues and yes, they are surmountable. but wifi or powerline adapters might work just fine and potentially a whole lot easier.

 

[jjnissanpatfan]

You can try a mesh system with 1 Router and 2 Satellite receivers only the router needs Ethernet. Maybe you have a local place where you buy it and if it does not work you can return it. I think it would work good. Also when setting up any networks do not use the cell phone apps...go plug into the router and set up the old fashion way! That would give you great coverage everywhere and last a good long while.

 

[claes]

Lol @ thread and all of these overkill solutions

I would just get a power line kit and WiFi extender. Not the greatest performance, doesn’t extend a quarter mile, but will do the trick.

 

[jjnissanpatfan]

Those type's of systems are not overkill and there is a power-line version of that Orbi one. There are allot of variants of mesh systems the Orbi was just for reference and once you set the router up like any other router the satellites just pair up and your done easy! Most people pay extra from their internet provider for a router of less quality. If you buy your own better quality router and have great signal everywhere why not..and not pay the extra service-lease fee?

 

[claes]

I wasn’t referring to you necessarily, more the nanobeam and similar recommendations. Not that I blame anyone — my whole network is Ubiquiti, but looks like OP is on a budget and doesn’t have much networking background, so some suggestions are a little over the top

 

[Bill_Bright]

Lol @ thread and all of these overkill solutions

I would just get a power line kit and WiFi extender

LOL "Overkill solutions" and then suggesting a power line kit "AND" wifi extender? Using two solutions when potentially one or the other will do is not overkill?

@minstreless - Inside the main home, what is the closest to the garage you have Ethernet?

Also, you said in post #16 that because it gets "utterly cold" in the winter, running a cable is not an option. Why? Exterior grade CAT 6 Ethernet cable is designed for outdoor use. Depending on type, it is totally waterproof and designed to be buried. Other types are designed to withstand direct sunlight. Some can be buried and resist UV exposure. It still meets Ethernet requirements so it still has a functional maximum working length of 100M (~328 feet) before performance degrades. But your garage is only 6 meters away.

There are several MIL-SPEC (military grade) Ethernet cables (and MIL-SPEC connectors) designed for weatherproof scenarios and long exposure to direct sun in all sorts of extreme temperatures (-55°C to 200°C) and harsh environments.

I would recommend burying the cable rather than using a drop or hanging it. This will minimize exposure to the sun but also the constant flexing that would be imposed by the wind. Metal fatigue would eventually damage the cable.

Note sure the availability in your country but I see on Amazon here there are many CAT6 Waterproof Outdoor Direct Burial UV Resistant Ethernet cables in lengths up to 500 feet for less than $100 USD.

Yes, more work initially, but a much more permanent (meaning "one-time") project. It should be buried below the frost line, however.

Other than that, I still think a directional wifi antenna would be worth a try. In looking at the graphic for the OPs home and garage, and assuming north is "up", a directional antenna (as mentioned in Post #30) in the southwest corner of the garage pointing at the router would minimize the number of barriers the signal would need to travel through.

 

[Vario]

Drill a hole in a basement window frames or in the door frame edge trim on the side of the house that faces the garage. Be creative, pick a spot that isn't too obvious. Caulk around the opening after running the wire to seal. Then bury the cable. If your coax cable or fiber enters on the same side as the garage, it would be easier as you can use the existing hole and run the cat5/6 out along side the coax or fiber going in.
You could use direct burial cat5/6 or run it in a conduit, direct burial would be easier.
Its guaranteed to work unlike some of the expensive solutions suggested.
I've had enough trouble getting reliable wifi through a concrete wall inside my home or going through a ceiling, and ended up hardwiring those rooms instead. The intermittent drop outs and the poor speed made it much nicer to run on ethernet.
You can buy 100 ft. of cable for $10 on eBay. You can get a second wireless router and put it in the garage. The biggest hassle is the burial.