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NFT: Extending WiFi- Detached Garage

ManningLobsItBurressAlone : 1/19/2021 4:01 pm
Trying to look for the best way to extend Wi-Fi to my detached garage. We have internet through Verizon, with the router in the bedroom upstairs, and a Wi-Fi extender from Verizon in the family room downstairs (old house, so signal was weak without the extender on the ground floor). The garage is about 50 feet from the house, and we have a room above the garage that I'd like to turn into a home office, so Wi-Fi would be essential. I'd ideally like to avoid getting a 2nd extender through Verizon, and have been reading about these Mesh systems. Just wanted to see if anyone had experience with them, and if it'd work that far from the house. Alternate suggestions are also welcome.

Any advice is appreciated.

Thankfully the answer is pretty simple  
crackerjack465 : 1/19/2021 4:08 pm : link
Get a google Wi-Fi mesh system. A 3 packs runs around 200 and you need at least 2 (and separately they sell for $100, a believe). I have 3 around my house - one in the bedroom, one in the living room (one has to be attached the modem) and the other in my office plugged directly into my ps5.

They're great and will solve your issue.
Tough to say  
bigblue5611 : 1/19/2021 4:11 pm : link
Is the bedroom on the side of the house closest to the garage? If not, are you able to hook the router up in a room of the house closest to the garage? If not you'd have to run an ethernet cable (if not a coaxial as well depending on the router you have and how they have you hooked up) from the main Verizon box to the room where you want it.

If the bedroom is on the side closest to the house I would try a mesh system to see if it would work. Usually they're good from 2-3 rooms away to extend the signal, but with there only being two walls (the house and the garage) you might be able to get away with it. I personally have the google mesh system and it's worked perfect. If it doesn't work you can always return it I suppose while you explore other options.
check with verzion to ...  
BCD : 1/19/2021 4:11 pm : link
see if they offer Fiber in your area.
We had a very similar problem  
Bob from Massachusetts : 1/19/2021 4:18 pm : link
We had a wifi extender but it wouldn't work in the garage (more like 30 ft away for us). So we moved it to as close as we could get to the garage and it works so so. But I am concerned the extra 20 feet matter. So that was the best we could do (we have Cox here in Rhode Island)
Hard wire is best  
JohnF : 1/19/2021 4:22 pm : link
You can bury weatherproof ethernet wire (see link at end) underground, though I would suggest using 3/4 inch conduit as extra protection when you bury it.

You can connect the other end to your new office, or connect it to a cheap router and set that up for direct connect/wireless (you will need to use a different subnet for wireless; for example, if your current subnet is 192.168.0.xx, you can set it up for 192.168.1.xx. You can find how to do it on youtube or a web search).

Yes, you can try mesh, but I like reliable high speed, and hard wire is reliable, and safer than wireless. A 100 or 150 ft connect should be doable in your situation.

Outdoor Ethernet 100ft Cat6 Cable, IMONTA Shielded Grounded UV Resistant Waterproof Buried-able Network Cord - ( New Window )
Do you use FiOS  
pjcas18 : 1/19/2021 4:34 pm : link
for internet only or TV too?

if you use it for TV too, the mesh network still works, but it is NOT simple to set up (from what I read since I'm looking at something similar - but connecting my pool filter over my home wifi - and it doesn't reliably reach right now).
PJ..I use Fios  
ManningLobsItBurressAlone : 1/19/2021 4:38 pm : link
for both TV and internet.

I ideally would like to avoid running a cable outdoors, but if that would be the best way then it might have to be it. I think I want to give the Mesh system a try, even though the router is located in the opposite corner of the house to the direction of the garage.
Installl a fan in the window facing the garage  
jnoble : 1/19/2021 4:38 pm : link
It will blow signal towards it
RE: Installl a fan in the window facing the garage  
TJ : 1/19/2021 5:07 pm : link
In comment 15128204 jnoble said:
Quote:
It will blow signal towards it


Better check prevailing wind direction first
RE: PJ..I use Fios  
pjcas18 : 1/19/2021 5:10 pm : link
In comment 15128203 ManningLobsItBurressAlone said:
Quote:
for both TV and internet.

I ideally would like to avoid running a cable outdoors, but if that would be the best way then it might have to be it. I think I want to give the Mesh system a try, even though the router is located in the opposite corner of the house to the direction of the garage.


I am installing a mesh network, but not until April when I open my pool.
google wifi  
ImThatGuy : 1/19/2021 6:11 pm : link
mesh network solves all
Do yourself a favor  
Giant John : 1/19/2021 7:44 pm : link
I’ve another Verizon extender. Looks like a router but plugs into a wall outlet. They are great.
Verizon needs to do install.  
Giant John : 1/19/2021 7:45 pm : link
Lit my house up like Christmas tree.
I broke down  
Paulie Walnuts : 1/19/2021 8:00 pm : link
And hard wired my whole house.. wifi only for devices like phones, Ring, garage door opener and honeywell thermostats
RE: PJ..I use Fios  
giants#1 : 1/20/2021 7:50 am : link
In comment 15128203 ManningLobsItBurressAlone said:
Quote:
for both TV and internet.

I ideally would like to avoid running a cable outdoors, but if that would be the best way then it might have to be it. I think I want to give the Mesh system a try, even though the router is located in the opposite corner of the house to the direction of the garage.


If router is on opposite side of house, then mesh will work better than an extender. Get at least 3 nodes:

1. Replace existing router with one
2. Place one in the room closest to the garage. If your garage office will be on the 2nd floor, then I'd try and place the 2nd node on the 2nd floor of your house as well.
3. Place the 3rd node as close to a window in your garage with a clear line-of-sight to the house.

Outside of burying a cable, this is your best chance.
OP,  
winoguy : 1/20/2021 8:21 am : link
have exact situation as you. . My son installed Google nest mesh network. Have perfect TV and wifi upstairs in garage now.
RE: Hard wire is best  
cactus : 1/20/2021 9:32 am : link
In comment 15128178 JohnF said:
Quote:
You can bury weatherproof ethernet wire (see link at end) underground, though I would suggest using 3/4 inch conduit as extra protection when you bury it.

You can connect the other end to your new office, or connect it to a cheap router and set that up for direct connect/wireless (you will need to use a different subnet for wireless; for example, if your current subnet is 192.168.0.xx, you can set it up for 192.168.1.xx. You can find how to do it on youtube or a web search).

Yes, you can try mesh, but I like reliable high speed, and hard wire is reliable, and safer than wireless. A 100 or 150 ft connect should be doable in your situation. Outdoor Ethernet 100ft Cat6 Cable, IMONTA Shielded Grounded UV Resistant Waterproof Buried-able Network Cord - ( New Window )


agree 100% here, home office should be kept separate and hardwired. Run ethernet cable to the garage office into a router or hub, then to each individual computer. I did this at a house once stapled to the ridge under the siding around the house, with a small hole drilled through for entry and sealed with silicone, and it's still going after 12 years.

certain entry level routers designed for business use like a cisco 5506x configure the ports on the back as separate interfaces instead of switch ports on the same interface, perhaps your router allows you to do this as well. If not, go with the suggestion above and put wifi on a different interface as described above, but make sure they are not both trusted interfaces at the same trust level (i.e. either the wired can communicate with the wireless but not vice versa, or they can't communicate with each other at all). You don't want your work stuff compromised by a security flaw in a wifi smart toaster in your house.
Some people might be over  
pjcas18 : 1/20/2021 9:44 am : link
thinking this.

By home office I assume you the OP means for personal use, not running a small business.

I have had a home office since 2002. Initially all wired because that is what was popular, but since 2012 the latest it's been all wi-fi.

I have 3 kids, all teenagers, with iphones, ipads, macbooks, rokus, amazon fire sticks, smart tv's, ring doorbells, chrome casts and more - all connected to the same wi-fi and these days running multiple zooms or streaming netflix.

You don't need hard wiring to do what you want to do, I'd at least try the mesh network, since it's minimal investment, and see the results.

In 2021 I just cannot imagine telling someone they need to hard wire a network for home use.
I agree, pj  
bigblue5611 : 1/20/2021 9:49 am : link
However, I did make sure to have both of my Apple TV 4k's hardwired so there is no chance of buffer when watching something in 4k.
RE: I agree, pj  
pjcas18 : 1/20/2021 10:06 am : link
In comment 15128743 bigblue5611 said:
Quote:
However, I did make sure to have both of my Apple TV 4k's hardwired so there is no chance of buffer when watching something in 4k.


fair point. I have zero experience with 4k.

I bought my main living room TV just before SBXLII, a 55 inch Samsung LED (LCD?, I forget), so it's 13 years old and I can't wait to buy a new one, but it works so well I can't bring myself to do it yet. so maybe 4k requires a hard wire or works better with one - no experience with that.
I would agree with the Mesh Network recommendation  
Heisenberg : 1/20/2021 10:06 am : link
If that works without the wire, you're all set. If it doesnt, the fall back would be to install a wire. Then one of the access points from the mesh network can be used to provide the wifi to the devices in the office. So, the investment in the mesh network will be worth it either way.
Appreciate all  
ManningLobsItBurressAlone : 1/20/2021 10:18 am : link
the advice.

I think I'm going to make a first attempt at the mesh system, since as PJ guessed correctly, this is just for personal use really, not my own home business. I'll set up the port in the room closest to the garage in the house, and see how that works out.

Move your garage closer to the router.  
fivehead : 1/21/2021 5:09 am : link
That should fix it.
fix  
giantfan2000 : 1/21/2021 9:27 am : link
you should return all the Verizon equipment
you are renting it every month from Verizon - you could have bought your own stuff many times over.

1. buy your own Router
you can go on Verizon website and find approved Routers
2. buy a mesh network
I just but Google Nest Mesh Network .. it was so easy to set up
I never got above 100 mg per second in my condo .. I always thought I paid for that level but hooked up Nest and suddenly I was getting 200 mg per second !!


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