another internet in detached garage Q

[cabin fever]

My garage has a metal roof, and metal doors. When the doors are open, I can get wifi from my house router no problem. in the winter, when everything is shut its a no go.

Can I run a line from the back of my modem in the house, or router, to the garage to an antenna or something, so my wifi signal is boosted? My router and modem are basically as close to the garage as they can get right now, so moving them some where else in the house, won't do any good.

(as you can tell I know very little about this stuff)

 

[ABSTIFFGS]

I feel your best bet would be to run a cat5e/6 out to your garage as you stated. Then get yourself another wireless router. They can be had for $50-$100. Configure it to run in Access Point mode. Voila all the Wifi you can handle.

 

[Kevin C]

I had the same issue: Metal doors up and I had a great signal, doors down and the signal was gone. The doors were in the line of sight between the garage and the WIFI hotspot in the house. My super easy solution was to put a repeater on a small shelf between the two metal doors. The repeater gets a good signal from the house and the garage gets a good signal from the repeater. I used a dual band unit that receives on one frequency and transmits on another. Netgear calls it "Fastlane".

That way you dont lose half your bandwidth like you do with single bandwidth repeaters that listen and then broadcast, mine can do both at the same time.

Its probably 50 feet from the router to repeater. The performance is very good, it only cost about $80 and its worked perfectly from the day I installed it. The repeater also has four hard wired ports.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833122454

 

[olytdi]

My internet in the shop (steel pole barn) works fine. It's probably distance, not the fact that you've got a metal building. Repeater is your friend.

 

[cabin fever]

I don't think distance is the problem. Its less then 20 ft to the garage.

thanks for the suggestions, I'll figure something out.

 

[Trey T]

If it's for a desktop w/ ethernet (cat5) connection, get a TP-Link internet over powerline device on Amazon for under $40.00. The Amazon reviews should convince you that's reliable. If not, let me know and I'll explain why you should go this route over running hardline.

 

[CNGsaves]

Hardwire that 20 ft with CAT5e in a conduit at least 12 in buried in ground. Use ANY kind of conduit (continuous roll of plastic sprinkler pipe, leftover piece of yellow natural gas plastic, or ANY thing, hell a garden hose !!). Just "pretty up" the connection going into garage with electrical plastic conduit.

Get the simple AT&T-style squeeze connector RJ45 plug where you run the 8 wires into slots and crimp it tight.

You will never regret having hardwired ethernet to garage.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

My internet in the shop (steel pole barn) works fine. It's probably distance, not the fact that you've got a metal building. Repeater is your friend.

Metal will ALWAYS kill a wireless signal. Metal WILL reflect, absorb and change the path of microwave radiation! 20' is nothing for a WiFi signal....

Hardwire that 20 ft with CAT5e in a conduit at least 12 in buried in ground. Use ANY kind of conduit (continuous roll of plastic sprinkler pipe, leftover piece of yellow natural gas plastic, or ANY thing, hell a garden hose !!). Just "pretty up" the connection going into garage with electrical plastic conduit.

Get the simple AT&T-style squeeze connector RJ45 plug where you run the 8 wires into slots and crimp it tight.

You will never regret having hardwired ethernet to garage.

Hardwire is almost always better than wireless...

 

[Trey T]

....


Hardwire is almost always better than wireless...

In terms of security, yes, but today's wireless is very reliable and fast. If you're to ask all IT out there today, most will prefer wireless over hardware for home networking.

 

[RunninOnEmpty]

Hardwire only and, in my opinion, make sure to use an ethernet surge protector on the cable since it'll run outside (even if it's underground). APC ProtectNet is one such product.

Wireless is only for phones and using the laptop on the couch.

I would not recommend powerline networking - surge protectors tend to kill the signal and you should be using surge protectors on everything that you can.

Edit to note: Oh, and I work in IT.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

In terms of security, yes, but today's wireless is very reliable and fast. If you're to ask all IT out there today, most will prefer wireless over hardware for home networking.

I disagree. I work for a wireless communications company.

A lot of times due to the number of APs already in use in a particular spot, u can have issues with interference, not enough useable spectrum/frequency which then creates reliability and bandwidth issues. This is very evident on 2.4ghz in apartment complexes. 5.8ghz not so much as there is a lot more spectrum available. But not every device has a 5.8ghz radio...

A wired connection will ALWAYS be more reliable than a wireless one.

 

[Beemer533]

Definitely hardwire.. As mentioned install conduit and run cat5e/6. If all you need is wireless in the barn, get one of these AP;

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004XXMUCQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20 and you are done.

If you need a port for a PC or printer for example, get a small switch and then connect the AP to that.

 

[Bigbandguy]

Something to try first... Netgear makes a wireless WiFi device that plugs into a USB port. Before I hardwired anything, considering that you have only a short distance to the house.. I would pug a USB device into a USB extension wire and run that little jewel either out a window or through the wall with a little caulk. It would be easy to put something electrically transparent over the device once outside. Considering the short distance my guess is that you would be home free for almost no money.

 

[Beemer533]

I did something like that on a job site by sticking one inside a soda bottle.. Looked like **** but it worked..

The problem is that only works if all you need to connect is a pc. It won't do anything for a phone or tablet..

This post edited by the NSA

 

[APEowner]

If you're to ask all IT out there today, most will prefer wireless over hardware for home networking.

That has not been my experience.

 

[kossuth]

Metal will ALWAYS kill a wireless signal. Metal WILL reflect, absorb and change the path of microwave radiation! 20' is nothing for a WiFi signal....



Hardwire is always better than wireless...

There FIXED.....

 

[kossuth]

In terms of security, yes, but today's wireless is very reliable and fast. If you're to ask all IT out there today, most will prefer wireless over hardware for home networking.

Fast and reliable are relative terms. Remember this, all wireless technologies reside in the ISM spectrum. That fact bears multiple implications that degrade spectrum quality. Additionally all WiFi technologies are half duplex.

 

[nine4gmc]

I finally got tired of dropping my wireless connection every time the door was closed or it rained so I ran a 100' Cat5 cable straight from my router in the attic, to the computer out in the shop. I had to fish it through the soffit from the attic, past the car port and outdoor storage, then I ran it through 1/2" PVC from the soffit, down the wall and underground to the shop but now I'm blazing full speed!!

 

[wyliesdiesels]

There FIXED.....

What does that have to do with what i said?

Fast and reliable are relative terms. Remember this, all wireless technologies reside in the ISM spectrum. That fact bears multiple implications that degrade spectrum quality. Additionally all WiFi technologies are half duplex.

MIMO negates the effects of half duplex!

 

[whiskeywiz]

I'm glad I read this. I have had plans to dig and run coaxial and cat5 out to the garage. Getting the feeds there is cut and dry, but I haven't yet realized what I was going to do with creating the wifi signal once there. But reading this gave me a great realization: I can setup my desktop out there! I don't need wifi! I have a desktop collecting dust that can be very useful out there. Sweet. Thanks!

BTW.... we're arguing Wifi vs. hardwire? Really? Direct feed vs. a signal in the air? C'mon guys, an 8 year old with a Playstation 3 knows the obvious answer here. Stop trying so hard. Lol.

 

[nine4gmc]

Whiskey, you can hook up a wireless router in the house that also has wired outputs, connect your cat5 to it and feed a wireless/wired router out in the shop and have wifi all over.

 

[kossuth]

I'm glad I read this. I have had plans to dig and run coaxial and cat5 out to the garage. Getting the feeds there is cut and dry, but I haven't yet realized what I was going to do with creating the wifi signal once there. But reading this gave me a great realization: I can setup my desktop out there! I don't need wifi! I have a desktop collecting dust that can be very useful out there. Sweet. Thanks!

BTW.... we're arguing Wifi vs. hardwire? Really? Direct feed vs. a signal in the air? C'mon guys, an 8 year old with a Playstation 3 knows the obvious answer here. Stop trying so hard. Lol.

Agreed.....

 

[kossuth]

What does that have to do with what i said?

[/b]

MIMO negates the effects of half duplex!

Really???? Then enlighten us of your knowledge of MIMO and most specifically the advantages covered in both the 802.11n and 802.11ac ratifications to the 802.11 standard. Hell, I have to got to renew my Cisco certifications here soon. Maybe I should be taking notes???

 

[Kevin C]

Really???? Then enlighten us of your knowledge of MIMO and most specifically the advantages covered in both the 802.11n and 802.11ac ratifications to the 802.11 standard. Hell, I have to got to renew my Cisco certifications here soon. Maybe I should be taking notes???

Perhaps he meant full duplex MIMO or what the in guys call MIDU.

http://www.nec-labs.com/research-departments/mobile-communications/mobile-communications-projects/full-duplex-communication

Lets take a step back...

Original problem: No signal with doors closed.

That seems to imply that the OP wants a signal with the doors closed.

If his shop is anything like mine, a repeater placed between the doors will easily fix the problem. I have about 50 feet from the router to the repeater.

Since its behind narrow wood wall thats between the two metal garage door , it nevers loses its signal ( doors up or down).

As far as speed goes; on the down load test, I saturate the 100Base T port thats on the back of the repeater. Since the 5 GHZ wireless link I have to my shop is considerably faster than 100Base T its not a bottleneck. This is using older N technology. The newer AC Repeaters now have Gigabit ports.

I'm happy with my 97 or so Mbps I get in the shop when I run my internet speed test. Newer AC technology would be even faster, as it is this is as fast as my data plan.

I have had mine for three years and the worst issue I have was I had to reboot the main router once.

I wonder if part of the issue is that a lot of the anti wireless just had crappy older equipment? My system is rock solid and I never had to dig a trench or bury a cable.

 

[Kevin C]

Fast and reliable are relative terms. Remember this, all wireless technologies reside in the ISM spectrum. That fact bears multiple implications that degrade spectrum quality. Additionally all WiFi technologies are half duplex.

http://kumunetworks.com/

Wireless Full Duplex allows a radio to simultaneously transmit and receive overlapping signals using a single frequency channel. Imagine FDD performance within a single unpaired TDD channel, that's Wireless Full Duplex.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/121587956694?lpid=82&chn=ps

Some of the gear is starting to show up used on E Bay...

Fun stuff...

 

[whiskeywiz]

Whiskey, you can hook up a wireless router in the house that also has wired outputs, connect your cat5 to it and feed a wireless/wired router out in the shop and have wifi all over.

Two different Mac addresses? That will work?

I actually spent a little time working on this last night. Brought my old desktop out to the garage, hooked it to the 32" tv and stereo, and went and got a slick little wireless keyboard with a built in mousepad.
I figured I would run the cable out from my router to a box with a wall plate jack in the garage and hardwire to that. Didn't think I could daisy chain routers.

 

[DonPowers]

My garage is about 150 ft from the house and across the road. Bought a Netgear AC1200 Wi-Fi Range Extender and went from no signal to all 5 bars.

One of these days, when it warms up, I have to see how far the signal carries.

http://www.staples.com/NETGEAR-AC1200-WiFi-Range-Extender-EX6200-100NAS/product_442899

 

[nine4gmc]

Two different Mac addresses? That will work?

I actually spent a little time working on this last night. Brought my old desktop out to the garage, hooked it to the 32" tv and stereo, and went and got a slick little wireless keyboard with a built in mousepad.
I figured I would run the cable out from my router to a box with a wall plate jack in the garage and hardwire to that. Didn't think I could daisy chain routers.

Yes you can hook up two routers, it's been a few years since I have done it personally but if you google "daisy chain routers ", it will explain it to you easily. It's all in the settings. I too, have an old desk top computer hooked up to a small tv and stereo receiver out in the shop, I keep Pandora Radio blasting while I'm out there working. Good luck, let us know how it works out for you!

 

[camaro1969]

If your detached garage is on the same meterbase ad your house you can by a sling. They come in pairs/ one is plugged into ac pwr at the router and cat5 from the router lan port into the sling. The other goes in an outlet in your shop. It uses the 12/2 wiring to transport signal. You can buy them so its hardwired on the shop side or the one i have is wireless on the shop side ad well as hardwired capable. Zyxel is the brand.

 

[Beemer533]

Two different Mac addresses? That will work?

I actually spent a little time working on this last night. Brought my old desktop out to the garage, hooked it to the 32" tv and stereo, and went and got a slick little wireless keyboard with a built in mousepad.
I figured I would run the cable out from my router to a box with a wall plate jack in the garage and hardwire to that. Didn't think I could daisy chain routers.

You can do this, you just need to make sure you se things up correctly;

Each router must have its own ip- default is typically 192.168.1.1; so the primary router would be 192.168.1.1 and the second would be 192.168.1.2; as long as they are different and on the same subnet it will be fine.

The primary router (the one hooked up to your Internet connection) will be the DHCP server. You must turn this function off in the second router.

The first router will be hooked up to your Internet connection using its WAN port. The second router will be connected to the first router using the LAN ports.

You should also turn off the firewall in the second router. At this point, the second router is really an AP (acess point) not a router.

Some wifi routers have an AP mode, which makes it easier.

Really, unless you already have an extra router lying around, I would just buy an actual AP, like the Ubiquiti I linked to in my earlier post..

This post edited by the NSA

 

[kossuth]

http://kumunetworks.com/



http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/121587956694?lpid=82&chn=ps

Some of the gear is starting to show up used on E Bay...

Fun stuff...

True, but these systems that have all been referenced aren't WiFi in the true sense of being a wireless lan. I will explain in a second. Personal rant, one thing that disgusts me about the IT world is they are so quick to throw catchy phrases onto a product whether it truely fits the standard or not. It's almost like false advertising. Then an IT manager reads some magazine or online review about some product being able to do this or do that and they are all in. These types of systems are an example of this.

My personal experience with this type of gear. Yes I used to install and configure units not that dissimilar from those that you quoted. Case in point. These types of systems have more in common with WiMax (802.16) technologies (using multiple radios with polarized the RF feeds for frequency reuse) than they do with wireless technologies (802.11). These types of systems are designed for extended haul Campus and Metro networks. These types of systems have actually been around for close to 10 years now. I with this system when I got out of the military in 2005. The company was called Orthogon back then. http://www.cambiumnetworks.com/products/ptp

I can most certainly tell you other than residing in the 2.4 and 5.0 ISM bands there is nothing "WiFi" about them.

Thinking I may have missed the boat on some new development I actually went to doing my research on some of the products you quoted. I make my living working on network infrastructure so it's a constant game of catchup. Here is the data sheet for the Tranzeo TR FDD 24 you provided. http://www.tranzeo.com//products/docs/TR-FDD.pdf While at first glance looking at the data sheet tells you that it is a 802.11a device you will discover otherwise when you scroll down and read the fine print. Definately not a 802.11 or WiFi Alliance approved device.

 

[Trey T]

I just bought a simple and painless wifi repeater TP-Link 750 for $60.

It just work seamlessly throughout the home. Essentially, there's only one wifi connection you connect to.

 

[cabin fever]

I'm pretty sure some you are speaking a foreign language.

FYI my situation is only for I phones, and occasional net flix movie. I'm gonna try one of the extender thingys first, and see if that works.

I figured there would be some kinda antenna I could mount on the roof, and wire into the garage.

 

[cabin fever]

also my original router is pretty old Linksys router that was given to me about 8 years ago. Would It do me any good to update that? I wasn't sure if they have gotten better over the years.

 

[Beemer533]

also my original router is pretty old Linksys router that was given to me about 8 years ago. Would It do me any good to update that? I wasn't sure if they have gotten better over the years.

Assuming this is one of the wrt-54 wifi routers, updating it may or may not be worth it.

Are the wifi devices that would connect to it newer models that can use the faster N speeds?

This post edited by the NSA

 

[cabin fever]

I phone 5's. Wifi DVD player is about the extent of it in the garage.

in the house,
2 older lap tops, LG Smart TV, Apple TV, X-box 360

 

[Beemer533]

I guess it depends what you are doing on your phone, but the connection would definitely be faster with a new N router. If you are streaming anything on the dvd player than it would be worth it.

This post edited by the NSA

 

[cabin fever]

mainly just streaming music. On occasion we might stream a movie in the garage, but usually its more just watching games/races on Direct TV.

I noticed my router has to be reset more and more, so its probably worth an upgrade.

 

[Kamn]

Im in a detached garage 40' from the house and my doors are insulated steel + brick home.......never dropped a signal(with new router) + signal almost as strong as being next to the damn thing. Save your self some digging and get a decent wifi router. I just picked up an TP-Link Archer C7 and for the $ its just awesome....somewhere around $80 bucks gets you a very powerful router that operates in 2.4ghz and 5ghz


And look at what channel others are running and use a different channel

 

[Kamn]

I just read what you are using in and around the house

Seriously Look at the Archer C7......best money I have spent