Picking up a wi-fi signal

[mywayorcyway]

I'm struggling to find what I need because most people are looking for something different and it's clogging up the googles.

I am NOT looking for a wi-fi extender. So, with that out of the way...

I have a metal shop, it is 200' from the house. I didn't think I would be able to get wi-fi out there but with the garage door open, I can pick it up no problem on my phone or a Roku. Door closed - no bueno. Even 5G in the shop is a struggle when the door is closed. Line of sight is clear and flat.

I'm looking for an antenna that can pickup my existing wi-fi signal and run it through a cable which I can punch through the wall. Preferably something I can connect to a couple of devices via Ethernet. Long term plan is to bury a Cat6 cable but I won't be able to do that until the spring.

I think something like this would work, but was hoping to spend less than $350.
Amazon product ASIN B076KRTXQ6
Any suggestions? Where my engineers at?

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

A Cantenna would work probably if you’re somewhat handy and resourceful. I did it with a pringles can way back in the day.

cantenna – Hackaday

hackaday.com

 

[DSMCy]

I think this set up might be what you're looking for

Point-to-point Wi-Fi bridging between buildings—the cheap and easy way

It cost us ~$100 to wirelessly connect two buildings across a small wooded area.

arstechnica.com

Doubtful, but any chance your buildings are on the same electrical circuit? You could use powerline ethernet adapters.

 

[Agclone91]

I think a Wi-Fi bridge is what you're looking for.

 

[CyByrd]

Wifi Bridge or Point to Point are the terms you are looking for. You might be able to find something in your budget but Cat cable to your shop and then an access point at your shop will be your best long term option.

 

[CyByrd]

Here is an option that might work. Ubiquiti NanoBeam
Amazon product ASIN B07FK7DMDY

 

[jabisu]

I got one of these for a similar situation. Plug your house network into the transmitter, then put the receiver at your shop. Then in my shop I have a different WiFi router plugged into it. I was in the process of upgrading my house network cables so routed an extra to the attic, have the transmitter in the attic and then the receiver in a window facing the house so didn’t even have to drill through walls. Instructions are pretty bad - pretty obviously translated from Chinese, poor translation and lacking details - so wasn’t able to change any of the network details so may not be the most secure. Should probably mess with that again now that it isn’t 130 degrees in my attic

https://a.co/d/bKAbLte

 

[Bader]

If power is run between the house and shed you can buy a powerline adapter. If it’s split at the pole it probably won’t work.

If you ran coax already from house to the shed you can buy MoCA adapters.

If I were you I’d just run cat6 and stake it down with some of those landscaping staples until you can bury it if that’s your plan

 

[mywayorcyway]

If I were you I’d just run cat6 and stake it down with some of those landscaping staples until you can bury it if that’s your plan

Just letting it sit on the ground had not occurred to me (duh). I may end up doing that.

 

[2speedy1]

I had this issue, but I ended up putting an outdoor access point on my house, on a tv antenna but can be put on other things too. It was direct wired to my router. It was great because I could pick up my wifi miles away. Just make sure your security is good.

Then I had a metal shop that basically blocked all signals. So I put a range extender in the window and boom the shop had signal.

TP Link has several options for doing this.

My guess is the signal is not that powerful once it gets out of the house, and even though you can get signal outside on your phone etc. As soon as you go in the other building there is enough interference to kill the signal.

I know even with a outdoor access point I still had to put a range extender in the shop that had direct line of sight to the access point to get signal in the metal shop. Once I did that the shop had full wifi everywhere, I just had to get that signal inside the building and it was fine.

 

[ISUAgronomist]

Just letting it sit on the ground had not occurred to me (duh). I may end up doing that.

Rabbits and mice will enjoy the plastic snack

 

[alarson]

Rabbits and mice will enjoy the plastic snack

While theres a chance of this, its not like cable/fiber companies dont leave wires on the ground for months waiting for a bury crew to come by later. If it works for them itll probably work for OP.

Cable is cheap. Could probably spray it with an anti-chew spray if it became a problem.

 

[GBlade]

Check out Ubiquiti products https://www.ui.com/

 

[nrg4isu]

The "Right way (trademark)" would be to have burried ethernet from your router (maybe modem/router combo). Then from that have an access point within the building.

 

[1100011CS]

Just letting it sit on the ground had not occurred to me (duh). I may end up doing that.

Put it in pvc which you'll probably do when you bury it anyway

 

[alarson]

Put it in pvc which you'll probably do when you bury it anyway

Also, may want to run fiber instead of ethernet for this kind of run and convert it at either end.

 

[nrg4isu]

Also, may want to run fiber instead of ethernet for this kind of run and convert it at either end.

Right. For both future proofing (speeds) and electrical isolation (lighting) fiber is your best option. It's not that expensive either. The cost is in the converters (and possibly APs or switche/router). Pre-terminated fiber is dirt cheap.