Wi-Fi extension

Phil1974

Phil1974

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Hi All,
I have a log cabin approx 75 metres away from my house that I want to set up as a man cave. I need to extend the Wi-Fi so that it’s fast enough to stream Netflix and play/download Xbox games online. I have the 200mb Virgin fibre package. In simple, non-techy English what do I need?

TIA,
Phil.
 
There will be mains power but on a separate ring main I think. Powerline adapters seem to need to be on the same ring [emoji848]
 
Quoth said:
A mesh system should do the trick.

https://www.expertreviews.co.uk/net...fi-routers-boost-the-range-of-your-home-wi-fi

But a network cable would be best if that's an option.
Click to expand...
Yep, a network cable would be the best option. You could buy external access points but as it would be WiFi it would still be a hit and miss.

Another this you need to consider is where the router is, if it is at the front of the house, the may be a home plug from the router to a point as close to the door out of the house, and then a cable from there to the cabin.
 
So best bet is to run a cable from the router to the cabin? What sort of cable and what would I need at the cabin end? Told you I’m not technical [emoji1]
 
If you have line-of-sight from the inside of the cabin to a house window, you might be able to do it with a couple of Pringles cans.
 
That looks brilliant (and cheap!) [emoji23]
 
Been a while ago now, but I saw a report of someone getting a WiFi link to the other side of a Welsh valley with a pair of those.
 
Phil1974 said:
So best bet is to run a cable from the router to the cabin? What sort of cable and what would I need at the cabin end? Told you I’m not technical [emoji1]
Click to expand...

The best way that will give you a constant connection is an ethernet cable.
A Quick google turned up these people https://www.ethernetcables.co.uk/ , one end plugs into the virgin hub and the other into the pc.
It would be worth talking to virgin about if there would be any special requirement for that length of cable and also to the cable supplier as there may be special requirements.
Not virgin but a pal of mine had to go with an ethernet cable as his wifi ( EE) kept dropping in his house
 
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You would need some external grade cat5e cable, RJ45 connector at one end which would plug into the router and a RJ45 faceplate in the cabin.

You would need a switch connected to the face plate if you want multiple ports, or an old router in access point mode to give you WiFi and extra ports.
 
I have a not dissimilar situation and I just used a second cable plugged into the router spare port and fed down to the other computer. Cable always beats wireless except for convenience. You can get a suitable weather-proof cable online from many different suppliers (just do a search for computer cables) made up to the length you need and fitted with plugs all ready to go.
 
So if I plug a cat5e cable into my existing router in the house, run it to the cabin, and plug it into an old router there it would give me WiFi similar to that in the house?
 
Phil1974 said:
So if I plug a cat5e cable into my existing router in the house, run it to the cabin, and plug it into an old router there it would give me WiFi similar to that in the house?
Click to expand...
Yes it would. The router on the other end needs to be of a similar spec.
 
Phil1974 said:
So if I plug a cat5e cable into my existing router in the house, run it to the cabin, and plug it into an old router there it would give me WiFi similar to that in the house?
Click to expand...

Yes this will work, however you need to turn DHCP off on the old router or the two are going to conflict in giving out IP addresses. The IP of the second router may also need to be amended if it’s similar to the existing one; the default IP of the Virgin hubs is 192.168.0.1 I think, so just re-IP the second to be 192.168.0.2 (as long as you don’t have anything else on that address) and you’re away. If you aren’t comfortable doing that, buying a simple switch will give you the same effect but without WiFi.

Some other things to consider, you’ll want external grade cable if you want it to last, internal is cheaper but not suitable for outside. The maximum total length of 1 cat5e run should be 100m for best performance, as long as you keep it below that total it should be fine. If the man cave is 75 metres away from the house that’ll give you 25 to play with, which sounds a lot until you start weaving it around walls and doors etc :)

That’s probably the cheapest and easiest way of getting internet down there, however if there’s decent line of site a wireless bridge would also work. That consists of 1 access point on the house and one on the man cave linked together, which then gives you a cabled connection in the man cave. This takes more networking knowledge and is going to be more costly but misses out the running 75m of cable outside.
 
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andy1868 said:
Yes this will work, however you need to turn DHCP off on the old router or the two are going to conflict in giving out IP addresses. The IP of the second router may also need to be amended if it’s similar to the existing one; the default IP of the Virgin hubs is 192.168.0.1 I think, so just re-IP the second to be 192.168.0.2 (as long as you don’t have anything else on that address) and you’re away. If you aren’t comfortable doing that, buying a simple switch will give you the same effect but without WiFi.

Some other things to consider, you’ll want external grade cable if you want it to last, internal is cheaper but not suitable for outside. The maximum total length of 1 cat5e run should be 100m for best performance, as long as you keep it below that total it should be fine. If the man cave is 75 metres away from the house that’ll give you 25 to play with, which sounds a lot until you start weaving it around walls and doors etc :)

That’s probably the cheapest and easiest way of getting internet down there, however if there’s decent line of site a wireless bridge would also work. That consists of 1 access point on the house and one on the man cave linked together, which then gives you a cabled connection in the man cave. This takes more networking knowledge and is going to be more costly but misses out the running 75m of cable outside.
Click to expand...

The cable sounds like the best plan. I’m running armoured cable down there anyway so I could run them down together. I’m assuming it would be ok to have the two cables together or is there a risk of interference?
 
Phil1974 said:
The cable sounds like the best plan. I’m running armoured cable down there anyway so I could run them down together. I’m assuming it would be ok to have the two cables together or is there a risk of interference?
Click to expand...

The cable probably is best to be honest, when it’s in you can just forget about it. I’ve used the bridges in the past when a cable isn’t possible, roads in the way etc, but the first choice is always a cable!

Theoretically there is a possibility of interference however in practise you’ll more than likely be fine.
 
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If you're talking about power interference, simply go for shielded cable, if you get a cable made up or buy it specifically then it's a simple ask
 
Phil1974 said:
The cable sounds like the best plan. I’m running armoured cable down there anyway so I could run them down together. I’m assuming it would be ok to have the two cables together or is there a risk of interference?
Click to expand...

Yeah I did this for a building about 20m from the house (so about 30 by the time I'd routed the cable).

Dig a trench, drop in armoured cable for the power, put 6 inches of earth back in and then lay OUTDOOR Cat5/6 cable. You're not supposed to put in in the same trench as power but I figured the earth between would insulate it and it worked fine. Then when your electrician comes to wire the power get them to put plugs on the end of the network cable. I just used a cheap network switch at either end but networking experts may have better ideas.

3 things:
  1. I put the cable in conduit as well because I was worried rodents would chew it.
  2. Lay spare runs of cable for future expansion or in case 1 fails (cable is cheapish - digging trenches is hard work)
  3. Do not underestimate the amount of work required to dig a trench - so don't start it on Saturday when the electrician is coming on Monday. That was a tough weekend....
 
JonathanRyan said:
Yeah I did this for a building about 20m from the house (so about 30 by the time I'd routed the cable).

Dig a trench, drop in armoured cable for the power, put 6 inches of earth back in and then lay OUTDOOR Cat5/6 cable. You're not supposed to put in in the same trench as power but I figured the earth between would insulate it and it worked fine. Then when your electrician comes to wire the power get them to put plugs on the end of the network cable. I just used a cheap network switch at either end but networking experts may have better ideas.

3 things:
  1. I put the cable in conduit as well because I was worried rodents would chew it.
  2. Lay spare runs of cable for future expansion or in case 1 fails (cable is cheapish - digging trenches is hard work)
  3. Do not underestimate the amount of work required to dig a trench - so don't start it on Saturday when the electrician is coming on Monday. That was a tough weekend....
Click to expand...

Cheers Jonathan,
The electrical cable will be clipped to the fence running the length of the garden so no trenches. I will look at conduit for the cat5 cable though as that sounds like a good idea as does running two lengths down [emoji106]
 
Just ask Richard Gere! (Allegedly...) :whistling:
 
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