I want to run an Ethernet cable from my router to my garden office but I then want wireless out there.?

Question

I have a wireless router but the wifi signal isn't strong enough to reach to the office at the end of my garden. As I see it, my options are: a wifi signal repeater, running an ethernet cable out there (or two as there are two desks, unless I can split the cable at the office end?), buying a plug in booster which can provide wifi in the office.

I would like to know which option will be the least expensive and most efficient. Help please?

Answer 1

Wireless extenders aren't going to be much more expensive than running a cable out there, so it's just a matter of preference. The wired connection will give you better security, since no one will be able to jack the signal from your garden, but the wireless option won't require you to run a cable through it. Depending on how close to the office the router currently is, you might need to run a cable all the way. If it's at the very limit (meaning that you couldn't move it any closer without moving it into the actual garden), an antenna might be more than you want to spend (because you would need one rated for outdoor operation, which are more expensive).



A 100ft ethernet cable and a 4-port network switch won't run you that much. You can probably get a cable in green too, so if you have somewhere out of the way to put it, it'll blend in even better. Some of the cheaper indoor extenders go for about the same amount as the cable + switch, but outdoor ones start at about double that.



I suppose it's also possible to get an antenna with a cable long enough to reach from the router to inside the office, if you look around, but at this point you should just get an access point.



Edit: No. You would keep the router that you have in the house and run the ethernet cable to a wireless access point that has no additional routing functionality. You do not want to run a router to another router unless you specifically need to do so, because it will make your network setup more complicated that way. If you must use a router, some can be put into access / repeater mode and it should disable features like DHCP which your primary router will be handling. (You may need special firmware like DD-WRT for this.)

Answer 2

If your wireless router is seperate from your modem, move your wireless router to a more central location. You wouldn't need nearly the length of ethernet cable you would to go all the way to the office and you would be able to access wireless from more locations within the house. If your wireless router is build in to the modem, I'd look into the repeaters that plug into an ac outlet. Good Luck.

Answer 3

Okay, you didn't mention the distance to the office so this might be overkill:

100m cable £14.49

http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/370612030001?var=lv
10 plugs £1.39

http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/170653475682?var=lv
1 wire cutter/stripper tool £3.52

http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/280868981008?var=lv
1 RJ45 crimp tool £8.50 +p&p

http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/displayProduct.jsp?sku=1447420&CMP=KNC-GUK-FUK-GEN-LISTINGS&gross_price=true

1 wi-fi router for the office end £19.90

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/4860676/art/tp-link/tl-wr740n-150-mbps-wirele.html?srcid=11270&nopopup=1



TOTAL = £47.80







EDIT: Yes, you would run the ethernet cable from router to router (office router use WAN ethernet port and house router use a LAN ethernet port). If you click me you can send me email if you have more questions.

Answer 4

probably the tidiest method is powerline adapters with a wifi powerline adapter in the garden office to give you a local wifi hotspot



these use mains wiring instead of a long ethernet cable. You plug a powerline adapter into one of the ethernet ports on the router and into a local mains socket and another adapter into your computer ethernet port and a nearby mains socket in the garden office. If you replace the distant powerline ethernet adapter with a powerline wifi adapter you can create a local wifi hotspot in your garden office . You can also get combination wifi/ethernet powerline adapters

http://www.solwise.co.uk/net-powerline-av-index.htm

http://www.netgear.co.uk/powerline_wallplugged_extenders.php



HTH

Answer 5

IF your using the mains supply from the house to your office why not use a power network plug then you can use a 4 port hub and add a ap



power network plug

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=power+network+plug&tag=googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=17221736150&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2083871920914596557&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&ref=pd_sl_39rp4tm32_b

Answer 6

i had the same problem trying to get internet connection upstairs in my house. i bought a wifi extender and it works for me... should be fine for you too, though the splitter would probably be cheaper