Need to Punch Wi-Fi through Tin Shed in Back Yard (Updated: pending solution found)

pegaxs on 01/02/2018 - 08:39
Last edited 04/02/2018 - 12:08 by 1 other user

Here is the issue: (TL;DR at bottom for "@Baghern")

Father has a hobby room/tin shed detached from the house. It's about 30m from the house. He wants WiFi access in the shed, but I told him that the house WiFI wont reach that far, let alone through a tin shed with insulated foil lined walls. They got the IT contractor for work to solve it and all he did was put a Ubiquti WiFi repeater on the back of the house. It didn't fix the Faraday cage effect of the shed. Still no WiFi in the shed.

Next, the same IT installer used a Ethernet over powerline adaptor. That didn't work because the house and the shed are on totally different circuits.

Next, same IT moron again, installs WiFi range extender into power point in shed. Still no WiFi…

What I told him was we needed something that had an external antenna outside the building, run the cable inside the shed and put a range extender inside, essentially punching a hole through the tin wall…

Here is my problem. All of the WiFI extenders I have looked at all have fixed antenna. I am looking for suggestions on a good omni-directional antenna and range extender options I can use. Prefer 2.4 and 5gHz set up to future poof the system should it ever require it.

edit: Due to a few people suggesting it, LAN cables are off the table as well. There is no room left in current conduit and have been told that there is no way dad's lawn is being dug up a 3rd time for a single LAN cable. Infrastructure already exists to use WiFi and running a cable out there would cost way more than an antenna and a repeater box. And lets face it, they would only call on fcuk knuckle to come and run that cable, and that isn't on the table either :D

edit 2: Rebuilding the shed is not an option! Thanks @Boomramada. Have a few good suggestions now. Will add a poll of what I think are heading the right direction…

edit 3: Would like to extend a great big thanks to everyone who replied. Some really knowledgeable people on here with some great advice. Even the ones that didn’t read the OP and kept suggesting LAN cables and power line adapters. Every comment was appreciated. I have ended up ordering the Ubiquity Nanostation M2 Loco. And as per the poll, I’m going to jam the old IT dorks head through the wall and see if that improves coverage… and I have the Nanostation as a back up. I know which one will make me feel better.. :D Plot twist: next thread is “can’t get this repeater working. Any help?”

TL;DR: Tin shed (large Faraday cage) in back yard resists WiFi ingress. Need Internet so father can watch pr0n in peace. Make suggestions on how to punch WiFi signal through shed walls.

Poll Options

  • 31
    Ubiquiti Nanostation M5 LOCO
  • 1
    MikroTik GrooveA 52
  • 0
    TP-Link CPE220
  • 1
    No-name eBay Outdoor AP
  • 7
    Re-build entire shed
Computing

Comments

  • plmko on 01/02/2018 - 08:48
    +27

    Go to Ebay, find a used/cheap standard router that is compatible with dd-wrt firmware and has a screw on antenna. Then on Ebay buy a screw on antenna that has a long cable or extension cable for the router antenna.

    • D C on 01/02/2018 - 16:31
      +6

      This.

      Don't even need the router if it's just one PC. Get a generic wireless dongle, screw in the new antenna and stick it on the roof. Did that in my shed a couple of years ago, works fine.

      Probably around $10 for the bits if you get them China, say $30 from Oz. 20 minutes to install, mostly stuffing about with running the cable.

  • singlemalt72 on 01/02/2018 - 08:55
    +2

    I assume you are after a wireless solution ie. running an aerial or underground data cable is not an option.

    I have done it before with a Ubiquiti nanostation or nanobeam but you are limited to a single band, unless they have dual band available now (just looked - dual band solutions are around the $600 mark!)

    • pegaxs on 01/02/2018 - 09:39

      Underground cable is NOT an option. That had already been tried with electrical cables to the shed extension. Part of the shed is old, part is new. The old conduit to the shed is way too small and already full…

      Will look into the nanostation though. Thanks.

      • bdl on 01/02/2018 - 11:04
        +3

        Ubiquiti Nanostation M5 loco bridge between the outside of tin shed and outside of house. Then inside tin shed use a dd-wrt box/access point (or whatever you have access to) to provide wifi inside the shed. If you already have an Unifi/Ubiquiti setup at your parents just grab a cheapy Unifi access point (second hand will do) for inside the shed. This wifi gear is great if your parents want you to remotely support their Wifi setup too (without involving the IT muppet).

        What model Unifi "repeater" did he use? You maybe able to repurpose.

        I've done similar with the M5 Locos between two apartments. (With Unifi gear providing AP functionality). Happy to help you design it if you have any questions.

        Perhaps if you get the equipment you want then get the IT muppet to install it you can keep both your sanity and your parents' happiness.

        • Praeto on 02/02/2018 - 01:40

          This is definitely the solution to go for.. You can create something similar yourself by buying antennas / routers etc separately and stringing them together, but it's not worth the time or effort. Just go for the Ubiquiti gear and have it work out of the box.

  • bobbified on 01/02/2018 - 09:13
    +9

    They got the IT contractor…
    Next, the same IT installer…
    Next, same IT moron again…
    What I told him was we needed something…

    This made me laugh!
    Where did you find this "IT Contractor"? I would've fired his ass long before his third attempt! haha

    • pegaxs on 01/02/2018 - 09:36
      +10

      I didn't find him, but the a-hole has my parents Hoodwinked. My parents have more money than sense sometimes and my mum has this whole "just get the same guy as last time" mentality. Then she complains that everything he does is rubbish and a rip off but get him back time and time again. He treats them like his own personal piggy bank.

      I am in the slow process of weaning them off him, but it's like separating a mother from their child. If I'm not there, their default is to call him.

      • blawler05 on 02/02/2018 - 09:17
        +5

        I can be your parents IT consultant.

        • pegaxs on 02/02/2018 - 10:13
          +6

          Sure! They won’t let me do it for free and they seem to enjoy complaining about paying idiots…

          Prerequisites are, you have to be retarded, have no clue what you are doing, have no access to simple things like Google, support a zero moral compass and enjoy separating older people from their money. You will either need to turn up unannounced or at least a day late and act like that was the plan all along.

          If this sounds like you, I’ll send out an application. :D

        • blawler05 on 09/02/2018 - 10:09

          @pegaxs: Dammit. Yeah I don't meet those Prerequisites. I know what I am doing, and have a moral compass definately. If it helps, end user computing is my specialty, so I work with alot of people who would fit those pre-reqs

        • blawler05 on 09/02/2018 - 10:14

          @pegaxs: BTW. Did you ever solve your problem.

          Its pretty simple.

          I wireless router inside your faraday cage. It must have an external antenna. Then hook up something like this to that router

          https://www.mwave.com.au/product/tplink-tlant2409a-24ghz-9db…

          Obviously the box sits outside.

        • pegaxs on 09/02/2018 - 10:19

          @blawler05: thanks for the reply.

          I ordered a Ubiquity Nanostation M2 last week and I was on the road all week this week. Not had time yet, but hopefully this weekend or next, I'll get to play with it…

      • poohduck on 02/02/2018 - 09:20

        I don't think you want omni directional. Something designed with a fairly narrow beam aimed at whatever transmitter you use from the house would be much more effective. https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Outdoor-Directional-connector…

  • shiftyphil on 01/02/2018 - 10:30
    +1

    Get a wifi router than can run OpenWRT and has a USB port.

    I recommend the LinkSys WRT1200AC if you can find it cheap; runs OpenWRT easily, has plenty of cpu/ram/flash.
    But there are plenty of other options.

    Attach a USB extension lead, and a (supported) USB wifi dongle. Wrap in plastic to make weatherproof.

    Configure dongle to connect to house wifi, and either bridge or route the internal wifi to it depending on preference.

    • pegaxs on 01/02/2018 - 11:23

      Will give that a look. Might be just as easy to run a dongle outside as it is to mount an antenna.

      • shiftyphil on 01/02/2018 - 11:48

        Usually much easier to run USB cable than coax, and no loss if less than 5M.

        And having a separate radio for the uplink means it can run at full speed, unlike most extender/repeater setups.

  • star-ggg on 01/02/2018 - 10:31
    +1

    Can you get wifi to the same power circuit as the shed and go to Ethernet over powerline adaptor from there?

    • singlemalt72 on 01/02/2018 - 10:34
      +1

      I suspect the shed is on its own circuit and would need a powerpoint branched off to the house to do this.

      • pegaxs on 01/02/2018 - 10:44

        Correct. House and shed power are on their own circuits. Shed has 3phase, house doesn't. Shed has it's own distribution board. Power line adapters do not work.

        • MikeKulls on 03/02/2018 - 09:41

          If shed is on 3 phase then 1 of the phases will be the same as the house

  • FirstWizard on 01/02/2018 - 10:52
    +1

    Is he using a computer with a USB port?
    If so, get a USB wifi dongle, and a long USB extension cable. You can buy waterproof plastic boxes from Jaycar.

    Drill a hole, pass the USB cable and seal it with hot-glue/silicone. You can place the box on top of the roof outside the shed and run the cable through the shed and plug it into the computer. :D

    • pegaxs on 01/02/2018 - 11:12

      Needs WiFi for multiple devices. iPads, phones, laptop, android tv box. If it was just his laptop, this is what I would have done. When it was only his laptop, I had a cable to run out the door with the USB WiFi stick on the end of it. Worked good, so I know coverage is out there…

      • FirstWizard on 01/02/2018 - 11:40

        What kind of wifi range extender did the IT contractor get? if it has two removable antennas, you may be able to replace one with a long antenna cable from eBay e.g., and stick it to the roof. But make sure you replace the correct side.

        EDIT: Guess you're trying that option too. :D just read your comments below

        • pegaxs on 01/02/2018 - 11:47

          First thing i looked at. It has no external antennas on it. its just a square box that plugs into a power point. I could open it up and replace the internal antenna with a SMA to U.FL if the internal board supports U.FL. My luck its antenna will be part of the PCB or soldered on.

  • geek001 on 01/02/2018 - 11:01

    Why not just get some weatherproof ethernet cables and run it to the shed from the house?

    • pegaxs on 01/02/2018 - 11:19

      Was told explicitly that no more cables will be run, no more digging trenches and conduit is already full from previous electrical upgrades over the years… more cabling is off the table, even though it would be the exact solution they need.

      • geek001 on 01/02/2018 - 11:24

        That's why you get the weatherproof Ethernet cable, so that you can just run it along your garden or along your fence, so that you don't accidentally mow over it. No need to dig, just need a small hole in the wall.

        • pegaxs on 01/02/2018 - 11:32
          +1

          No fence to run it along. No garden to hide it in. It's a 4acre block with open land and a shed right down the back. Dad loves his ride on lawn mower. (ie: he loves running over anything left in the back yard.)

      • geek001 on 01/02/2018 - 11:30

        Or get this. Mount it outside and hook it up to a repeater inside the shed.

        https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2-4G-20DBI-RP-SMA-Female-Pin-Yag…

        Should receive wifi signal from the house without any extra equipment from the house end.

        • pegaxs on 01/02/2018 - 11:49

          Way ahead of you there @geek001. The antenna isn't the issue, it's finding a good, reliable piece of equipment to connect to it that will just repeat the WiFi signal inside the shed. That repeater is the part i am trying to find a solution too, as most i have found do not have the SMA plug in the outside to connect the antenna to.

        • geek001 on 01/02/2018 - 13:36

          @pegaxs: If you are able to find a router that support dd-wrt, you should be sweet. I have re-purpose some older routers to be repeaters around the house. Trying to find off the shelf repeaters with external SMA plug will be difficult. If you are handy with the soldering iron, you can open up a repeater and put in a SMA plug yourself? :)

          You can also use a wireless bridge instead. I found this router which is a bridge and has a detachable antennae as the first Google search result. https://www.pccasegear.com/products/26257 You may want something faster or with a more reliable brand.

  • ausdday on 01/02/2018 - 11:01

    I think you need to run a LAN cable from your house to the shed. Having all those external antenna stick out from the shed will allow the AP receive the main wifi signal from your house. However, you might still have the problem of having the WiFi INSIDE the shed, as the antenna it now OUTSIDE of the shed. You might not have wifi signal inside the shed due to Faraday's cage effect again.

    • pegaxs on 01/02/2018 - 11:14

      The antenna would be outside, the rest of the hardware will be inside. The antenna cable would need to go through the Faraday cage somewhere.

      • ausdday on 01/02/2018 - 11:23

        So you will need another router inside then

        • pegaxs on 01/02/2018 - 11:29

          That's what i am looking for, a wireless repeater that has a antenna port that I can screw an external antenna onto. The outside antenna communicates with the house WiFi, sends it down the cable, through the wall to the repeater and fills the inside of the shed with WiFi coverage.

          Most of the repeaters I have found only have non-removable antenna and look like this

        • ausdday on 01/02/2018 - 11:33
          +1

          @pegaxs:
          You might need one of this. Commercial AP repeater. Removable antenna. Weatherproof.
          https://mikrotik.com/product/RBGrooveA-52HPnr2

        • pegaxs on 01/02/2018 - 11:51

          @ausdday: Cheers! getting closer to what i am looking for. This may work if i can run a PoE cable down to a router inside. I dont care what cable i have to run or gear inside. Would just use one of these and a AP would suit.

        • ausdday on 01/02/2018 - 12:02

          @pegaxs:

          Would just use one of these and a AP would suit.

          Yes, as long as you have reasonably good signal strength outside the shed. You can use WiFi Analyzer on android to give it a check.

          The only drawback is Mikrotik does not have a very intuitive GUI when configuring the AP. There will be some learning curve. Otherwise, you can ask the retailer whether they know someone who can help you set it up.

        • Chris Topher on 01/02/2018 - 22:04

          @ausdday: I have dealt wit mikrotik point to point wireless.

          Horribly:
          1: expensive
          2: complex
          3: works great when set up correctly
          4: designed for apple/mac stuff? (only)

        • knk on 02/02/2018 - 08:53

          @Thatwey:

          1: expensive - It's stupidly cheap
          2: complex - Correct but it's made for technical people and is very extensible. THere is a huge learning curve for non IT workers.
          3: works great when set up correctly - Amazingly.
          4: designed for apple/mac stuff? (only) - Completely incorrect.

        • Chris Topher on 02/02/2018 - 20:46

          @knk: Okies, I have only one short experience with a failed setup and made my opinion on that experience.

          Yes, the complexity compared to.. say a d-link or similar.. was astounding, and I wish I had more time to…investigate further. (read: play with it)

          Where's the stupidly cheap seller? O^O My quick check at the time blew me away. (not off)

          Not saying the seller is stupid in any sense. :D

        • knk on 02/02/2018 - 21:56

          @Thatwey:
          Check out duxtel. They're reasonably priced and great service.

          It may have been expensive if you used a device that was just overkill for the application.

          The thing with the dlinks and netgears is you never really have complete control or knowledge over what it's doing. Also hardware variations between models etc.

          But yeah the downside to the mikrotiks is its very hard to spec a device to your requirements, and then there's the huge learning curve.

          What were you trying to do, I can recommend a model :)

        • Chris Topher on 03/02/2018 - 19:44

          @knk: Not me, checking a failed system for another personage. Their I.T. guy couldn't visit at the needed time, and I could. I spoke with the I.T. guy via phone in situ and after a chat left them with it as I found the unit 2 antenna cable was damaged. I can't climb ladders.

        • knk on 03/02/2018 - 19:55

          @Thatwey:

          Yeah I like to avoid getting on ladders too. People think that IT people are tradies sometimes lol.

  • bdl on 01/02/2018 - 11:01
    +1

    I think you need to punch your IT installer/contracter through the tin shed in the back yard instead :)

    • pegaxs on 01/02/2018 - 11:17
      +1

      Last time he was there, I turned up to watch him. Called him a turkey every time he mentioned something stupid. Made mention that he was ripping the parents off and told him his days were numbered.

      I think my last quote to him when he was making another suggestion was, “you haven’t tried two jam tins and a piece of string, cause that would work better than your last 3 suggestions…”

      • bdl on 01/02/2018 - 11:24

        I feel your pain. Sorry to hear.

  • jjsnacks on 01/02/2018 - 12:47
    +1

    Use a pair of nanostation locom2 or m5, mount one on exterior of shed with ethernet cable running inside shed into a wireless AP

    Turn the output power on both units down

    I had to do this for a job in a similar situation, it's been rock solid for a year now.

    • pegaxs on 01/02/2018 - 15:03

      Cheers. I think that's two for nanostation now, so it's definitely on the list. Got them on my list to look up when I'm not replying on work's time :D

      • orbitalpaul on 02/02/2018 - 08:15

        I don't think the specific AP matters much but I would second the approach suggested by @jjsnacks. You need a pair with one either mounted outside the shed or both inside with an external antenna running from one to the outside.

        With the AP get one that is similar to the other devices inside the house. You will likely have a bit more control over meshing but them. Minimum features needed are the ability to act as a client and ideally the ability to control power, as suggested by @jjsnacks

  • boomramada on 01/02/2018 - 12:50
    +1

    Problem is not the IT contractor, problem is the tin shed. IT contractor try to find a solution and he failed, now you here to find a solution?
    Your options are, re build the shed without tin or cable between two property or wireless data transmitter and receiver or extend your dad's wireless adapter to outside of the tin shed or something like this
    https://www.ubnt.com/airmax/nanostationm/.

    My personal choice is re build the shed without tin :)

    • scrimshaw on 01/02/2018 - 12:56
      +2

      I think the It contractor should have tested that the network actually works in the shed before he goes, "welp, my job's done, now pay up and I can go home!"

      • boomramada on 01/02/2018 - 13:01

        True that, but then OP or OP's dad should check if working before paying? would you pay for the service that haven't deliver :)

        • pegaxs on 01/02/2018 - 15:36
          +4

          Long story short… My parents have an IT contractor that does a lot of their business infrastructure. They are in a rural town, so there is not a lot of people to choose from. Unbeknownst to me, they have been trying for months to get WiFi into the shed without success and not once asked me (an ex. cable/network installer).

          One day, off the cuff, dad asked me about WiFi and why it may not be working in his shed. I laughed and said "because it's a tin shed with a metal frame and the walls are insulated with foil backed insulation. It's a Faraday cage…" He then went on to tell me all about Sputnik Von Dumbarse and his multiple attempts.

          After I stopped laughing, I told him how to fix it. I told them that next time Mr Dumbarse turned up, let me know so I can tell him. Next time the IT guy turned up, I told him to get back in his van and fcuk off.

          Problem is not the IT contractor, problem is the tin shed…

          The fault was totally that of the contractor. He keeps throwing stupid ideas and guessing and just sending my parents the bill for his "experimentation". And IT contractor would have known immediately that there was no way in hell that WiFi was going to penetrate that fortress.

          IT contractor try to find a solution and he failed, now you here to find a solution?

          I'm not here to find a solution. I KNOW the solution. I used to be a cable/network installer. I'm here because I only know of "commercial/industrial" grade solutions in the $thousands, and they dont need that. I just wanted help in finding a repeater that supported SMA antenna connections or an alternative.

          Your options are, re build the shed without tin

          LOL, are your serious or trolling? Yep, that's the cheaper option…

          cable between two property

          Covered multiple times above and in original post… also "very expensive" not to mention "OMG! not digging up your fathers lawn again??"

          wireless data transmitter and receiver or extend your dad's wireless adapter to outside of the tin shed

          you_dont_say.jpg

          My personal choice is re build the shed without tin

          Found the builder. :P

        • boomramada on 01/02/2018 - 15:48
          +1

          @pegaxs:

          He keeps throwing stupid ideas and guessing and just sending my parents the bill for his "experimentation"

          I still don't get it; for example, if plumber comes to fix my tap, I wouldn't pay him till I see the finish product, so how this IT dude manage to do a experiment and send invoice for service that not work? Even its a call out fee, I wouldn't pay for dud job.

          Anyway, re-build it, ask IT guy if he can recommend a good builder or try this https://www.ubnt.com/airmax/nanostationm/ its a point to point :)

        • pegaxs on 01/02/2018 - 16:16
          +4

          @boomramada:

          Dude.. It's my parents. I don’t get them either. I've known them for over 40 years, and I still cant work them out…

          I often ask my parents why they use retarded tradesmen and dad is like "I just do what your mother tells me" and mum is like "I just don’t have the time to mess around finding people, I just want it done…" I am the hated child of the family, so mum would rather pay a retard over and over again then to risk asking me for free. It's a dysfunctional family thing she does…

          And yes, I think that the Nanostation has gotten the most thumbs up. So it looks like that's going to be the way to go…

          And, I am 100% sure that if the IT drongo told them to rebuild the side of the shed facing the house to let the WiFI in, mum would have just done it… "I don’t have time to waste on things like this. Just call a builder and get it done…"

        • boomramada on 01/02/2018 - 16:19
          +1

          @pegaxs:
          Its all good, I understand the frustration of having oldies sometimes too :)

        • Elppa8 on 01/02/2018 - 18:48
          +3

          @boomramada:
          I understand the frustration of being one.

  • t_c on 01/02/2018 - 14:13

    https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Outdoor-Wireless-Access-Point-Br…

    but I would rather get 2 of these
    http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/TP-LINK-CPE520-300Mbps-5Ghz-16dBi…

    and a router in the shed.

    • djsweet on 01/02/2018 - 14:24

      Looks good, but possibly a bit of overkill. Why not try this instead as others have suggested: https://www.kogan.com/au/buy/ubiquiti-airmax-nanostation-loc…

      • pegaxs on 01/02/2018 - 15:48

        Yeah, this looks like the way I will probably be heading. Will do some more reading up on it at home. It will need to support one cable going to the roof. So, unless it runs on PoE, it's really no good to me.

        I will be running a router in the shed if i run one of these types of repeaters. The TP-Link one looks similar. Parents wont go for the no-name brand.

  • BadGiraffe on 01/02/2018 - 14:31

    Lots of suggestions here. Here's mine: https://www.ebay.com/itm/High-Power-Outdoor-AP-5GHz-Wireless…

  • Baghern on 01/02/2018 - 15:07

    putting the tldr at the beginning would garner more enthusiastic support and solutions

    • havebeerbelywillsumo on 01/02/2018 - 15:14
      +2

      ………from people perhaps lacking the ability to comprehend all points in a complex problem. Might get a reply from the tradie?

      • pegaxs on 01/02/2018 - 16:23
        +1

        And 99% of the time, the TL;DR goes at the bottom where people scroll to looking for the punchline…

  • chumlee on 01/02/2018 - 16:10
    +1

    Just put the porn on a USB stick and let your dad watch it in the shed off a laptop or tv. Just put a mat down on the ground also

    • Slippery Fish on 01/02/2018 - 16:19

      Lol eww.

    • pegaxs on 01/02/2018 - 16:21

      Hey dad? Why are there so many boxes of tissues on your desk over in the worksh….. oh, dear GOD!!

    • ausdday on 01/02/2018 - 16:47

      You will need IP68 USB stick. To avoid liquid damage

    • codinghelloworld on 02/02/2018 - 05:25

      You guys have a great sense of humor

  • Slippery Fish on 01/02/2018 - 16:19
    +1

    Lol on scroll past this looked like need to punch wife through tin shed in backyard.

  • Toons on 01/02/2018 - 16:49
    +1

    Data and power should never be run in same conduit anyway so even if there was room you shouldn't be doing it.

    This is always an option think they are just under a couple of couple of hundred for a pair that you need. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=91&v=ISUSlTcgWks)

    It's powered by the POE connection so no outside socket and you get a Effectively a 10/100/1000/ Lan point in your Shed which you could plug into an old router if you wanted more outlets inside it is going to need a small hole outside the shed for the cable but sounds like you're not being given many options and it can be configured as AP router

  • Toons on 01/02/2018 - 17:02
    +1

    BTW You can get 3 phase power-line adaptors, some of the older ones get confused when on different phases but if you get them both on the same it's normally fine.

    the new ones designed for 3 phase sytems are much better

    • pegaxs on 01/02/2018 - 18:42

      House and shed power are on their own circuits. Shed has 3phase, house doesn't. Shed has it's own distribution board. Power line adapters do not work.

      It's good to know that there are 3phase ones. We have a plasma cutter at work and there is no network out to there. This may be an alternative.

      • abb on 02/02/2018 - 10:32

        plasma cutter

        If you find one that can survive that level of EMI, nominate the designer for some kind of engineering award.

  • [Deactivated] on 01/02/2018 - 17:39

    make a nice window in your shed

    • pegaxs on 01/02/2018 - 23:40

      I plan on taking the suggestion from further up and using the IT contractors head to make the hole in the wall for the window…

  • Switchblade88 on 01/02/2018 - 20:30
    +1

    Gotta be honest here, I have gone through almost the exact same steps trying to solve a very similar problem. The steps make sense in that they go from simplest & cheapest first, all the way up the cost scale.

    The problem is the IT 'contractor' bit - I was messing around as a volunteer and supplying hardware at cost. If you're being paid for a job, then you expect the problem to be solved and warranted for the money you pay the labourer… otherwise the IT (profanity) label starts to stick.

    My vote is for a NanoStation (I used M2's as they were cheaper) but being directional you get quite good range for the cost. Don't mess around with USB dongles, omni antennae and heavy coax, or no-name hardware - I've done all those - and you just have to come back (AGAIN) to fix or replace it.

    • pegaxs on 01/02/2018 - 23:43

      Yeah, read up about it after work today and totally going with the M2. 5km range is more than enough and only need to run a cat5/6 cable up to it with PoE.

      Only downside is no 5gHz, but no problem, don’t think it will be an issue.

  • A fish on 01/02/2018 - 20:35
    +6

    run lan cable in a garden hose. Solved, close the thread.

    • pegaxs on 01/02/2018 - 23:43

      Cheers! Best suggestion yet… :D

      /thread

      • fruxo on 01/02/2018 - 23:54

        Not sure if you are being sarcastic, but that sounds ingenious to me.

        Extremely low effort too, so if he hates it, just do something else. My bet is that he might grumble but that he'll forget all about the garden hose along the edge of the fence after a few days. Happy days.

        • pegaxs on 02/02/2018 - 10:17

          My father loves running over things with his ride on lawn mower. It’s his passion. The grandkids regularly have toys destroyed just to “teach them a lesson”

          A garden hose left out would be too much, as all hoses have their place and a hanging hook. If it was a permanent thing, I would give it a week before it went under the mower…

          But outside that, it’s not a bad idea for other applications…

        • Slippery Fish on 02/02/2018 - 10:20
          +1

          @pegaxs: it's a garden hose.. buy a trench shovel (they are small and thin) and put it 15cm under the dirt.

        • pegaxs on 02/02/2018 - 10:24

          @Slippery Fish:

          And dig up my fathers golf course green manicured lawn???? Yeah, I would rather not hear about that for the rest of my life.

          If I did that and there was even one tiny bump left, or a mis-match of grass, it would be the never ending "this is why we don’t ask you for help with things…"

          Sure fire way of getting me kicked out of what little stake I have in their will…

        • Slippery Fish on 02/02/2018 - 10:26

          @pegaxs: lawns grow back lol. Bet him $50 he can't get it back to normal in 6 months. Lol

          Seriously though I'd start the conversation with people suggest X solution it's $1000 but it would be cheaper to run this hose… How can we make it so you don't mow it? He will likely suggest a trench for you.

        • pegaxs on 02/02/2018 - 10:49

          @Slippery Fish:

          I'll try the conversation if for nothing other than the lulz and watching my dad clutch at his chest over any mention of cutting up his lawn "again"… :D

  • misterpotatomato on 01/02/2018 - 21:28

    What I did was use Ethernet over power. My shed connects to the inside Lan that way. Works a treat. Might be worth a shot for you 😀

    • pegaxs on 01/02/2018 - 23:45

      House and shed power are on their own circuits. Shed has 3phase, house doesn't. Shed has it's own distribution board. Power line adapters do not work.

      Thanks for playing though. ;)

  • zeomega on 01/02/2018 - 23:01

    http://www.netgear.com.au/home/products/networking/wifi-rang… + https://www.jaycar.com.au/5m-sma-coaxial-lead/p/WC7804

    Put one antenna externally, only need to drill a small hole or route it via a hole/gap outside since you have an external wifi ap.

    • pegaxs on 01/02/2018 - 23:49

      I looked at exactly this unit. The reason I passed up on it was I could not find any info on the antenna mounts on the back, if they were integrated or removeable on SMA connectors…

      Can you confirm this is the case? Are the just SMA mounted?? May not get used this time around, as the Ubiquity unit seems to be the repeater of choice, but for future projects, would still be handy to know…

      • zeomega on 02/02/2018 - 00:07
        +1

        Package Contents
        AC1200 WiFi Range Extender (EX6200v2)
        Installation guide
        Do More booklet
        Power adapter
        Stand
        Two (2) 5dBi dual band detachable external antennas

  • nobarginsarehere on 01/02/2018 - 23:17

    I would run an ethernet cable out there, put an anteena in the shed

    If you cannot do that, buy something with a Directional Antenna and beam it directly at the shed

  • kaleidoscope on 02/02/2018 - 01:47

    Your best option would be to go with a proper point to point wireless bridge. On the tin shed side keep the antenna outside the shed (on roof maybe).

  • SeVeN11 on 02/02/2018 - 02:31
    +1

    Like you said, its a faraday cage.
    You ain't going to get good wifi signal in that shed… easiest and 100% guarantee thing that will work is to dig up the lawn and lay the cable.

    If the above does not work follow the 2 step (sure fail method)
    1) Try setting up a wifi repeater at the edge of your house to extend it to the backyard. Test to make sure you get good signal up to the cage.
    2) set up another wifi repeater inside the cage, but next to a window or door that faces the wifi repeater from step 1.

    If the above fails, do the garden hose suggestion!!

    • pegaxs on 02/02/2018 - 10:34

      Involves digging?

      Last time when they had to run new cables for the shed extension, they dug up the back yard, I swear dad spend a week in hospital from hyperventilation…

      The rules I was given to work with were, use existing infrastructure and NO DIGGING (Your fathers heart wont take it).

      1) already have a Ubiquity repeater mounted onto the back of the house. IT bozo thought that would be enough. It wasn't, So that part is done…

      2) There are NO windows. Only a metal door and that faces away from the house. And a repeater is exactly what I am looking for…

      Garden hose idea is cool, but with someone who has OCD about their lawn, a hose left out would drive him bonkers. :D

  • knk on 02/02/2018 - 09:00
    +1

    Line of sight is always best but at only 30 metres its not really necessary.

    Get a pair of outdoor access points. Run cable from router to the side of the house closes to the shed and mount access point there. You could probably get away with throwing it in the roof of the house or leaving it at the router….you might get away with it.

    Honestly at 30 metres 2 of these would do the trick: https://shop.duxtel.com.au/product_info.php?cPath=30_45&prod…
    They come with a power injector too so you just need power wherever you run your ethernet cable from (near your modem).
    If you want a bit more performance and don't just want some form of stable connectivity in there these are more suitable:
    https://shop.duxtel.com.au/product_info.php?cPath=30_45&prod…

    Otherwise a directional unit like this would be better, however then you need to mount a pole etc on the side of your house. Pain in the ass.
    https://shop.duxtel.com.au/product_info.php?cPath=30_45&prod…

    These devices are quite complex to configure, but you'll work your way through it. Happy to guide you through it.

    Also, you're going to want to ensure you use Mikrotik, Unifi or some other commercial solution.

    OpenWRT based scenarios will work however they don't properly implement layer 2, it's a kind of pseudo hacky bridge where every device behind the access point (in your shed) will have the same mac address and it translates them once it hits the device. It's ugly, and can break some things.

    • pegaxs on 02/02/2018 - 10:37

      Yeah, found the duxtel site from a poster further up who mentioned the MikroTik repeaters. Will put that on the list.

      The pole for the shed already exists and the external repeater is already on the house. It's a Ubiquity unit, so from all the others above who have mentioned it, i'll probably end up going with the Nanostation M2.

      Thanks for the info.

      • knk on 02/02/2018 - 10:45

        What external repeater are you using?

        It's been a while since I touched the ubiquity stuff but from memory the nanostations have a L2 bridging mode you'll want to use. The ubiquity you're using on the house end may not be suitable.

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