Sharing Wi-Fi between House and Granny Flat

keeperofthegood on 14/04/2025 - 16:29
Last edited 14/04/2025 - 16:39

I've just purchased a property with a granny flat and I'm trying to work out the best means of running Wifi to the GF before I move there next month.

The GF is roughly 15m distance (or just slightly less) from the house across an open back garden with no trees obstructing. Here's a google shot of it (note the fence cutting across the lawn is no longer there): https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/506060/120956/14.5m_sp…

I'll be working from the GF full time, so need reliable enough internet connection for Teams meetings etc.

I will have NBN FTTP 250mbps through Leaptel (could bump to 1000 if need be). I currently have Google Mesh Wifi as my home network, which I would prefer to use around the house if possible, and also would love to use for the whole system setup including GF if it will work. I own two of these systems, so I have a router and 5x wifi points available if need be. But I'm also not sure if a Wifi point on either end of the yard will be strong enough to work.

I don't think I will be able to run a cable to the GF as there are several concrete footpaths etc that would be too difficult to trench under. I'm also hoping for a more simple solution if possible.

I don't really have a budget in mind, but am hoping for something that's both simple and affordable. I just bought my first home so I have very little disposable money left over. That said, I have to continue to work so I will spend what I need to spend to get the job done.

I'm reasonably computer literate, but also not ultra technical. I would lean towards the most simple solution if possible.

Many thanks in advance for the help!

Computing Wi-Fi

Comments

  • Jolakot on 14/04/2025 - 16:44
    +5

    15m is pushing it for mesh, but given it's outside you might just be able to get away with it, I'd try this first before ordering anything.

    I've used powerline adaptors for something similar in the past, but highly variable as it depends on how the wiring was done.

    Best guaranteed solution would be wireless point-to-point, requires a bit of external mounting but pretty simple to get going with a youtube tutorial. You need a mesh node for each end, plus the point-to-point system itself, which will cost around $200 for the cheap Chinese models (Kuwifi etc).

    • keeperofthegood on 14/04/2025 - 16:47
      +1

      Thanks for answering! This is helpful.

      The GF is on its own separate circuit so powerline won't work, sadly.

      With the point-to-point system, are you saying I ethernet out of one mesh node, plug into the mounted antenna at either end of the yard, and form a beam/bridge type thing?

      • Jolakot on 14/04/2025 - 17:47

        Yep, imagine you're running an Ethernet cable across your yard, but you cut the cable at both ends and use a wireless bridge instead. The better systems are indistinguishable from Ethernet, as long as you have clear line of sight.

        Plenty of other options that will work, but will be annoying to use for applications that require a consistent network connection like Teams.

    • Dr Phil on 15/04/2025 - 08:04
      -1

      Why not just run a cat 5 cable out there?

      Just run it through an electrical conduit and bury it.

      • Jolakot on 15/04/2025 - 12:42
        +1

        "Just" is doing a lot of heavy lifting here, doing it cleanly would be a real pain in the ass as you'd have to go underneath the house and granny flat to start/terminate the run.

        Would be a good solution, but way more effort than it's worth when wireless bridges are cheap and pretty easy to install.

    • Ramrunner on 17/04/2025 - 20:46

      Well really at 15 metres a trench and an ethernet cable or two would be best bet unless obstructed, but if obstructed the ubiquiti Nano stations can be had usually for about $100 each so no need to go Chinese?

  • bdl on 14/04/2025 - 16:46
    +8

    This https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/135611256380 - basically you provide power on both ends and it gives you an ethernet port on each end

    • geekcohen on 14/04/2025 - 17:08
      +1

      Exactly this. At the GF end, you can out an access point that is the same wifi as the house and away you go. Seamless switch. These TP link bridge kits are great because they also do 5GHZ wifi outside so you have wifi between and around there two locations. I use this all the time for Starlink installations.

      • keeperofthegood on 14/04/2025 - 17:16

        Would I be best to convert over to a TP Link mesh system so it's more seamless? Bearing in mind that Google Mesh nodes (aside from the router which will be in another part of the house) don't have ethernet ports to use the bridge kit as an output.

        • bdl on 14/04/2025 - 17:20
          +3

          No need, you can just add a cheap AP in your granny flat. Leave your Google Mesh in your house if it's set up and working to your satisfaction (which it sounds like it is).

          These bridge kits can also work through glass if you don't want to run cabling outside, for a few years I had some 3m command stripped to windows with vague line of sight and the bridge was fine. You can try that first for testing then move them outside if they don't give you the speed you want.

    • hashtagbargain on 14/04/2025 - 23:26

      Thanks, TIL. Theoretically can this be used to share internet across neighbourhood houses, while sharing a high speed connection? Think of the $ savings.

      • geekcohen on 15/04/2025 - 05:44
        +4

        Yes, that is possible, but it can be against some TOS of ISPs. Then there is your personal security element too….. you would probably want to isolate all of those houses so no one can see other peoples stuff on the network, the hardware in that can be a bit costly, so it might not be saving a lot anyway. The savings could take a while to recoup.

        Before Bridging Kits/PtP Links were really a thing, my dad modified two APs with external dish antennas to talk to one another and we shared the internet with my grandparents who were 3kms away line of site from hill to hill. It was from two different suburbs too! Berwick to Narre Warren South.

  • GordonD on 14/04/2025 - 17:24
    +1

    The range of wifi inside a house is as short as it is because it has to go through walls. Walls are what attenuate radio signals. In open air with no obstacles 15 metres is no problem. The problem in getting a signal in the granny flat from your house wifi isn't the distance, it is the solid outer wall of your house, and the similar one on the granny flat.

    The first thing to do before you spend any money is to try it. See if you get a decent signal and speed.

    If you don't the simplest way to get a connection is with a mesh system with the two ends of the link visible to each other. On the walls of the two buildings that face each other, and preferable in windows so they only have to push the signal through glass, not a brick wall. In fact the second thing you'd try after you see if it works with everything where it is now, is to move you wifi modem to a window on the wall that faces the granny flat, and checking if you got a decent speed with just that. I can get a signal halway down the street with my wifi on a (inside) windowsill on that side of the house.

  • adam on 14/04/2025 - 17:34
    +1

    A good mesh device will easily covered 15m if it is unobstructed, particularly if not going through any metal in walls. Although maybe only on the lower frequencies (2.4Ghz will go further & through more things than 5Ghz). You can get over 250Mbps on 2.4Ghz wifi with Wifi 6 (802.11ax). Also, if you find a device with 40Mhz channel width instead of 20Mhz it's going to be able to get the full speed easier.

  • 87percent on 14/04/2025 - 18:42
    +14

    Kept reading “gf” as girlfriend and was wondering why you want to run a cable to her (unless she’s a cyborg)

    • Worf on 14/04/2025 - 20:04
      +6

      Went back to re-read the post but substituted girlfriend for grannyfriend… interesting twist

    • AngoraFish on 14/04/2025 - 21:25
      +2

      See, I always read that as gluten free :-/

  • thatonethere on 14/04/2025 - 18:48
    -1

    Id cable it directly even if it is not a direct route you have easy 100m to play with. Bridges will just let you down one day.

    Doesnt have to go underground could follow a fence line.

  • bargaino on 14/04/2025 - 19:17
    +1

    What is the ground like?
    Here in Perth, with sand everywhere, it is dead easy to run ethernet. And well worth it.

    You just need conduit and a garden hose to "trench" under a concrete footpath.
    How about an overhead line, between the two rooftops? Or along the fenceline?

  • CodeXD on 14/04/2025 - 19:44
    +3

    I'll be working from the GF full time

    👀

  • AustriaBargain on 14/04/2025 - 19:57

    If you're renting out the house to strangers and sharing the internet, might make more sense to have your own router and split the connection from the NBN box to your router and their router. Or put some thought into it anyway, are they going to be humbugging you every time they have any kind of networking issues?

    • GordonD on 14/04/2025 - 20:32

      split the connection from the NBN box to your router and their router

      You can do that?

      • AustriaBargain on 14/04/2025 - 21:28
        +1

        Hmmm, might need a third router actually. Looks like FTTP NBN boxes can have multiple connections so you can give the tenants in the main house their own port and let them troubleshoot it with their own ISP, but only if the granny flat pays separate rates and is deemed a separate dwelling by the local council https://www.southernphone.com.au/help/nbn/common-questions-a…

        • GordonD on 15/04/2025 - 11:54

          That was the justification for the original expensive NBN fibre NTU having 4 ports and supporting 4 separate services. Supporting additional separate premises from one fibre line coming onto the block. No-one's using it. It was just one of the original bad decisions in the NBN architecture that put up its cost to make it the technical best possible, rather than making it an OzBargain that everyone would buy.

  • AndyC1 on 14/04/2025 - 20:43
    -1

    Reliable === CAT5E at a depth of 60Cm in conduit IMHO.

    • bargaino on 14/04/2025 - 22:10

      That is terrible advice. For one thing, at that depth you risk digging up the mains power cable.
      150mm is common.

      • jv on 14/04/2025 - 22:37
        -1

        Isn't 300mm the legal minimum unless under concrete?

        • bargaino on 14/04/2025 - 22:54

          No. Minimum for what?

  • 7ekn00 on 14/04/2025 - 22:36
    +6

    Conduit and cable, don't worry about burying it ;)

    Ethernet runs fine up to 100m (I have a 75m run to a shed along the side of a path) :P

  • oooooooo ahhhhhhh on 15/04/2025 - 10:38

    Hard wire will be the much better alternative, even if speeds are the same your ping will be unstable compared to a straight connection. Plus like someone else said if you wanted to rent out the GF you can much easier split into two seperate networks with a hardwire as well.

  • netjock on 15/04/2025 - 11:19

    Is granny flat on same power meter? Powerline adaptor might be alternative.

  • orangehead911 on 15/04/2025 - 12:23
    -1

    Get a Ubiquiti outdoor access point such as the Ubiquiti UAP-AC-M or later. Provides great coverage and should easily provide the GF with WiFi.

  • Rockets84 on 15/04/2025 - 14:45
    +2

    If it was me using the granny flat as my office I'd trench a conduit and run a pre terminated outdoor rated 20m fibre cable in it but I'm a network engineer so my needs are a bit different. I wouldn't run a copper ethernet cable due to the possibility of lightning strike damage, my parents house has their NBN FTTN node right out the front and got hit last year and blew the hell out of their modem, PC, switch and TV which was connected to the switch. Next option would be a 60Ghz "wireless wire" building bridge kit, Mikrotik has the RBwAPG-60adkit 1Gbps rated at $400. Ubiquiti also has one that integrates into their UniFi platform. After that would be 5.8Ghz bridge kit. I'd avoid a 2.4Ghz bridge kit purely becasue there's not many channels in the 2.4Ghz and it would be easy to overlap with a neighbour.

    • Leo Getz on 15/04/2025 - 22:42

      This is the answer in regard to using fibre.
      General copper cabling is not rated for underground installation regardless of being in conduit but there is special jell filled copper that can be put underground.
      Apart from lightning strike there is a risk of an earth difference between the 2 buildings across the copper.
      As the property owner have fun explaining that to your insurance company when disaster strikes, lightning or otherwise.

  • 2esc on 15/04/2025 - 15:47

    A mate runs a business fulltime out of his shed we buried conduit with cat 6a cable right beside the footpath at a depth of approximately 100mm for about 30m.

    We also had 2 footpaths (each 1200mm wide) to go under we initially slid a rod underneath to make room for the conduit.

    Yes took a couple hours fiddling but a direct cable is consistently better and reliable even if you were looking for it you can't see evidence of it.

    In Victoria, Australia, there isn't a legal requirement to bury ethernet cables underground. For data cabling that is permanent though there is legal requirement to hire a registered cabler.

    Now he has no plans to sell the property it will never be questioned and if it ever was well he will say it was just temporary.

  • katz on 01/05/2025 - 19:27
    +2

    Pay a sparky to run a CAT6 cable to the granny flat as a Satellite device from your MESH network. Best thing to do trust me.

    • Ramrunner on 05/05/2025 - 15:47
      +1

      Or put a switch in and run the satellite device out of that leaving a few more ports for wiring up things that can be hardwired such as TVs etc.

  • Geekomatic on 02/05/2025 - 16:44

    A few years ago, I rented a house w/GF that I used as my office for a few months. I ended up using firmware from DD-WRT to flash a cheap router I already had turning it into a wireless bridge. That allowed the ethernet ports to function in addition to the wifi. Worked fine for my uses.

    My modem was sitting in the middle of a double-brick house. The router location in the flat was 30m away.

  • jbird84 on 07/05/2025 - 13:08
    +2

    I had nearly the same situation (except it was maybe 10m instead of 15) and after having tried wireless bridges and repeaters and such from inside the structures, we found that running cat5e to an access point inside the granny flat was much better and more reliable. In our case we already had an overhead coax cable going from the main house to the flat so we just zip-tied the cat5 to that.

    • Ramrunner on 07/05/2025 - 14:57
      +1

      Agreed - wired is always better. But I'd go with 6A cable now. For futureproofing and it's not expensive.

      • jbird84 on 07/05/2025 - 15:27
        +2

        Yes of course, agreed on the 6a nowadays. I'm just showing my age with the 5e :)

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