Extend Wifi to another house

Big Nelly

Hi

I have wifi in my parents house but there is another house beside it which is about 2M apart. The wifi router is in the middle of parents house so at the moment if you stand just inside the wall in other house you might get 1 bar.

I am looking at options to extend. the Powerline adapters(I think that is name) I would guess will not work as both houses are on separate Electric meters etc.

I was looking at the following:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TL-WA850RE-Universal-Extender-Configuration/dp/B00AHXXJVW/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1417376564&sr=8-10&keywords=wifi+repeater

Or maybe

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Netgear-WN3000RP-200UKS-300Mbps-Universal-Extender/dp/B00NIUHA84/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417377003&sr=8-1&keywords=wifi+repeater

Anyone have experience or know of any other options? something else that might work?

srsly78

Wifi repeaters are rubbish and will halve your bandwidth. Running an ethernet cable between the houses is very dangerous because of AC phase difference.

Easiest solution is to move the router to a window near the neighbouring house. Setup a second overlapping router if this degrades signal in the main house.

braddun

run cat 5 cable

srsly78

braddun wrote: »

run cat 5 cable

Do NOT even consider this without consulting a professional - dangerous!

braddun

cat 5 low voltage no voltage

65535

CAT5 Network Cable has nothing to do with the mains.
It will work up to 100m from the main router
Powerline adaptors might work if both houses are on the same Electricity Transformer (nothing to do with meters)

gctest50

braddun wrote: »

cat 5 low voltage no voltage

shouldn't give advice if you don't know ?

don't do it unless you know what you're at - phase diff n so on

65535

What phase difference are ye talking about ?
There is no mains phase or any type of mains on the CAT5 cable.
It is SELV - Low Voltage - Cable coming from the router to his PC.

Where is the mains or what has the mains got to do with CAT 5 ???

srsly78

braddun wrote: »

cat 5 low voltage no voltage

You should read this: http://networking.nitecruzr.net/2007/04/electrical-issues-in-ethernet.html

wandererz

Drill a small hole into the walls of each house.
Run Cat5 ethernet cable between them.

Use PVC piping outside to run the cable through and embed into the ground. Seal the ends to prevent moisture/bugs etc from getting in.

Purchase a couple of RJ45 wall plates to provide a nice professional finish.

Get a wireless access point and connect in the second house. Connect the end in your first house to a spare port in your broadband modem.

Job done.

Use fiber if buildings are not adequately grounded. But you need optics/gbics on either end=more cost.
Or use a wifi bridge between the buildings.

stevek93

No problem whatsoever running cat5e cables, just make sure it is shielded twisted pair. I think the other poster may be getting confused with electrostatic interface if you are running it along side a power line.

BabyMonkeyy

You could buy one of these if you have the funds for it.


Nighthawk X6 Tri-Band WiFi Router

stevek93

wandererz wrote: »

Drill a small hole into the walls of each house.
Run Cat5 ethernet cable between them.

Use PVC piping outside to run the cable through and embed into the ground. Seal the ends to prevent moisture/bugs etc from getting in.

Purchase a couple of RJ45 wall plates to provide a nice professional finish.

Get a wireless access point and connect in the second house. Connect the end in your first house to a spare port in your broadband modem.

Job done.

Use fiber if buildings are not adequately grounded.

If you are using a access point in the next house make sure your default gateway is different to the other router.

2011

srsly78 wrote: »

Wifi repeaters are rubbish and will halve your bandwidth. Running an ethernet cable between the houses is very dangerous because of AC phase difference.

Although different buildings may be on different phases this does not present any particular danger. There are different phases within any building that has a 3 phase supply, including schools, colleges, hospitals, offices, shops etc...

It is very normal for buildings to have common cables for phones, intercoms, co-axial (for CCTV or TV), power etc...
I would have no concerns about running a CAT5 between buildings. If practical to install it is a good solution.

stevek93 wrote: »

No problem whatsoever running cat5e cables, just make sure it is shielded twisted pair.

If a CAT5E were to become live due to a lightning strike the shield on the cable will make an insignificant difference. At this voltage it jumps air gaps, that is what lightning does in the first place. The purpose of the shield is to prevent interference. Normally the shield would only be terminated to ground at one end anyway.

Mayo Yid

So much bad advice in this thread, this had been discussed here before. DO NO JOIN TWO HOUSES WITH CAT5, COAX OR ANY OTHER COPPER CABLE.

You are joining two electrical systems without a common earth. It can only be done with proper earth bonding, like they do in apartment buildings. Because they are on different phases and have individual earths you could be doubling the voltage if something went wrong. It's a serious fire risk, besides an insurance company would walk away from any claim.

degsie

You are most likely breaking the TOS with your ISP if you are 'sharing' broadband service with another postal address.

2011

Mayo Yid wrote: »

So much bad advice in this thread, this had been discussed here before. DO NO JOIN TWO HOUSES WITH CAT5, COAX OR ANY OTHER COPPER CABLE.

Too late the entire country is already done.

You are joining two electrical systems without a common earth.

At what voltage?
Please explain your concern.

It can only be done with proper earth bonding, like they do in apartment buildings.

Oh so now it can be done?
Equipotential potential bonding should be carried out regardless.

Because they are on different phases and have individual earths you could be doubling the voltage if something went wrong.

Doubling ? Without a transformer? Nice one.
Link please.
So what voltage level would it reach?

It's a serious fire risk,

Baseball on what?
The heat generated in an electrical cable is the current squared times the resistance. Where is the large current coming from?

besides an insurance company would walk away from any claim.

Link?
Can you quote any regulation that backs up your statements?

Once the electrical installation complies with ET101:2008 there will be no issues. There is nothing in these regulations to suggest any issues with running CAT5 cabling between buildings.

demanufactured

degsie wrote: »

You are most likely breaking the TOS with your ISP if you are 'sharing' broadband service with another postal address.

He's not though.
He is extending his LAN.
nothing whatsoever to do with his ISP and none of their business.

Graham

Big Nelly wrote: »

Hi

I have wifi in my parents house but there is another house beside it which is about 2M apart. The wifi router is in the middle of parents house so at the moment if you stand just inside the wall in other house you might get 1 bar.

I am looking at options to extend. the Powerline adapters(I think that is name) I would guess will not work as both houses are on separate Electric meters etc.

I was looking at the following:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TL-WA850RE-Universal-Extender-Configuration/dp/B00AHXXJVW/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1417376564&sr=8-10&keywords=wifi+repeater

Or maybe

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Netgear-WN3000RP-200UKS-300Mbps-Universal-Extender/dp/B00NIUHA84/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417377003&sr=8-1&keywords=wifi+repeater

Anyone have experience or know of any other options? something else that might work?

Before you start following some of the advice here and install Gigabit fibre bundles with a Satellite backup I'll ask the question:

What are you planning to share between the two houses?

If you're talking about sharing an 8MB internet connection for browsing, checking emails/facebook etc then the wifi repeaters are a quick/cheap option. The reduction in throughput from a WiFi repeater is not really going to be noticed.

I have 3 repeaters/extenders around the house (only one of which is wired) and I've never had a problem with speeds even with Netflix running on two devices.

If you're planning on streaming hi-def video between houses then you may need to consider alternatives.

Big Nelly

Thanks everyone for all the replies. In terms of running cables. I will not be doing this. There is kids always staying around the house and cables are a no no. I have run network cables before so I know what to do but I won't be doing that. Too much risk with kids around.

The internet connection to the main house is only 2MB at most, as in the country and BB is sh*t.

Really all I will be using the internet for is browsing and getting emails. It hard to stream in the main house so won't even bother in the second house. Also as it is holiday home was thinking of getting Climote installed so I can turn on/off the heating remotely. So need a connection to wifi for this.

I thought with the Powerline adapters you had to be in the same house? as mentioned the houses are just over 1M apart, they have separate meters but connect back to the same transformer at main road. Would these work?

As only need low speed connection and will only be used a couple of times a year I thought the cheapest way would be a wifi repeater. There is plug in main house at wall which is beside the second house so my plan was just to plug it in there to boost into second house.

The second house is a small 2 bed bungalow so not looking to cover a huge area. The Climote system would also be on the wall facing the main house.

Graham

You're correct about the Powerline extenders, they're very unlikely to be suitable.

Go for the repeater. With a 2Mb internet connection, your connection speed isn't going to be effected by introducing a repeater.

P.S. if the heating in the holiday home is a single zone system, it's worth taking a look at the Nest system as well as the Climote.

Big Nelly

Graham wrote: »

You're correct about the Powerline extenders, they're very unlikely to be suitable.

Go for the repeater. With a 2Mb internet connection, your connection speed isn't going to be effected by introducing a repeater.

P.S. if the heating in the holiday home is a single zone system, it's worth taking a look at the Nest system as well as the Climote.

Putting Climote into my own house in next few weeks, got a deal off Airtricity to get for free

I know where to get the Nest system so I think I will put one into my house with Climote and test it out. No point spending lots of money in house that is holiday home as only used a couple of times a year. The ability to turn on the heating before I arrive would be great. Also to stick on for an hour a day or when the temp drop will be great

I think the repeater is best option. Now looking for idea's on which are best? or do they all do the same job and just get cheapest?

Graham

That TP-Link repeater didn't look too bad and for the price it's looking cheaper than some of the no-name products.

By the look of it, there's an updated version available too http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TL-WA854RE-Universal-Extender-Configuration/dp/B00KVIXCCO/ref=sr_1_2?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1417427397&sr=1-2

Added: the first one you linked too has an Ethernet port.

ItHurtsWhenIP

Big Nelly wrote: »

Also as it is holiday home was thinking of getting Climote installed so I can turn on/off the heating remotely. So need a connection to wifi for this.

I have a Climote installed and it doesn't connect via WiFi, but by a SIM card which Climote provides (once you identify who gives you the best signal). I originally presumed it would hook up through my WiFi, but was told that wasn't going to be the case.

Big Nelly

MMFITWGDV wrote: »

I have a Climote installed and it doesn't connect via WiFi, but by a SIM card which Climote provides (once you identify who gives you the best signal). I originally presumed it would hook up through my WiFi, but was told that wasn't going to be the case.

You are correct, I forgot that....

jem

Hi Simular situation.
Have efiber in office behind the house(separate buildings)
Ran cat5 into house 3 cables- one sitting room, and to two bedrooms.
Have belkin router in sitting room to give wifi.
The wifi isnt great in the house and wondering should I change the router there(existing one 2/3 years there) if so what should I get want to boost the wifi in house.
Thanks in advance

srsly78

You should set up multiple wifi access points to provide coverage where it is needed. Do not expect one device to cover everywhere.

jem

Its terrible even in the next room. Bearing in mind it is meant to be efiber super fast and all that,

Graham

jem wrote: »

Its terrible even in the next room. Bearing in mind it is meant to be efiber super fast and all that,

Efibre is just a faster internet connection to your router. It doesn't extend the abilities of wireless signals to penetrate more walls. If you're in a built up area, there's a good possibility that your router is competing with neighbours.

As srsly78 suggested, look at adding additional wireless access points. Take a look at the devices linked at the start of this thread.

srsly78

Your internet speed has no relation to your wifi speed.

Bog Standard User

Big Nelly wrote: »

Hi

I have wifi in my parents house but there is another house beside it which is about 2M apart. The wifi router is in the middle of parents house so at the moment if you stand just inside the wall in other house you might get 1 bar.

I am looking at options to extend. the Powerline adapters(I think that is name) I would guess will not work as both houses are on separate Electric meters etc.

I was looking at the following:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TL-WA850RE-Universal-Extender-Configuration/dp/B00AHXXJVW/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1417376564&sr=8-10&keywords=wifi+repeater

Or maybe

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Netgear-WN3000RP-200UKS-300Mbps-Universal-Extender/dp/B00NIUHA84/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417377003&sr=8-1&keywords=wifi+repeater

Anyone have experience or know of any other options? something else that might work?

best option is buy a 3rd party wifi router with WAN port & detachable antennae and buy a good set of high gain antennae to attach to the 3rd party router. bridge your modem to it and connect the high gain antennae to the 3rd party router.

something like this http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-2-4GHz-20dBi-High-Gain-RP-N-Male-Router-Omni-WiFi-Wireless-Boost-Antenna-/400490498148

buy at least 2 one for RX and one for TX connectors

should double if not triple the range

jem

Bog Standard User wrote: »

something like this http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-2-4GHz-20dBi-High-Gain-RP-N-Male-Router-Omni-WiFi-Wireless-Boost-Antenna-/400490498148

buy at least 2 one for RX and one for TX connectors

should double if not triple the range

Sorry I dont understand this.

Bog Standard User

jem wrote: »

Sorry I dont understand this.

most decent routers have 2x or 3x antennae

if you buy a router that you can unscrew the antennae then u can buy higher gain (stronger signal strength & range) antennae which you can screw onto the rx (receiver) and tx (transmitter) connector on the back of the modem.

doing this can triple the range and allow you get a good solid signal in your other house

see video below