Visitor
•
8 Messages
Setting up an access point in my garage without running a line from the house to the garage
Hi there,
I'm a novice with setting up wifi networks but have done a bunch of googling. Within our house we have Xfinity with the Gateway and several Xfi pods.
I have a very industrial garage (think cinder blocks and steel support beams inside). Inside and outside of the house, we have good wifi strength but inside of the garage which is only 25' away, the signal is weak and inconsistent. I've tried an Xfi pod and a range extender inside of the garage suspended near windows but with no luck.
We don't want to tear up the driveway to bury line from the house to the garage. But from my googling, it looks like I can use a device like this (https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-300Mbps-dual-polarized-directional-CPE510/dp/B00P4JKQGK?th=1&linkCode=sl1&tag=arstech20-20&linkId=8254aee63d0690519541c000f99dbf81&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl&psc=1) aimed at my house to pick up the signal from the outside then connect it to an access point (like this one: https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-EAP225-V3-Wireless-Supports/dp/B0781YXFBT?&linkCode=sl1&tag=arstech20-20&linkId=f68acce8272ed3aa311b191735f91bd3&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl ) to rebroadcast the wifi signal in the garage.
Before I go buying everything only to find out that this won't work, has anyone done something similar? If so, am I on the right track with these devices? Do I need anything else?
flatlander3
Problem Solver
•
1.5K Messages
3 years ago
Outdoor access point for that distance should work. Repeater mode (rebroadcasting your SSID) doesn't work as well as straight AP mode (device broadcasts is own SSID). 2.4G is better for distance and construction materials. Sacrifice speed for distance/walls. Line of Sight, and "close is better", so mount it in a good place.
A lot of those are PoE (power over Ethernet) and most of the 3rd party approved gateways and Xfinity gear doesn't have it, so make sure it comes with a power adapter. Use good cat 7 or cat 8 cables.
0
balufudus
Visitor
•
8 Messages
3 years ago
@flatlander3 - I appreciate the response!
So the two items above should do what I'm trying to achieve?
All, I need to add are quality cables to connect the two devices that are linked above and to make sure they both come with a power adapter?
(edited)
0
0
flatlander3
Problem Solver
•
1.5K Messages
3 years ago
1st one is really a "Bridge". That's a point-to-point device. In that mode, you'd need two of them, plus another router to plug the garage to do that, but in the bullet points it does say it supports "AP Mode" -- a stand alone configuration. That's what you want. It should be able to speak b/g/n at 2.4G and 5G for backwards compatibility with older stuff (there will be two radios in it). That one just does 802.11 n (might not work with some devices).
The 2nd one is really for a WiFi mesh system. You can do that too and buy a bunch of them to cover the house, and setup an EAP virtual machine controller on another box (allows device to device roaming) but if you're just trying to get some signal in the garage, a cheap access point is really more of what you are looking for.
Some outdoor access points work better than others. Can't really give you any product recommendations, but look at reviews in a few places (even though most of those are fake). For cheap, you can give it a try and see how well it works. If you don't return stuff all the time, usually you can get your money back or exchange it for something else if it doesn't work out, but I might look for another one that is just an "Access Point" and speaks more standards (b/g/n).
*added -- cabling: Yep, short cable for gateway to power over Ethernet adapter, then longer cable from power over Ethernet adapter/injector to Access Point. Also, if you can find one that speaks 802.11 b/g/n and 802.11 ac/ax at the same time, you are more 'future proof' on comparability issues. Old devices don't speak WiFi 6 (ac/ax). Some new devices don't speak b/g/n. It's an odd transition time and the issue isn't going away any time soon.
(edited)
0
0
balufudus
Visitor
•
8 Messages
3 years ago
@flatlander3 - just to confirm :-) is this image below what you're saying above. BTW, I greatly appreciate all the help!
(edited)
0
0
flatlander3
Problem Solver
•
1.5K Messages
3 years ago
No. That's a bridge mode diagram that isn't what you are looking for. It also doesn't show you that you need TWO of them to make the bridge. It does show you also need an access point with it as well.
You "may" be able to use it in AP mode according to the bullet points, but all of your garage devices must specifically speak 802.11n to talk to it. It 'might' have a repeater mode too. Then you wouldn't need the extra access point on the right.
Here's an example of a cheap access point: https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-EAP110-Outdoor-V3-Installation-Controller/dp/B07CG3YRTR/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=outdoor%2Baccess%2Bpoint&qid=1661883700&sr=8-5&th=1
The config is:
Gateway <---> (power over Ethernet adapter, run Ethernet through the house wall) <---> mount it on the outside of your house, pointed more or less at your garage.
The important bits? Wireless Communication Standard 802.11 b/g/n. Your devices in the garage have to speak one of those protocols. This one does not speak WiFi 6 (802.11ac/ax). New devices may or may not be backwards compatible, it depends on what you have. Most phones are, other things may not be, but b/g/n is pretty universal still.
Just one device. Make it broadcast an SSID different from your regular WiFi network, and you should be able to see and connect to it from your garage. In the config, disable it's DHCP server, and point it at your gateway IP address for DHCP forwarding (10.0.0.1 on Xfinity stuff) -- forward requests directly to your gateway, the gateway does the networking. It's just a radio on the outside of your house and you should see a stronger signal than the one inside your house.
2
0
flatlander3
Problem Solver
•
1.5K Messages
3 years ago
Wow. I'm surprised to hear an outdoor AP 25 feet away didn't cover the garage. I can stream with a Roku from 50 yards on mine.
You don't have to worry about HAARP, EMP attack, or mind control in your garage apparently :)
Point-to-point bridge like you say, must have to be the way you have to do it. You'll need the access point in the garage. The bridge just does the link, like running an Ethernet cable, only with WiFi.
1
0
balufudus
Visitor
•
8 Messages
3 years ago
Hi @flatlander3 , thanks for the help so far!
Here's the status update. I configured the two bridges and when I connected an AP (I got this https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00DWFPDNO?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details) to the client side in the garage, I'm getting stuck.
I configured the Asus with it's own SSID and also shut off DHCP. The Asus admin screen is showing that I'm connecting to the internet via the bridge but any tests (trying to get to a webpage, connecting my fire stick to the Asus SSID, etc.) are all showing that there's no internet.
What other steps should I take?
0
0