How to Boost Your Wi-Fi Outdoors | Global News Avenue

If your Wi-Fi connection terminates at a backdoor, you may have trouble connecting laptop, Projector or big screen tv Have a big game or movie night. You can move the router closer to your yard or front porch as long as the Ethernet cable can reach you, but that doesn’t always solve the problem.

With the increase in outdoor activities smart device – include light, security camera and garage door opener — You need to be able to extend Wi-Fi beyond the exterior walls of your home. It can be tricky, but with the right hardware, you can stream video while admiring your garden, or post photos to social media from your front yard. (For more Wi-Fi tips, check out Why your router might be in the wrong location and our Home Internet Cheat Sheet.)

If you want to use Wi-Fi outdoors, try a weatherproof device

Most of the options our CNET writers have explored over the years don’t require you to drill holes or run new wiring outdoors. However, getting reliable, fast Wi-Fi outdoors may require an initial investment. Setting it up the right way may cost you more initially, but in the long run it will require very little maintenance and provide you with good coverage.

Using a Wi-Fi device placed outside may be your best option. There aren’t many cheap options, so you have to decide which setup is best for your home.

an outdoor Wi-Fi extender Sometimes called a wireless access point or wireless repeater, this is probably the most straightforward option since it’s the only solution that requires external mounting hardware. Many of these devices are enterprise-grade, but some manufacturers also have consumer-grade outdoor extenders. These devices are built to be exposed to the elements year-round, and their hardware is capable of wirelessly communicating with your router to give you good Wi-Fi coverage outside your home.

The first step is to find an extender that’s compatible with your current router, or you can purchase a new router and extenders to upgrade your entire network. There aren’t many wireless extenders designed specifically for the outdoors, but some notable manufacturers include Netgear, Ubiquiti, EnGenius, and Hawking.

Next, check the protection level of the packaging and the temperature range the device can withstand. The IP rating defines a device’s resistance to weathering, primarily dust and water. The highest rating is IP69, which means it’s completely dustproof and can withstand prolonged submersion underwater.

Another option is a slightly more sophisticated outdoor access point – e.g. Access Point U6 Mesh Network From Ubiquiti – Allows you to set separate modes for 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks. This setup is a little more advanced, but you don’t have to drill holes or run new cables.

You set the 5GHz band to wireless bridge mode and the 2.4GHz band to access point mode. This makes your 5GHz band a dedicated backhaul link to your router and allows your outdoor devices to connect via 2.4GHz. This setup will limit your speeds slightly, but you should still be able to take full advantage of the 2.4GHz bandwidth and the extra range it comes with.

Indoor mesh Wi-Fi systems may be easier, but more expensive

Another option is to utilize an indoor mesh Wi-Fi system. These typically feature a router and one or two satellite units and can cover an area of ​​up to 5,000 square feet. most Latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau It shows that 50% of U.S. homes are between 1,800 and 2,999 square feet, with another 27% being 1,799 square feet and less. The bottom line is that most of us don’t have homes as big as 5,000 square feet, so with the right placement, you’ll be able to get good coverage outdoors with a mesh system. You might sacrifice a little indoor speed or coverage by moving satellite units, but most of the time best grid system is expandable and additional units can be added.

Each satellite unit only requires one power outlet to plug in the power adapter. No Ethernet cable is required. The idea of ​​extending Wi-Fi outdoors is to place the mesh router in the center of your home and place the satellite units as close to the exterior as possible. There are limits on how far apart units can be placed. For example, ASUS support It is recommended that each unit be placed within 10 to 15 meters (approximately 33 to 50 feet) of other units.

Link system Tell one of our writers it’s a three-piece set for the interior Velop grid system Can help with outdoor coverage. Each unit covers approximately 2,000 square feet, so if you place one of these units 5 to 10 feet away from a concrete exterior wall, you can improve your outdoor coverage. Everyone’s home environment is different, so results may vary. Your best bet is to place the satellite unit near a window or door.

However, there are more potential problems with this setup.

Generally speaking, most mesh satellites link directly back to the router, rather than linking to the nearest satellite first and then linking back to the router. This means you won’t be able to wirelessly daisy-chain them sequentially to extend the signal in one direction. This is part of the reason why it’s best to place your router in the center of your home.

Additionally, your exterior walls can still interfere with and weaken your signal, especially at 5GHz. You may want to try different locations to determine which one is best for outdoor coverage in your environment.

If you’re not familiar with Wi-Fi signals, they are measured in decibels of milliwatts. The signal reading will be negative, so the closer to zero the better. You want a signal between -60dBm and -30dBm (which is best). That’s your sweet spot. If you see -80dBm or -90dBm or less, your signal is almost non-existent.

The price of grid systems has begun to come down, but they are still quite expensive. However, you don’t need to spend more than a few hundred dollars to buy a decent, up-to-date system. For example, Amazon’s Eero 6 Plus Performing well in our tests, the three-piece system can cover areas up to 4,500 square feet about $200. Another of our top picks, the two-piece TP-Link Deco W7200 Mesh Router5,500 square feet, cost $150 on amazon.

You may be tempted to leave your indoor router or satellite device outside in a covered area or in a weatherproof enclosure. This may work in the short term, but the risk factor is high. The device may overheat or freeze. Humidity is also a factor, as is foreign matter like dust and insects, which can clog the unit’s vents. Not to mention leaving indoor equipment outside will void your warranty.

Indoor range extenders – cheaper but less reliable

You can replicate the above mesh network setup using a regular router combined with an indoor Wi-Fi range extender or repeater. This option is a bit cheaper and uses an extender instead of a mesh satellite unit. This method is a little more complicated to set up, but you shouldn’t have too much trouble following the quick start guide that comes with the extender. Many newer devices, such as the well-tested D-Link EaglePro AIdesigned to work with different routers.

Keep in mind that most wireless extenders will cut your Wi-Fi signal in half because they receive the wireless signal and then rebroadcast that signal using the same radio on the same channel. Expect slower speeds when connected to an extender rather than a router. One way to solve this problem is to use a tri-band extender with an additional 5GHz network that can act as a dedicated link to the router. This will help you get the maximum bandwidth from your extender.

Keep in mind that many routers can also be used as extenders, so another option is to buy a new router and use your old one as a wired or wireless extender. Check your current router to see if it can be used as a wireless access point or extender. Your new router will most likely give you better coverage, including outdoors, so using your old router as an extender can give you the extra boost in Wi-Fi coverage you need.

Between these two setups, one of the big advantages of a mesh system over a router-and-extender is that the mesh devices create a single network, so you don’t have to reconnect to Wi-Fi when you move from room to room or outside. Fi. Generally speaking, mesh systems are designed so that your phone or laptop automatically connects to the nearest mesh unit without any problems. When you have an extender, you have two networks, one for the router and one for the extender, and you may need to switch between the two networks as you move around. Additionally, having two networks can cause mutual interference, especially on 2.4GHz.

Powerline adapters are a last resort for outdoor Wi-Fi

An inexpensive option is to use a powerline adapter, which uses existing in-wall wiring to extend the signal. You can plug some into an outdoor electrical outlet, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find one that’s affordable and weather-resistant. Indoor power cord adapters may also overheat if they are plugged into a covered outdoor outlet.

A temporary solution is to use an indoor Wi-Fi powerline adapter, such as Zyxel power line seriesyou can plug it into an indoor outlet where you need better coverage. Your outdoor range won’t be huge, but it should improve your current setup.

What’s the bottom line?

The simplest option for extending Wi-Fi outdoors is to use a mesh system and additional satellite units. This should provide hundreds of square feet of coverage outside your home. Grid systems can be expensive, but are usually easy to set up for novice users.

In theory, your best option would be to use an outdoor extender, but aside from the Orbi Outdoor, there aren’t many consumer-rated products. TP-Link also offers outdoor units, Deco X50-Outdoorcertified waterproof and dustproof. We haven’t had a chance to test the unit yet, but we’ll update this article soon.