Network switch with wifi for garden office

[Notch7]

Can anybody advice my best option:

I have plusnet fibre in house with vdsl router and wifi
I have run Cat6 cable down to my garden office which is 20metres from house. My pc is plugged into it.

I would like to set up wifi in the office. I was thinking of a network switch with wifi.
My concern is that the office does get a weak wifi signal from house router. Does that matter, or do I just need to make sure I pick the correct wifi signal when logging on any device.

I also want to use wifi for mobile phone calls?

TIA

 

[stem]

I had a similar situation. Originally I was told that if both routers were given the same name and password my laptop will pick up the strongest signal. However I have a Sonos speaker system on wifi distributed around the house and it seemed to confuse it somewhat.

So I changed the router names and you are right, my laptop will often stick with the weaker signal, but it's easy just to select the other one.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

You can just reuse an old wifi router for the purpose. My fibre router is in the loft, the one which actually connects to the broadband - that connects to an old copper broadband router downstairs, via Cat6. No need to set both up with the same name/password, so long as you set devices up to connect to either one automatically. DHCP needs to be disabled on the sub-router, enabled on the main-router and each device set to use the main-routers DHCP.

Both routers offer dual band wifi.

Once logged into one router, access does seem to be slightly sticky to that router, but if I turn a device on close to a router offering a better signal it will usually switch itself.

 

[Mottie]

Wouldn’t a powerline adaptor work for you? The adaptor in the office will have an Ethernet connection as well as putting out its own WiFi signal. I know one person on this forum doesn't like this, says it wont work, says you'll get interference but I’ve always found it works well.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Wouldn’t a powerline adaptor work for you? The adaptor in the office will have an Ethernet connection as well as putting out its own WiFi signal. I know some people don’t like this but I’ve always found it works well.

Why, when he already has the CAT6 cable in place?

 

[Mottie]

Why, when he already has the CAT6 cable in place?

Because he said he wanted wifi up there. He can do that with a powerline adaptor with no technical knowledge in 30 seconds for 30 odd quid. Has he got a spare router and the time, inclination and knowledge to reconfigure one and set it up? I don't know but it seems like a lot of ****ing about to save 30 quid. I know what route I'd choose every time.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Because he said he wanted wifi up there. He can do that with a powerline adaptor with no technical knowledge in 30 seconds for 30 odd quid. Has he got a spare router and the time, inclination and knowledge to reconfigure one and set it up? I don't know but it seems like a lot of ****ing about to save 30 quid. I know what route I'd choose every time.

Most people who have been on the Internet a while will have spare router / modems about. I keep chucking them out, but I must have around six spares ones in stock, including one identical and ready set up to plug into my FTTC, so that should my present one fail - I can swap it out without delay. A router takes no more setting up than your mains signalling solution, but will be much faster and much more reliable.

..and yes, I do have a pair of powerline adaptors I only keep them for those times when I need a temporary LAN where I don't have one at the moment.

 

[IT Minion]

Cat6 beats powerline every day of the week for performance and for stability.

But perhaps the key point is: if you use the existing cat6 you need a new wireless access point, if you use powerline then you need a wireless access point and some powerline adaptors. More cost, effort and time compared to just plugging into the existing wires.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

if you use the existing cat6 you need a new wireless access point

As said, he likely will not even need the access point if he already has a surplus router kicking around.