Wifi Into a Metal Building For SDR Use

kingshootr

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Would anyone have advice (layman's language) for getting the wifi signal from my house into a metal building (my radio shack/metal shop/cigar lounge)? I'm only a SDR listener but wifi is necessary (duh) to use it.

I'm struggling to find info on the interwebs that explains if things like a yagi or other external wifi-specific antenna will receive as well as send.

My situation is:

5G wifi router in the house that broadcasts very well. I can get 3 out of 5 bars outside the building 75ft away.

WiFi Plot Drawing.png

The house is stick built, and router is inside but towards the end of the house facing the building. I can't do a trench with cable - too many obstacles. Ideally I'd like to put a decent quality exterior antenna outside the building to better pick up the signal. Putting at exterior antenna on the router is an absolute last resort - pushback from the missus.

What I'm not finding is information detailing if signal can be sent back to the house router. Do some models of exterior wifi antennas boost the signal going back towards the router?


Thanks.
 

dave3825

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I'm only a SDR listener but wifi is necessary (duh) to use it.

WIFI is not needed to use an sdr.

There are many options to get Wifi in the cave.

You could use a long range wifi extender.

If you can run a LAN cable out there you could use a wifi repeater


You could run a yagi of your home wifi
 

kingshootr

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I'll need internet connection for programming and updating the software. I read on all the ads for exterior antennas that they pull in signals just fine.

I'm trying to find info about if these or other exterior antennas are capable of reliably talking back to the house.

LAN is not an option.
 

popnokick

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Would anyone have advice (layman's language) for getting the wifi signal from my house into a metal building (my radio shack/metal shop/cigar lounge)? I'm only a SDR listener but wifi is necessary (duh) to use it.

I'm struggling to find info on the interwebs that explains if things like a yagi or other external wifi-specific antenna will receive as well as send.

My situation is:

5G wifi router in the house that broadcasts very well. I can get 3 out of 5 bars outside the building 75ft away.

View attachment 171507

The house is stick built, and router is inside but towards the end of the house facing the building. I can't do a trench with cable - too many obstacles. Ideally I'd like to put a decent quality exterior antenna outside the building to better pick up the signal. Putting at exterior antenna on the router is an absolute last resort - pushback from the missus.

What I'm not finding is information detailing if signal can be sent back to the house router. Do some models of exterior wifi antennas boost the signal going back towards the router?


Thanks.
Do you have ANY signal inside the outbuilding coming from the router in the house? Use a laptop computer or cellphone with WiFi to see if you have a WiFi signal from the house, even if it is only barely detectable. If you DO have some signal inside the outbuilding, then consider using WiFi mesh devices. This is NOT a WiFi "extender" solution but rather two active WiFi mesh devices that discover each other when operating. The mesh device placed in the outbuilding will receive the low-level signal from the mesh unit in the house, actively (not passively as with an extender) amplify the signal, and rebroadcast it inside the outbuilding. This is all done seamlessly without have to make channel / band selections, setup SSIDs for the two locations, etc. The newest mesh units employ the much improved WiFi 6 and 7 specifications and are available from multiple different makers such as Arris, NETGEAR, and Eero. They are vastly improved over WiFi mesh that was around a few years ago. Here are links for more info -
 

dkcorlfla

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What about simply using a USB WiFi adapter that has a external antenna connector on it. Alfa makes some excellent models. Mount the adapter on the inside of the steel building and use a short section of coax (jumper) so the antenna can be mounted outside.

On the inside of the building if needed a USB extension cable could be used in the case the adapter needs to be mounted farther away from the operator desk.

On the outside a flat panel WiFi antenna would offer a lot of gain.

The main thing you will want to do is to get the antenna out of the Faraday cage.

Keep the jumper coax as short as possible.

Hope this helps, Dale
 

kingshootr

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I don't know if I can use a mesh - my internet provider uses one of those modem/router combo units. I don't have the model/info of it as I'm only there part time right now - but I will get it to see if a mesh can be incorporated. Even if I need a home module plus the remote one, that'd be fine - I just have to see how to get them talking to the modem.

The external USB antenna is interesting but I think the ability of a mesh system would surpass it.

Great info - thank you.
 

popnokick

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I don't know if I can use a mesh - my internet provider uses one of those modem/router combo units. I don't have the model/info of it as I'm only there part time right now - but I will get it to see if a mesh can be incorporated. Even if I need a home module plus the remote one, that'd be fine - I just have to see how to get them talking to the modem.

The external USB antenna is interesting but I think the ability of a mesh system would surpass it.

Great info - thank you.
It is EXTREMELY likely that the modem/router combo supplied by your Internet provider has one (or more) Ethernet RJ45 outlet(s) on it. Simply connect a short RJ45 Ethernet jumper cable (which is usually supplied with the mesh node) between the outlet on the router to the mesh node as described in the instructions that come with the node. ALSO - if you use the mesh nodes solution, disable / turn off the WiFi option in the modem / router. That way it will not be competing with the mesh node for channel usage.
 

BinaryMode

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What's your budget? That ORBI stuff is waaaay over priced. You might be able to get a Grandstream long rang AP (Access Point) and use the mesh option in that. I'm sure most modern day equipment will allow you to use mesh. You could pull out your favorite search engine or chat AI and learn how to do this.

This is an AP that might work well providing it can mesh with your router/modem.


If you go this route I'd check in at Grandstream's forum and see if there are posts about this unit...

I have an enterprise grade setup using OPNsense, a managed switch, PoE injector and a Grandstream AP. I bet it blows away that ORBI overpriced crap... (can't believe what they want for some cheap electronics. Absolutely ridiculous).

Edit-

Why do companies and even ISP companies chose to market Wi-Fi as some kind of product? People that chose to use nothing but Wi-Fi and get sold into all the buzz words are truly ignorant about networking. Especially since A) All devices should use Ethernet whenever possible B) only use Wi-Fi for devices that only use Wi-Fi and C) With the outrageous higher frequencies now with 802.11ac or 802.11ax you do need mesh devices as the higher frequencies will perform very poorly in a large house. Thus the massive marketing and price gouging on mesh crap. Ethernet your stuff! Use MoCA if you want...

In summary, Wi-Fi, the set of 802.11 standards, is NOT a marketing ploy of some sort. Though, devices that want to be labeled as Wi-Fi need to pass certain certifications... Again, the marketing of "Wi-Fi" to ignorant customers is deafening. Use Ethernet as best as you can. Maybe one day Li-Fi will take over. I hope it does to be honest. Doesn't really look like it though.
 
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kingshootr

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I hear you on ethernet, it's just a pain to do in an existing house vs the convenience of wifi. In my case, it would be immensely difficult to run a line to the building - the topography is uneven and rock laden.

May I ask for some clarification on a couple things?

Regarding mesh, I agree am 99% certain there is an ethernet port on the ISP's "all-in-one" modem/router, so hooking up a separate router wouldn't be a problem. However:

I'm in the process of moving up there permanently and my current home router is this:

Reyee AX3200 WiFi 6 Router

It's been a reliable beast covering my house and outside - through block walls even. It'd be really cool if I can use this at the cabin and have something at the shop to interact with it. If I'm reading the manufacturers info correctly, it is "mesh compatible"(?)).

Reyee Mesh Instructions

And if that all is true, would this extender be usable in this manner - install this at the shop:

Reyee Extender

It isn't weatherproof, but I can find a dry spot outside to mount it.

So, if all this is possible, perhaps when the time comes, I can at least try this setup.

What do you think?
 

popnokick

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Yes indeed, and the procedure would be to add a 2nd Reyee AX3200 which will eventually be placed in your shop. HOWEVER, for initial configuration of the shop's mesh node you'll need to place it near the primary Reyee AX3200 in the house and follow the Setup instructions in the "3 - Add A Reyee Unit" section of the Quick Installation Guide. Chances are it will work fine if you put it in the shop next to the wall / window on the same side as the house. No need to have it outdoors. The extender might work but I think you'll have better experience with a 2nd AX3200 configured and then placed in the shop.
 

BinaryMode

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"Extenders" (and the nomenclature of other names) are really meant to go half way between the router/modem providing a Wi-Fi source and the spot you want access to Wi-Fi.

Yes, I know you can't run Ethernet. I was just mentioning that to those that come across this thread.

This may work and is a lot cheaper. I actually own this unit but have yet to try it out. It is apparently waterproof. I have my doubts on good driver ability though and you kinda do get what you pay for, but for the price what the heck, right?
 
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