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Adding Satellites
I have RBR40 Router with two satellites on main home level and Outdoor Orbi in basement. All works well. I want better coverage out in the pool house which is 150 feet from the house. 150 feet from...
RajSearing wrote:
I have RBR40 Router with two satellites on main home level and Outdoor Orbi in basement. All works well. I want better coverage out in the pool house which is 150 feet from the house.
Extending WiFi coverage at this distance is a common problem. WiFi radio signals from the omnidirectional antennas in residential WiFi access points diminish according to the "inverse square law". Getting any satellite to sync over this distance is highly unlikely. There are two distinct solutions:
- Bury an ethernet cable from the main house to the pool house. Connect one end to the router and the other end to a new satellite inside the pool house. The new satellite can be any of the original Orbi models (RBS50, RBS40, RBS20, RBS40V).
Materials costs are modest. 200 ft. of direct burial Cat 6 cable with connectors is under $70.
https://www.amazon.com/UbiGear-Waterproof-Resistant-Oxygen-Free-Construction/dp/B081G6Z55Q/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=direct%2Bburial%2Bethernet%2Bcable%2B200ft&qid=1634742931&qsid=132-0337915-3826660&sr=8-3&sres=B081G6Z55Q%2CB07QFT34JC%2CB07FTJK3ZN%2CB01JAVN3Y4%2CB08P2QXQL5%2CB001B6FY4O%2CB07CBQZT6Y%2CB07G78V2QF%2CB00EO4TNCY%2CB07CYPYPY7%2CB002HFO8JA%2CB07KKJCGC9%2CB00EO4QLNI%2CB07J3D9371%2CB09BJB25FY%2CB0891148QX&srpt=ELECTRONIC_CABLE&th=1
The killer is installation difficulty. (Penetrating both buildings, crossing concrete, walls, etc. etc.)
If installing an ethernet cable is possible, it is the #1 solution. - Installing a WiFi bridge link which appears to the Orbi to be an ethernet cable is the #2 solution.
Search on Amazon for "wifi point to point bridge". These products have directional antennas and are typically rated in terms of kilometers. The signal is usually strong enough that they can be mounted inside both buildings, which eliminated the hassle of penetrating walls, waterproofing, etc. (If one of the buildings has metal walls, then the antenna has to be outside the wall.)
I have seen posts praising the Ubiquiti Nano line of products. enGenius gets good reviews.
My recommendation is to read the product reviews to see what customers say about (a) how the problem they addressed is similar to your situation, and (b) what they report about the results.
- Bury an ethernet cable from the main house to the pool house. Connect one end to the router and the other end to a new satellite inside the pool house. The new satellite can be any of the original Orbi models (RBS50, RBS40, RBS20, RBS40V).
RajSearing wrote:
I have RBR40 Router with two satellites on main home level and Outdoor Orbi in basement. All works well. I want better coverage out in the pool house which is 150 feet from the house.
Extending WiFi coverage at this distance is a common problem. WiFi radio signals from the omnidirectional antennas in residential WiFi access points diminish according to the "inverse square law". Getting any satellite to sync over this distance is highly unlikely. There are two distinct solutions:
- Bury an ethernet cable from the main house to the pool house. Connect one end to the router and the other end to a new satellite inside the pool house. The new satellite can be any of the original Orbi models (RBS50, RBS40, RBS20, RBS40V).
Materials costs are modest. 200 ft. of direct burial Cat 6 cable with connectors is under $70.
https://www.amazon.com/UbiGear-Waterproof-Resistant-Oxygen-Free-Construction/dp/B081G6Z55Q/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=direct%2Bburial%2Bethernet%2Bcable%2B200ft&qid=1634742931&qsid=132-0337915-3826660&sr=8-3&sres=B081G6Z55Q%2CB07QFT34JC%2CB07FTJK3ZN%2CB01JAVN3Y4%2CB08P2QXQL5%2CB001B6FY4O%2CB07CBQZT6Y%2CB07G78V2QF%2CB00EO4TNCY%2CB07CYPYPY7%2CB002HFO8JA%2CB07KKJCGC9%2CB00EO4QLNI%2CB07J3D9371%2CB09BJB25FY%2CB0891148QX&srpt=ELECTRONIC_CABLE&th=1
The killer is installation difficulty. (Penetrating both buildings, crossing concrete, walls, etc. etc.)
If installing an ethernet cable is possible, it is the #1 solution. - Installing a WiFi bridge link which appears to the Orbi to be an ethernet cable is the #2 solution.
Search on Amazon for "wifi point to point bridge". These products have directional antennas and are typically rated in terms of kilometers. The signal is usually strong enough that they can be mounted inside both buildings, which eliminated the hassle of penetrating walls, waterproofing, etc. (If one of the buildings has metal walls, then the antenna has to be outside the wall.)
I have seen posts praising the Ubiquiti Nano line of products. enGenius gets good reviews.
My recommendation is to read the product reviews to see what customers say about (a) how the problem they addressed is similar to your situation, and (b) what they report about the results.
Many thanks.. I ran a conduit during construction so Ill go that route.. I'm going to need the Satellite for laptops and tablets out by the pool. I was wondering if I could get away with just the new satellite. Thanks much
