I currently have an EX2700 Extender in a metal shed (My Man Cave!), and needless to say I don't get the best signal (maybe 2 or 3mbs) from my Nighthawk R6700v3 in my house about 50 feet away. I can get about 16mbs if I use an extension cord and prop the extender in the window, but it's not the best solution. I was thinking of an outdoor antenna, but is there an extender that has a detachable antenna or the sma connector to hook an outside antenna to. I'm open to any suggestions on an easy way to solve this problem. Thanks in advance!Steve

They make "outdoor" access points/repeaters but I've found their weatherproofing lacking a bit. Any of the outdoor ones I've used, I've mounted in a decent sealed enclosure (make sure it isn't to tight or devices can get to hot)

If its only 50ft, run an underground cable from the home to the man cave. The time to bury a cable is worth the investment in speed/stability. The problem you're having is the metal walls. You could put the EX2700 on the exterior of the shed (in a weather proof enclosure) and run a cable from it, indoors to a seperate access point or extender that supports access point mode.

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately there's too much concrete (patio and a large slab the shed is on) to run a cable underground. Since the ex2700 is old, I was hoping to just replace that and use a weatherproof antenna which I have found. But I can't seem to find an extender that has a removable antenna. Steve

Even if you find one that you can put an external antenna on to be external to the building, that antenna still isn't going to penetrate the metal to broadcast inside the building

Thanks, but I have found outdoor antennas that have a cable with the connector. I can run that into the shed, but I need the removable antenna on the extender to be able to connect it. Steve

WiFi Extender for metal building.

12 Replies

plemans
Guru - Experienced User
Jan 21, 2022
If its only 50ft, run an underground cable from the home to the man cave. The time to bury a cable is worth the investment in speed/stability.

The problem you're having is the metal walls. You could put the EX2700 on the exterior of the shed (in a weather proof enclosure) and run a cable from it, indoors to a seperate access point or extender that supports access point mode.
- bratdawg423
  Star
  Jan 21, 2022
  Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately there's too much concrete (patio and a large slab the shed is on) to run a cable underground. Since the ex2700 is old, I was hoping to just replace that and use a weatherproof antenna which I have found. But I can't seem to find an extender that has a removable antenna.
  
  Steve
  - plemans
    Guru - Experienced User
    Jan 21, 2022
    Even if you find one that you can put an external antenna on to be external to the building, that antenna still isn't going to penetrate the metal to broadcast inside the building

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WiFi Extender for metal building.