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Re: Setting up fiber bridge between Netgear routers

chilli_T
Tutor

Setting up fiber bridge between Netgear routers

This is another one of those “setting up a network, need some help, and I’m a bit ignorant” posts. I was referred to the Netgear community from a reddit post. I know this isn't quite the right forum topic, but it was the closest I saw. This is a fairly general question for now. Anyway, here’s the gist…
A. We have two buildings: (1) main house & (2) second house, which is a double-wide approximately 30 m (~ 100 ft) away. Need WiFi in both. Plan to hardwire between the two buildings.
B. We currently have an old Nighthawk AC1900 (R7000) router/access point (AP), which we plan to move to the second house. We will be buying a new router for the main house.
C. My current plan is to bury a fiber line from the main house to the second house. I was told by the ISP that I should run the incoming internet to a router instead of directly to a switch to split before fiber. So, my planned setup will look like this: internet > router 1 > media converter 1 > fiber > media converter 2 > router 2 (AC1900).

 

The questions…
1. I like Netgear so far, and figure I might as well stick with it. Any recommendations for which router to purchase as router 1 for the main house that can take incoming internet and send to router 2?
2. Do I need to use a POE device to run to media converter 1 > fiber or can I go straight from router 1 to media converter 1?
3. Which type of fiber line should I bury? I’ve seen conflicting recommendations and I’m a little confused.
4. Do I need to be careful with selection of media converters or should anything work?
5. Is there a foreseeable compatibility problem using the AC1900 in the second house with this setup?
6. Anything I’m overlooking or being stupid about with this plan?
Many thanks in advance!

Message 1 of 9

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FURRYe38
Guru

Re: Setting up fiber bridge between Netgear routers

Would not be any grounding issue between buildings since LAN doesn't have power running thru it. Also if cabling is done right, would work for CAT6A STP cabling which would be recommended. 

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Message 3 of 9

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chilli_T
Tutor

Re: Setting up fiber bridge between Netgear routers

Forgot to mention that I'm totally fine to skip the whole fiber option and just run Cat6 between buildings. I was only leaning toward the fiber option because some people warned about potential grounding issues when running Cat6 between buildings. 
Again, thanks in advance for input!

Message 2 of 9
FURRYe38
Guru

Re: Setting up fiber bridge between Netgear routers

Would not be any grounding issue between buildings since LAN doesn't have power running thru it. Also if cabling is done right, would work for CAT6A STP cabling which would be recommended. 

Message 3 of 9
Kitsap
Master

Re: Setting up fiber bridge between Netgear routers

Avoiding the additional complexity of the media converter would be a good idea.  Whatever device you choose would need a power source.

 

Don't confuse an electrical ground, a copper wire connected to a metal rod driven into the earth, with the white neutral connection in an electrical panel.  Referring to an electrical power installation in the US.  Can be significantly different in other locations around the world.

 

 

 

 

Message 4 of 9
chilli_T
Tutor

Re: Setting up fiber bridge between Netgear routers

Perfect. Thanks for that. It seems like it would be easiest to simply run Cat6 STP cable between the two routers (buried between buildings). So that's just: ISP > router 1 > Cat6 > router 2 (the old AC1900). 

I'm hoping to set each router as a separate network. I don't think this should be a problem. Now I just need to choose which router to buy for router 1. If you/anyone has suggestions for ones you particularly like, I'm all ears. 
Thanks again!

Message 5 of 9
FURRYe38
Guru

Re: Setting up fiber bridge between Netgear routers

Something to review here and see what may work best for you:

https://www.netgear.com/home/wifi/routers/

Message 6 of 9
FURRYe38
Guru

Re: Setting up fiber bridge between Netgear routers

Any progress on this? 


@chilli_T wrote:

Perfect. Thanks for that. It seems like it would be easiest to simply run Cat6 STP cable between the two routers (buried between buildings). So that's just: ISP > router 1 > Cat6 > router 2 (the old AC1900). 

I'm hoping to set each router as a separate network. I don't think this should be a problem. Now I just need to choose which router to buy for router 1. If you/anyone has suggestions for ones you particularly like, I'm all ears. 
Thanks again!


 

Message 7 of 9
chilli_T
Tutor

Re: Setting up fiber bridge between Netgear routers

I ended up going with your reco, dug a trench, laid some shielded direct burial rated CAT6, PVC conduit to boxes on exterior, and used some RJ45 outlet faceplates for interior connections between routers. Now we have a WiFi network in each building. Works great!

Wanted to make sure to say thanks
Much apreciated! ^_^

Message 8 of 9
FURRYe38
Guru

Re: Setting up fiber bridge between Netgear routers

Good to hear. Glad it's working.

 

Be sure to save off a back up configuration to file for safe keeping. Saves time if a reset is needed.
https://kb.netgear.com/000062080/How-do-I-back-up-the-configuration-settings-on-my-Orbi-WiFi-System
Enjoy. 📡

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