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Forum Discussion
Wellmead
Jun 20, 2018Aspirant
Internet extension to outside building
Sorry, this is probably a very very basic question which can be answered very quickly.
I have just installed an outside office in my garden and an electrician has put in an Ethernet cable which I a...
- Oct 30, 2020
to keep it simple:
Extender: a device that picks up a wifi broadcast and rebroadcasts it.
Access point: hardwired in via ethernet, powerline, moca adapters and broadcasts its own signal.
Bridge: it picks up a wireless broadcast but doesn't re-broadcast. It just lets you use the ethernet ports on the device.
If you've got a cable already ran, you want something to act as an access point. But most of netgears extenders (not all) have access point mode. As well as most routers have access point mode.
michaelkenward
Jun 21, 2018Guru - Experienced User
A "wireless access point (AP)" will do the job.
Another router could lead you into possible problems, with two boxes vying to control the network. You would have to configure it as an AP, which could be more expensive and would lose many of the features of genuine router.
You might do better to buy a wireless range extender that offers Access Point Mode. The EX8000 is probably the top of the range with the WN2500RP at the cheaper end.
Start here:
WiFi Range Extenders: Boost Your WiFi Range | NETGEAR
Unless your office is massive, the wifi range doesn't have to be that good, enough for one room, unless you plan to sit out in the back garden soaking up the sun while you work.
I'd look for things that I could wire to the AP, especially the smart TV, Mac and printer. Easier to set up and manage than wifi connections. Keep that for the smartphone.
I forgot, you could also investigate the Orbi range. Aimed more at the consumer, and supposed to be easier to set up, it is a bit less capable on the wired device front. But a cheap ethernet switch could deal with that if you are keen to wire stuff up.