WiFi in outhouse

[Peperharow]

Hi all

We heve Sky Q and the Ultrafast broadband package. We have run a Cat 6 cable from router down to the outhouse and installed an Ethernet port there in the  where we can connect (eg) a laptop via ethernet cable and get reliable internet access. We may at some point put a TV and sky mini box in there (connected to the Ethernet port), but unsure yet. In the meantime, we want the WiFi to also be available in the outhouse so, for example, phones can connect to WiFi and internet rather than use 4G data and so we don't need to use the ethernet port for each item that needs an internet connection. Ny question is, how do we do that?

We have the mesh network in the main house and that works fine, but the outhouse is well beyond the distance of being able to connect wirelessly into that network.

Can we plug something into the Ethernet port in the outhouse to make WiFi available in the outhouse? If not, what's the best way to get internet access in the outhouse without relying on each product needing to connect wired to the Ethernet port (which, for phones, won't work anyway)?

thanks!!

[oldfella]

Hi @Peperharow 

You could connect a Q WiFi booster by Ethernet in your outhouse.

This would extend your Q WiFi.

Sky should provide these Free of charge to aid Q connectivity.

[Peperharow]

Hi @oldfella - thanks. We already have a Sky Booster in our main house. I spoke with Sky Customer Service for 40 mins and they said:

- because we have a booster already, we can't get another one (even if we pay for it) unless an engineer comes out and says we need one in line with the WiFi guarantee (in which case it would be free)

- if an engineer comes out, they will say that because the outhouse is not connected structurally to the main house the WiFi guarantee doesn't apply so no booster would be supplied 

- but they can still send the engineer out for free...

- alternatively we should buy a third party booster and hope that works...!

the Sky rep even tried to use the send replacement booster option and remove the obligation to return the old booster, but couldn't get approval...

I have elected to get an engineer out to try my luck, but if that doesn't work, I think we would need a third party range extender with "access mode"... does that sound right? I think access mode allows you to plug a Ethernet cable into the extender to provide network access to the extender which then provides network (and broadband) access to devices that would connect wirelessly...?

Can't believe that is really how Sky does things, but there we are...

[oldfella]

Hi @Peperharow 

Yes a third party access point would give you WiFi but it will not be the same as your Sky Mesh.

Certainly a mini would be your next option as this should also give you WiFi through the mini Hotspot.

If you don't have existing mini in the main house then obviously you will also need the month Multiscreen subscription

[TimmyBGood]

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@Peperharow wrote:

I have elected to get an engineer out to try my luck, but if that doesn't work, I think we would need a third party range extender with "access mode"... does that sound right? I think access mode allows you to plug a Ethernet cable into the extender to provide network access to the extender which then provides network (and broadband) access to devices that would connect wirelessly...?

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Ideally not a 'range extender', because that will try to use the house WiFi.  You want a wireless access point (not a router) : personally I use cheap TP-Link hardware

[Peperharow]

Hi @TimmyBGood  - I thought I'd try my luck and connected an old EE210 model booster  (found two in loft... kept "just in case" I am sure...!) to the Ethernet port in outhouse and it has connected to the network (same SSID) and is acting as a WAP and creating a WiFi hotspot quite well... better than the WiFi in my main house in fact.

Here is a question for you... in the main house we have all our mini boxes and the one booster (SE210 model, ie newer one) connected via WiFi. If I connect the other EE210 booster I found via Ethernet to the network in the main house, do you think it would join the same mesh network as the other boxes and (potentially*) improve coverage, or would it like interfere as all the others are connecting wirelessly...? I'm unsure about how all the "channels" work... know enough to be dangerous, not enough to be useful!!

*in terms of where it would connect to Ethernet, it could be quite helpful, though I appreciate the more boxes you add can ultimately be counterproductive to speed etc.

thanks!