Ethernet into Observatory -help

[Astroman (Andrew Wall)]

Hello all,

I want to be able to run ethernet/internet into the observatory from the house, because wireless doesn't make it through the shed walls. The observatory is just in my backyard so not a large run <30m from the house.

The problems I face are, I don't currently have a spare ethernet port on my modem, wifi cannot reach inside the observatory due to it's steel construction. and I don't want to be digging trenches. The shed runs on a separate breaker to the rest of the house, so I am not sure if Ethernet over power is possible... Oh big point is it cannot be too expensive.

can any of you recommend another way of getting internet etc into the Observatory as I want to have a dedicated computer in there at some point so I don't have to rely on my laptop all the time.

Thanks in advance...

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Andrew,
Have you considered a simple length of CAT5 cable between the laptop(?) in the observatory and the office PC.
That's basically what I do and use Teamviewer to make the connection...
You can buy a 50mtr length of pre-made CAT5 cable on eBay for next to nix.

[JoelyE95 (Joel)]

Andrew,

If you can pick up wifi from just outside the shed, perhaps get something like a wifi extender/access point and set up an external antenna outside the shed to repeat the network or convert it then back to Ethernet inside the shed.

I have a backhaul set up for work over 500m that works in a similar way with two TP Link CPE510's, but you don't need something that is good for 200km for this.

Joel

[glend (Glen)]

Wifi extender. Any CAT5 cable is going have to be buried or on an ovehead support wire, you can't just lay it on the ground - the sun will eventually destroy it or you will run over it with the lawnmower. Plenty of wifi extenders available.

[Astroman (Andrew Wall)]

Hi Ken, Yes I thought about doing that, but the closest computer to the Observatory is still a good 20 metres away and in the house, I didn't want to run the cables over the ground or looping between buildings either.. Also all the PC's in the house are already connected to the one WIFI router/modem.

[Astroman (Andrew Wall)]

Originally Posted by glend

Wifi extender. Any CAT5 cable is going have to be buried or on an ovehead support wire, you can't just lay it on the ground - the sun will eventually destroy it or you will run over it with the lawnmower. Plenty of wifi extenders available.

Can you recommend any and how do they work, still learning all this stuff... I will be trolling youtube and the net soon. If I cannot get wifi in the observatory now, how will an extender help?

[Astroman (Andrew Wall)]

Originally Posted by JoelyE95

Andrew,

If you can pick up wifi from just outside the shed, perhaps get something like a wifi extender/access point and set up an external antenna outside the shed to repeat the network or convert it then back to Ethernet inside the shed.

I have a backhaul set up for work over 500m that works in a similar way with two TP Link CPE510's, but you don't need something that is good for 200km for this.

Joel

I missed this post the last time I looked, sorry.. I am still trying to learn about wifi extenders etc... I saw one that plugs into a normal power socket but it wasn't clear to me how it actually works

[JoelyE95 (Joel)]

Originally Posted by Astroman

I missed this post the last time I looked, sorry.. I am still trying to learn about wifi extenders etc... I saw one that plugs into a normal power socket but it wasn't clear to me how it actually works

Andrew,

The power line Ethernet extenders typically do not pass through surge protectors or RCD devices. Seeing you said the shed was on a different circuit (I'd be guessing a mixed circuit with its own RCD), a power line Ethernet extender will either not work, or work extremely poorly. I'd check to see exactly where you can get signal and go for the wifi extender/access point client with an external antenna that you can place in a location where you can get signal.

Joel

[Astroman (Andrew Wall)]

Do you think this would work then?

http://www.dicksmith.com.au/networki...er-dsau-xm1620

[JoelyE95 (Joel)]

Originally Posted by Astroman

Do you think this would work then?

http://www.dicksmith.com.au/networki...er-dsau-xm1620

Andrew,

Considering the antenna would be outside, for ease of use I would go for something like this
http://www.umart.com.au/umart1/pro/P...d=4&sid=272933

Otherwise, you would be looking at one of these
http://www.umart.com.au/umart1/pro/P...id=4&sid=99469

One of these
http://www.umart.com.au/umart1/pro/P...id=4&sid=71101

And one of these
http://www.umart.com.au/umart1/pro/P...id=4&sid=71101

Joel

[JoelyE95 (Joel)]

Originally Posted by JoelyE95

Andrew,

Considering the antenna would be outside, for ease of use I would go for something like this
http://www.umart.com.au/umart1/pro/P...d=4&sid=272933

Otherwise, you would be looking at one of these
http://www.umart.com.au/umart1/pro/P...id=4&sid=99469

One of these
http://www.umart.com.au/umart1/pro/P...id=4&sid=71101

And one of these
http://www.umart.com.au/umart1/pro/P...id=4&sid=71101

Joel

Sorry, one of the links doubled up. This is missing
http://www.umart.com.au/umart1/pro/P...id=4&sid=15518

And need to check the frequency matches the existing network

[Astroman (Andrew Wall)]

So if I went with the TP-LINK TL-WA7510N, I would still have to think about frequency yeah? It may only be on 2.4ghz or is that only if I use 2 of them over a longer distance?

So far I can see I only use one of these and connect one outside the observatory with the other little Passive PoE Injector inside the observatory, connected to the Observatory computer? Does that sound right?

Sorry for the stupid questions. Still getting my head around it.

[JoelyE95 (Joel)]

Originally Posted by Astroman

So if I went with the TP-LINK TL-WA7510N, I would still have to think about frequency yeah? It may only be on 2.4ghz or is that only if I use 2 of them over a longer distance?

So far I can see I only use one of these and connect one outside the observatory with the other little Passive PoE Injector inside the observatory, connected to the Observatory computer? Does that sound right?

Sorry for the stupid questions. Still getting my head around it.

If you used two of the WA7510's, one would be at the shed, the other would be in the house. You would then have a very reliable direct link when they are pointed at each other. However, for 20 or 30m, this is probably [Definately] overkill.

To test, I would do the following;
I would grab your phone/notebook and walk around the yard to see how far the signal gets. If it gets to the shed, but not inside, you could start by temporarily moving your existing wifi to the nearest window of the house. Then with your phone/notebook, see if it gets better signal to the shed. It might even get inside the shed. Make sure you try with both the window open and closed as glass could affect performance.

If this is the case, you would likely just need a wifi extender (on the same frequency) at that window. If it performed better with the window open, you would need to put an antenna outside with the wifi extended. However, if the performance was satisfactory with the window closed, all you would need is the wifi extender and that would be at an end.

Joel

[DavidTrap (David)]

I'm using a TP-Link TL-ANT2409A external antenna. I have it plugged into a USB network adapter. It is giving me a very good signal over 80 metres. I'd suggest putting one on the outside of your observatory and point it in the general direction of your router. They're designed to be mounted outdoors.

DT

[ZeroID (Brent)]

Keep it simple.
My PC is in the 'Office' at one end of the house. I have it connected to a small hub\switch in the lounge at the other end to support the media PC and stuff. I run a cat5 cable out under a door, beneath a deck then just a spade split 'trench' across the lawn. Cable is only a couple of inches below the surface for about 5 meters then pops up near the Ob into some plastic conduit and up through the floating floor. Cable is about 25 meters long. When\if it deteriorates I'll just get another cable. It's been there nearly a year now and it's still working.
Simple, cheap, reliable.

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

+1 from me for the CAT5 cable...
Mine runs from the "office" along the fence and looped across into the "observatory" - I've used the same cable since Belgium, four years ago - no issues, no drama.

[bugeater (Marty)]

I've been using wifi, but its been too flaky with teamviewer. The distance the wifi goes is only about 35m. So I've got a 305m box of Cat6 next to me I'm going to try. I'll just run it along the fence. Should be about a 50m run. If it goes bad, I've got another 255m of cable to replace it with.

[OICURMT]

Originally Posted by Astroman

Hello all,
The shed runs on a separate breaker to the rest of the house, so I am not sure if Ethernet over power is possible... Oh big point is it cannot be too expensive.

Doesn't matter if the observatory is on a different breaker as long as it is on the same busbar as where you want to work from. If this is the case then ethernet over power will work.

Looks like cheapest option is $49 @ https://www.pccasegear.com/category/...net-over-power

[Exfso (Peter)]

Andrew if you have power in the obs, power line adapters work a treat. I have them all over the house saves using cabling, the internet is transmitted over the power network. Do a search for power line adapters, I use the TP link brand, but there are several other varieties.

https://www.target.com.au/p/tp-link-...A&gclsrc=aw.ds

Here is the pdf on the TP link

http://www.tp-link.com.au/resources/...0011029_AU.pdf

[bugeater (Marty)]

I tried ethernet over power as my first choice, but it doesn't seem to work over a long extension cord...... which was a shame.