Silly question about networking...

panyan · 16 Jul 2017 at 11:46

I have a router in the house, but would like to have wifi in the garage/man cave (at the end of the garden).

They are too far away to get wifi directly, so I am planning to put an ethernet cable from one to the other over the next week.

But I am confused about how I set up the garage:

1) do i need a router or an access point?
2) what settings do i need to set up the garage one as a secondary access point to the main router?
3) on the garage router, do I use the LAN or WAN port with the ethernet cable?
4) how do I set up the SSIDs? Can they mesh together? is it advised?

:confused:

Steveocee · 16 Jul 2017 at 12:16

1)Essentially it should be an access point but I'm yet to find a router that can't be an access point.
2)Stick it into DHCP client or set a static IP not in your LAN, let it bridge the network and you won't have any double NAT problems (make it an access point not a router).
3)Depends on what access point you use, some you can use any, some are specific.
4)You can duplicate the SSID and have a "nearly" seamless network (nothing like mesh). Use the same SSID, password, encryption type and make sure you use different wireless channels. Stick to the common channels 1,6,11 and you'll be fine.

panyan · 16 Jul 2017 at 17:15

Steveocee said:
1)Essentially it should be an access point but I'm yet to find a router that can't be an access point.
2)Stick it into DHCP client or set a static IP not in your LAN, let it bridge the network and you won't have any double NAT problems (make it an access point not a router).
3)Depends on what access point you use, some you can use any, some are specific.
4)You can duplicate the SSID and have a "nearly" seamless network (nothing like mesh). Use the same SSID, password, encryption type and make sure you use different wireless channels. Stick to the common channels 1,6,11 and you'll be fine.

awesome, thanks

I have a Billion 7800DXL that I would like to use for this.
Your answers are a great foundation and I am doing some research into the next steps.
Some online suggestions say to disable DHCP - can you shed some light on what this is please?

You should be able to do this.

1. First setup the 7800N wireless side eg SSID, security
2. Now disable the DHCP server on the 7800N (don't forget to save your settings)
3. Plug either a ethernet connection to one of the LAN ports on the 7800N from your Sly router
4. The 7800N should now work as a dumb wireless hub/switch.

So with this setup everything all IP requests should be done by your Sly router.

Steveocee · 16 Jul 2017 at 20:41

The DHCP server on your Billion does need to be turned off. The Billin itself will need an IP though if you wish to manage it, either statically set something outside of the DHCP range of your main router or it may have an option to get its own IP by DHCP so it would get it from the main router.

Also if you are going to the oeffort of running a cable, run 2 just in case 1 breaks down or stops working. I currently have 3 from my house to my man cave and they are imminently about to be replaced by fibre (because it was cheap) so I'll have 6 in total.

linktoinsanity · 20 Jul 2017 at 17:17

Steveocee said:
The DHCP server on your Billion does need to be turned off. The Billin itself will need an IP though if you wish to manage it, either statically set something outside of the DHCP range of your main router or it may have an option to get its own IP by DHCP so it would get it from the main router.

I would not leave the DHCP server on the Billion enabled. I am genuinely interested in why you would however?

bledd · 20 Jul 2017 at 19:35

Think you've misread him there, Link

linktoinsanity · 21 Jul 2017 at 08:27

bledd said:
Think you've misread him there, Link

lol. I had to reread that a couple of times to get it, whops. Carry on.

panyan · 22 Jul 2017 at 13:54

A big thank you to you all!

I got it set up and working in no time at all (which feels a bit weird!

)

schneeb · 22 Jul 2017 at 15:10

presumably you have power in the garage? you could use a powerline adapter to get the ethernet over, since bridging two buildings with ethernet can kill the kit via potential difference in the ground (aka earth)!

Scream · 22 Jul 2017 at 17:58

Depends on distance. If it's a few metres then I would use cat6 but if it's a hefty run then fibre. Also depends on method of the run.

Steveocee · 22 Jul 2017 at 20:10

schneeb said:
presumably you have power in the garage? you could use a powerline adapter to get the ethernet over, since bridging two buildings with ethernet can kill the kit via potential difference in the ground (aka earth)!

Only if they are fed from different supplies with different earth points. If the garage is fed from the main house power source this is absolutely fine.