How to extend WiFi to your garden office and beyond

From working in your outdoor space to making the most of your garden, there are times when you just want to extend your WiFi signal beyond the confines of your home. You need a WiFi solution that can cover your entire property and beyond.

If you have a garden office or are planning to build one, you may be wondering how to get a reliable and fast connection in your outdoor workspace. Having a good WiFi signal is essential for working from home, especially if you need to communicate with clients, colleagues, or customers online.

Then again, you might just want to enjoy your home WiFi in the garden. Maybe you want to relax outside, have family gatherings, barbecues, or other outdoor activities during the summer – all of which would benefit from an internet connection for streaming music and video outdoors.

Depending on the distance and the obstacles between your house and your garden office or other outdoor areas, you may find that your existing WiFi network is not strong enough or does not reach them all. Fortunately, there are some solutions that can help you extend WiFi to your garden office and beyond and enjoy the benefits of working and living remotely.

In this article, we will explore some of the options and advantages of extending WiFi to your garden office and beyond, as well as introducing Zen’s EveryRoom mesh WiFi service as a possible solution.

Option 1: WiFi Extender

A WiFi extender is a simple device that connects to your existing WiFi network and boosts the signal, creating a hotspot or bridge between your main router and your garden office or other outdoor areas. You simply plug the extender into a power socket in your home, preferably closer to your garden than your main router, and then connect to the new WiFi network from your garden office or other outdoor areas.

A WiFi extender is a cheap and easy option to extend WiFi to your garden office and beyond, but it has some limitations. First of all, WiFi extenders are only effective within a short range (about 30 metres for the best signal), so if the places you want to reach extend further than that, you may need more than one extender or a different solution.

Option 2: Powerline networking

Powerline networking is a more advanced option that uses the electrical wiring between your home and your garden office, shed, garage – or any outdoor space that has its own power outlets – to deliver internet data. You need to buy a kit that consists of at least two powerline adapters, each with an ethernet cable. One adapter is plugged into a power socket and connected to your main router with an ethernet cable. The other adapter is plugged into a power socket in your garden office or other outside building and connected to your device (PC or laptop) or a second WiFi router with an ethernet cable.

Powerline networking is a more reliable and faster option than WiFi extenders, as it doesn’t depend on the strength of the WiFi signal or create interference with other networks. However, it also has some drawbacks. First of all, powerline networking can be affected by the quality and length of the electrical wiring in your property, which may reduce the speed and stability of your connection. Secondly, powerline networking can be more expensive and complicated to install than WiFi extenders, as depending on your setup at home it may require more than just plug and play.

Option 3: Ethernet cable

An ethernet cable is the most secure and fastest option to extend WiFi to your garden office and beyond. It involves running a long ethernet cable from your main router in your house to your garden office or other outdoor areas and connecting it directly to your device or a second WiFi router. This way, you can enjoy the full speed and quality of your internet connection without any interference or signal loss.

An ethernet cable is the best option for extending WiFi to your garden office and beyond if you need a high-performance and stable connection for intensive online activities such as video conferencing, streaming, or gaming. However, it also has some disadvantages. First, an ethernet cable can be expensive and difficult to install, as you may need to dig trenches or drill holes in your property to run the cable safely and discreetly. Secondly, an ethernet cable can be vulnerable to damage. Thirdly, an ethernet cable can limit your mobility and flexibility as you may need to stay close to the cable or router.

Option 4: Zen’s EveryRoom mesh WiFi service

If none of the above options suit your needs, there is another solution that could help you extend WiFi to your garden office and beyond: Zen’s EveryRoom mesh WiFi service. This service uses smart devices called repeaters that work with your main router to create a seamless and powerful WiFi network throughout your property.

Zen EveryRoom guarantees WiFi coverage throughout your home, but you can also use it to extend coverage into your garden. You simply plug your repeater close to the outside of your property to extend the range of your WiFi network outdoors.

Zen’s EveryRoom mesh WiFi service is a convenient and effective option for extending your WiFi network because it offers several benefits. It provides a consistent and fast WiFi signal, eliminating dead zones and ‘not-spots’ in your house, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted online experience. It is easy and flexible to set up and manage as you can add more repeaters to extend your coverage even further.

Extending WiFi to your garden office and beyond can be a challenge, but it is not impossible. Depending on your situation and preferences, you can choose from different options such as WiFi repeaters, powerline networking, ethernet cables, or Zen’s EveryRoom mesh WiFi service. Each option has its pros and cons, so you need to weigh them carefully and find the best solution for your needs for working remotely and making the most of your outdoor space.