I was wondering if I could run an ethernet cable from my router inside to my shed and connect it to another router so I can have ethernet and wifi in my shed.

  • jimonlimon@alien.topB
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    10 months ago

    Mesh network is the easy solution. No wires needed if you can arrange the nodes where they don’t get too much interference. (metal siding would be a problem unless you can place the node in a window or similar.)

  • d0ster@alien.topB
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    10 months ago

    If your shed is only 15M away, you’ll be fine using CAT6 OSP shielded. It’s designed for direct burial so no conduit needed. If you are really concerned about anything getting fried make sure to use shielded RJ45 connectors and shielded patch panel.

  • Beeeeater@alien.topB
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    10 months ago

    There is no problem with doing that in principle, as long as the cable is protected and the run is less than about 100m.

  • SavagePenguinn@alien.topB
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    10 months ago

    Yes, you can run Ethernet from your home router to your shed.

    Ideally you’d use conduit to protect the cable, or use Ethernet cable designed for outdoor use. However, I’ve seen normal Ethernet cables last 10+ years outside without issue.

    As others have mentioned, ideally the router in the shed will have DHCP turned off, and the incoming line will go into one of the normal Ethernet ports (not the WAN/Internet port). This will allow two-way communication between your house and shed (IE, your computers, network drives, network printers, network cameras, etc. can all see each other no matter which router they are connected to). However, if you only need Internet you can just plug the Ethernet cable into the WAN/Internet port on the shed’s router.

    • linuxknight@alien.topB
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      10 months ago

      I’ve seen normal Ethernet cables last 10+ years outside without issue.

      Northern New England here, have had a UTP Cat 6 cable running from my house to the shed for about 5 years, I didn’t even bury it. Not suggesting its the right way to do it, but it works fine. I do network installs all day, last thing I feel like doing at home is work :p

  • instantkamera@alien.topB
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    10 months ago

    You can, but depending on the setup you should be aware of a few things:

    • make sure you don’t have a ground potential difference.
    • use appropriate rated cabling and not plain UTP
    • you may want surge protection on that line coming in from outside

    Do your homework and stay safe.

  • AustinBike@alien.topB
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    10 months ago

    Can you?

    Yes.

    Should you?

    Probably not.

    I have $6000 worth of burned out electronics to help you understand that this in not the best idea.

    I’d use fiber instead. If you are not using fiber and you insist on going with copper you need a really good burial AND really good surge protection on each end.

  • cyborgborg@alien.topB
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    10 months ago

    you can but you should run fiber instead unless you want lightning to fry a bunch of your stuff

  • TheFaceStuffer@alien.topB
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    10 months ago

    It’s safer to run fiber between two buildings. If lightning strikes nearby it can enter the ethernet cable and destroy equipment and potentially start a fire. They even have direct burial armored fiber.

  • polarbear320@alien.topB
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    10 months ago

    Just do a point to point wireless link. Less issues with ground difference and no trenching to do.

    If you do trench use fiber -not- Ethernet cable

  • SMTDSLT@alien.topB
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    10 months ago

    I get downvoted every time I respond to one of these posts but hey why not…

    I strongly suggest running Fiber with a media converter on each end. This reduces the potential for lightning to travel from 1 structure to the other. Removes grounding concerns. It is by far the safest option.

      • lmgtfy420@alien.topB
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        10 months ago

        mikrotic switches with sfp+ are relatively cheap and get you 10GB/s. It’s what I use in my separated garage on a 30m run. Melanox makes the card and fiber modules that i use, they are cheap too since most of this will be decommissioned server hardware.

  • TiredGamer0990@alien.topB
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    10 months ago

    Id lay some conduit and just run a long cat5e/cat6 cable out there. If you are just watching YouTube or googling stuff out there you can get away with a good mesh network but if you want some decent reliable speed hardwiring is the way to go