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.
Yes, probably run an outdoor CAT6 cable and bury if needed.
- Use proper outdoor/direct burial rated cable (regular cat5/6 isn’t gonna survive…)
- Grounding is an issue. Make sure you do not have a ground potential issue. Also, install an ESD/surge device just to help. Cheap, and better safe than sorry.
- Honestly, media converters and/or SFP capable network switches aren’t expensive. Conduit plus fiber doesn’t have any of these issues. Worth considering.
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
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.
Also, lightning may be a real hazard.
Yes. Also consider just using an AP outside. It may be a simpler solution.
I’d personally find a cheap switch with fiber ports on both ends and use fiber. It’s non-conductive so a lot of the complexity of grounding and lightning protection is off the table.
may cost a few hundred, but if you fry you’re pc in the shed from a lightning strike it will probably cost more than that.
2.5gb unmanaged switches with 10gb sfp ports can be found for $50-75ish new and sfp’s are maybe 10 a piece. Depending on the local market you may be able to find a used Cisco 3750 for $10-20. If you just need one port you can find a pair of 1gb media converters with sfp’s for about $60. You can find pre-terminated direct burial fiber in various lengths for $110 or so for 250 ft, if you want to go overhead run a steel wire and attach the fiber to it, but you probably still want the armored fiber.
Depending on the speed and line of sight, a wireless point to point bridge may be an option… you can find a pair for anywhere from $50 for 300mbps (I wouldn’t bet that’s real world, probably 50-100mbps) to much more expensive options (I ran 4 between 2 buildings at my last office that ran at very high, licensed frequencies that were probably $5k a piece, but they did 10gbps on a good day, and we’re pretty rock solid even in the rain)
City code might have rules on detached structures. But usually it’s for power not internet.
personally I would use fiber instead.
Bury it if possible. Maybe conduit. Use cable appropriate for burial. Also how long is the run?
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.
Yeah I am thinking of going this route
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.
I say yes - what does your wife/GF/Other say?
I did coax with MOCA adapters.
I’d use fiber, conduit and bury it. I got a sprinkler company to do mine. And run extra fibers for long term potential.
Sure, why wouldn’t you be able to? I have an ethernet cable run from the garage to an RV. Cable is run to the garage from the main house.