Exterior Router Options

13COBRA said:

Okie dokie.

So what access point should I use?

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Most wired / wireless routers can also function as an access point. You just have to configure it for that mode in the router's control panel.

I use an ASUS RT-AC68U. It sells for $118.11 on Amazon right now. You might be able to get a better deal somewhere else. I paid $129 for it back in 2019.

It will also double up as a switch. That way you can plug in 4 devices via CAT6/7 if you ever needed to. I am getting around 500 Mbps to one of these access points with my iPhone 12 Pro Max. Our internet service is gigabit fiber. I can get up to around 950-980 Mbps with a wired connection over CAT6. CAT6 can go up to 10 Gbps and CAT7 40 Gbps over 50 meters and 100 Gbps over 15 meters! I have 10 Gbps cards and switches that I bought over a year ago and have not yet gotten around to installing it lol! So for now our network is limited to a gigabit.

There are better / newer routers out there but will cost more and probably overkill for wireless access point purposes. I assume you will have protection for the device against the elements (rain, snow etc.)?

ASUS AC1900 WiFi Gaming Router (RT-AC68U) - Dual Band Gigabit Wireless Internet Router, Gaming & Streaming, AiMesh Compatible, Included Lifetime Internet Security, Adaptive QoS, Parental Control

Cat 6 is fine. Cat 7 is overkill really and only of any real use for data centers. None of us have hardware that can utilize more than what Cat 6 easily supports.

BigPoppa said:

Cat 6 is fine. Cat 7 is overkill really and only of any real use for data centers. None of us have hardware that can utilize more than what Cat 6 easily supports.

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Yes that's true. Especially for the OP's scenario.

However technology will keep evolving. I wired the house with CAT6 10 years ago before gigabit went mainstream. It is only a matter of time before 10 gig appears in more homes. And eventually faster. I could see 8K TVs become more common also. Many older films could be scanned into 8K or higher. The resolution of a standard 4x5 film is around 2 gigabytes per frame. This is at least 60 times the resolution of a standard 8K tv.

16K is the next step after 8K. That's 16 times as many pixels as 4K and 64 times 1080p.

Here is a crazy 16K screen. It is very expensive but that price will eventually come down as happened in the past.

Forget 8K, Sony’s New 63-Foot 16K Crystal LED TV Is Now Available—for a Few Million



When a new gogglebox drops, it’s always the same drill: The screen gets bigger, the resolution gets better and the design gets bolder. Indeed, it’s difficult for a brand to stand out. Unless you’re Sony and the new TV your peddling is the size of a New York City public bus and also happens to boasts an unheard-of 16K screen.

Earlier this year when Sony unveiled the colossal 63-foot TV—the biggest 16K screen of its kind—it had commercial cinemas in its sights. But, hey, why should theaters have all the fun? Yesterday, the Japanese tech titan announced the Crystal LED display system will be available for home installation.

The best part? The system utilizes modular technology which means it can accommodate virtually any desired size and resolution—from a 16-foot 4K to an epic 63-foot 16K. Of course, we opt for the latter which features four times as many horizontal pixels as a 4K television and eight times that of a high-def 1080p TV. Translation: It delivers a stunning picture to a gigantic space.

Check this stuff out. It's what I use.


Move on, nothing to see here.

13COBRA said:

So with that, will I still run Cat7 to it? Or just 12V power and then it will pick up on the WiFi signal and extend it out further?



It covers about 25% behind my house. Doesn't reach the far side of the pool, fire pit area, or playground. Need another 200ft of reach or so.

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It’s POE, power over Ethernet. Run the cat6 and it pulls the power over it. Depending on the run which you say would be on the deck, you could probably get enough juice from the router/switch. Configure it how you want and it gets a hardwired signal directly from the router it’s plugged into.

Ui.com

Ubiquiti FTW.

DaleM said:

Check out the Eero products. Router with extender pods.

My son's room upstairs is getting very strong signal and when plugging the T10 cable for m extender to computer
in the back his speeds are near 1Gb. My daughter just using the signal is getting 440Mb up and down.

OK Bozos, stop clowning around.

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That's what I'm using. I have three Eero Pros plus 2 Eero extenders which covers my entire 3 floors (including full basement), garage, deck. WiFi connections include two TVs, iPad, two iPhones, Samsung Note, home theater audio components, PC, two MacBook Pros, Ring camera system with five cameras, two Nest thermostats, two Amazon Echos, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video, and Netflix. Their customer support is awesome.

I really love our Nest Mesh wifi setup. Super simple to setup and works well.

Our house is about 2k sq ft. But I wanted to cover the garage, drive way, and our rather large backyard/porch. Currently have the two-node kit with the router upstairs next to the modem, and the AP downstairs in the kitchen. The AP is wireless, but I plan to pick up another plug in Nest router, which will default to a plug-in AP and boost signal strength to the wireless node.

Junior00 said:

It’s POE, power over Ethernet. Run the cat6 and it pulls the power over it. Depending on the run which you say would be on the deck, you could probably get enough juice from the router/switch. Configure it how you want and it gets a hardwired signal directly from the router it’s plugged into.

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Sorry for my ignorance in my wording.

Correct, I know it can be powered over Ethernet. Was curious to know if it could be powered by 12V, pick up the WiFi wirelessly, and then extend it out.

I never had good luck with mesh systems, maybe its because im challenged, or they were too closely together. at work we go from a modem, to a switch, to multiple wireless routers and dont have an issue. Do you have one of them big pool houses where you can shoot the signal from the house to the pool house with a Nanobeam, then run it to a router?

JJackson515 said:

I never had good luck with mesh systems, maybe its because im challenged, or they were too closely together. at work we go from a modem, to a switch, to multiple wireless routers and dont have an issue. Do you have one of them big pool houses where you can shoot the signal from the house to the pool house with a Nanobeam, then run it to a router?

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I don't have Jordan Jackson money.

JJackson515 said:

I never had good luck with mesh systems, maybe its because im challenged, or they were too closely together. at work we go from a modem, to a switch, to multiple wireless routers and dont have an issue. Do you have one of them big pool houses where you can shoot the signal from the house to the pool house with a Nanobeam, then run it to a router?

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What system were you using? I did have an issue with a Netgear mesh system here at the office, but the Eero mesh system has been great at home going on 5 years.

Google/Nest Mesh, about 50 feet away from the nearest pointer. So not too shabby. My Asus RT router was giving me faster speeds but would barely reach outside my home on 2.4 GHZ at much slower speeds.

Will say, these Mesh systems work best with the pucks apart from each other, the closer they are, the slower they'll be as they'll interfere with each other.

Only Con is not able to switch channels even manually.

Look into Ubiquiti gear. Best prosumer stuff on the market, from what I've heard.

Definitely run CAT6 if you can. As good as mesh systems can be, they just can't compare to a proper wired system - especially when you start heading into covering outdoor areas.

CobraBob said:

What system were you using? I did have an issue with a Netgear mesh system here at the office, but the Eero mesh system has been great at home going on 5 years.

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the google mesh system. im open to trying something else with amazons 30 day trial period

13COBRA said:

Sorry for my ignorance in my wording.

Correct, I know it can be powered over Ethernet. Was curious to know if it could be powered by 12V, pick up the WiFi wirelessly, and then extend it out.

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Gotcha, I missed that totally. You already have a 12v power supply outside I assume then. I know most use a step down transformer/power brick so I would assume it’s entirely possible but you may have to do some wiring.

Junior00 said:

Gotcha, I missed that totally. You already have a 12v power supply outside I assume then. I know most use a step down transformer/power brick so I would assume it’s entirely possible but you may have to do some wiring.

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Sounds like my best bet is to run Ethernet. Is Cat7 a improvement over Cat6? Or is Cat6 what I should run?

13COBRA said:

Sounds like my best bet is to run Ethernet. Is Cat7 a improvement over Cat6? Or is Cat6 what I should run?

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Like was mentioned before, cat 7 is a bit of overkill for residential.

Move on, nothing to see here.

wizbangdoodle said:

Like was mentioned before, cat 7 is a bit of overkill for residential.

Move on, nothing to see here.

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Overkill is my middle name.

I definitely missed where it was mentioned earlier in the thread, my apologies.

13COBRA said:

Overkill is my middle name.

I definitely missed where it was mentioned earlier in the thread, my apologies.

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Me too lol, won’t hurt anything. 6 would definitely do but you’re talking about running to an exterior device so imho 7, with its better shielding, would definitely be worth it if just for keeping attenuation at bay.