Getting Wifi to detached shop 120 feet from house?

YLee Kioti · Jan 20, 2021

My question is about the same situation but still have a hot cable connection to barn.

A question for the Spectrum users out there. So we moved into our house and now have a hot cable in the barn (our once temp. living space).
I'd like to buy a Spectrum 'approved' modem/router in the barn for you know looking up stuff when working in the shop.
So here is the obvious but am asking here first before I ask Spectrum.
Has anyone (a Spectrum customer) encountered this situation and have spectrum charge you for two internet services? This is what I want to avoid.

The techs gave me different answers. If I call Spectrum no telling what they say. Because, they had extreme difficulty in comprehending our temp. living service was needing to move to our residence and it was all on the same property.

IF the answer is yes (charge for two internet services) then I'll research the mesh WiFI and follow this thread.
IF the answer is no then I'm all set and will get a modem/router for barn.
Do not want to hi-jack thread, so if you do not have spectrum and have not encountered this situation please do not respond. Otherwise thread will truly get cluttered. Thanks for understanding

kcflhrc · Jan 20, 2021

Larry Caldwell said:
If you run ethernet you can have a mesh system. The automatic handoff is great to keep your phone from hanging on to weak signal.

If you run an ethernet cable why spend the money on a Mesh System. Just plug the ethernet cable into the computer and the other end into the router at the house.

Larry Caldwell · Jan 20, 2021

kcflhrc said:
If you run an ethernet cable why spend the money on a Mesh System. Just plug the ethernet cable into the computer and the other end into the router at the house.

Cell phones and tablets are typically wifi only. I assume any shop internet would be mobile computing based. I have an office in my shop, but still have a wifi router so I can access the internet on the shop floor.

i7win7 · Jan 20, 2021

No longer use a landline but when we did a lightning strike blew the guts out of the outside box that housed the lightning suppressors and the consumer equipment connection. Main reason my ISP is ATT Fixed Wireless and an outdoor Wavlink router is used for out buildings. info in post #5

No need to fry everything I own.

kcflhrc · Jan 21, 2021

I deal with idiots day in and day out that just don't get the difference between wired and wireless speeds. If at all possible, run a cable to the out building. If you need wireless then put in a wireless router in the out building.

kcflhrc · Jan 21, 2021

i7win7 said:
No longer use a landline but when we did a lightning strike blew the guts out of the outside box that housed the lightning suppressors and the consumer equipment connection. Main reason my ISP is ATT Fixed Wireless and an outdoor Wavlink router is used for out buildings. info in post #5

No need to fry everything I own.

Or if available get fiber. No lightning issues with that. Lightning can come in on power lines just as easy as it can copper phone lines. If lightning wants in it's coming in and nothing you can do will stop it.

i7win7 · Jan 21, 2021

kcflhrc said:
Or if available get fiber. No lightning issues with that. Lightning can come in on power lines just as easy as it can copper phone lines. If lightning wants in it's coming in and nothing you can do will stop it.

POC - Plastic Optical Cable - good for short runs, can't handle the data speeds of glass cable
Glass cables - need to be in conduit or other protective structure, good for long runs, high data rates, handles multiple light frequencies (colors) at same time. Glass strand about size of a hair, is fragile has a spec'ed bend radius, to tight it shatters.

kcflhrc · Jan 21, 2021

i7win7 said:
POC - Plastic Optical Cable - good for short runs, can't handle the data speeds of glass cable
Glass cables - need to be in conduit or other protective structure, good for long runs, high data rates, handles multiple light frequencies (colors) at same time. Glass strand about size of a hair, is fragile has a spec'ed bend radius, to tight it shatters.

A lot of myths there. All of our fiber is direct buried, not in conduit. Multiple light frequencies would be multimode fiber for very short runs all of our fiber that leaves the CO is single mode. The only time you can bend fiber so tight it shatters is after you have removed the coating for splicing.

drssg · Jan 21, 2021

YLee Kioti said:
My question is about the same situation but still have a hot cable connection to barn.

A question for the Spectrum users out there. So we moved into our house and now have a hot cable in the barn (our once temp. living space).
I'd like to buy a Spectrum 'approved' modem/router in the barn for you know looking up stuff when working in the shop.
So here is the obvious but am asking here first before I ask Spectrum.
Has anyone (a Spectrum customer) encountered this situation and have spectrum charge you for two internet services? This is what I want to avoid.

The techs gave me different answers. If I call Spectrum no telling what they say. Because, they had extreme difficulty in comprehending our temp. living service was needing to move to our residence and it was all on the same property.

IF the answer is yes (charge for two internet services) then I'll research the mesh WiFI and follow this thread.
IF the answer is no then I'm all set and will get a modem/router for barn.
Do not want to hi-jack thread, so if you do not have spectrum and have not encountered this situation please do not respond. Otherwise thread will truly get cluttered. Thanks for understanding

Does the existing cable line in the barn go to the house? If so, I'm thinking you could do ethernet traffic over the existing line using something like this.

Amazon.com: Actiontec MoCA 2.5 Network Adapter for Ethernet Over Coax (2 Pack) – 1 Gbps Ethernet, Coax to Ethernet Adapter, Enhanced Streaming and Gaming (Model: ECB625K2): Electronics

If you introduce another cable modem to your setup, that would require interaction with Spectrum to get them to communicate with it. I don't know if they would charge.

YLee Kioti · Jan 21, 2021

drssg said:
Does the existing cable line in the barn go to the house? If so, I'm thinking you could do ethernet traffic over the existing line using something like this.

Amazon.com: Actiontec MoCA 2.5 Network Adapter for Ethernet Over Coax (2 Pack) 1 Gbps Ethernet, Coax to Ethernet Adapter, Enhanced Streaming and Gaming (Model: ECB625K2): Electronics

If you introduce another cable modem to your setup, that would require interaction with Spectrum to get them to communicate with it. I don't know if they would charge.

What I failed to mention is that the service drop cable is our utility pole. At this point it "T"s off. One for the house and barn. So the cable at the barn is still hot.
just really, really want to avoid paying for what will be occasional use.
Going to look at this as posted earlier- TP-Link 2.4GHz N300.
If, a big if, it fails to perform (metal barn) then I will relent and call Spectrum about their policy on running two modems in one account.
Now I appreciate my late FIL even more......lol.....once retired he was a real tight-wade.......now I are one too....

:laughing: