Discussing fiber burial in a garage and related setup issues.
Discussing fiber burial in a garage and related setup issues.
They’re considering bringing internet options into the garage, possibly 75 to 100 feet away. I’m trying to persuade them against paying the ISP for this setup, since they already gave a quote around $400–500. They seem hesitant about spending extra for a small AP or repeater. Right now they rely on the ISP’s router/modem (which is fiber and functioning well). My goal is to move back soon and bring my UDM Pro, U6-LR, Unifi doorbell camera, and maybe some smart devices there. Using my own gear could save money and give better control, security, and features compared to the ISP’s setup. They mentioned they might install a Wi-Fi signal booster or repeater, but I’m not sure it would be worth it.
Key points:
1. I think I could swap in my UDM for the modem/router, especially since fiber works fine at home. I’d consider a smaller model for the garage if needed.
2. I want Ethernet ports and Unifi cameras inside the garage for more reliable connections than Wi-Fi.
3. I’m thinking about how to route the fiber properly—either burying it directly from the UDM Pro into the house, or setting up a switch in the garage that can power devices like cameras and run PoE.
4. The cheapest switch options would be:
- ISP fiber box inside the house
- A PoE-compatible switch for the garage
- Or a fiber-to-switch connection from UDM to a garage switch
5. My shopping list includes the optical module, possible smaller U6-Lite, and some Ethernet cables for conversion.
Fiber handles submersion excellently while electronics struggle. Placing any gadget requires a protective enclosure rated for IPX. If you must replace or check gear, digging it up becomes difficult. Fiber links get converted to electrical signals using transceivers—often SFP/SFP+ shaped or boxes with power (or PoE via network cable). Many switch makers have strict preferences for the parts inside SFP/SFP+ slots.
With ten gig switches already, you can install a 10-gig media converter at each connection point. This will switch copper to fiber and back. If purchasing additional switches, choose models with SFP+ ports so you avoid needing converters. Set up two small wall-mount racks—one in the utility room and another in the garage—to serve as your network endpoints.
Which provider are you using? I have Xfinity at home, and the router is more affordable than getting rid of the bandwidth cap by purchasing a separate device. They might offer it for a specific purpose.