Upgrade your home network for seamless WFH and garden work.
Upgrade your home network for seamless WFH and garden work.
Hey there! So the pandemic pushed me into a full remote work setup, and now I’m dealing with a tough Wi-Fi issue. I’m in a compact bungalow, but even my current router isn’t connecting well across the house—about 25 to 30 meters away from the garden hut. With a budget of £240 and no network background, I’m trying to figure out the best way forward.
I’ve considered a few options:
If you want something easy to set up and handle, either mesh option works well. I prefer the Google Nest because the Orbis are pricier in Norway. I’ve installed three older Google WiFi units—my sister, mother, and father-in-law—and they all worked fine. You can easily add a three-pack of the older models or a two-pack of the newer Nest units if you stay within your budget.
I’d check some reviews, but I’m not very familiar with these solutions yet. That said, I wouldn’t set up the Nest in my home because it doesn’t offer enough customization and misses some features I rely on. If you’re after something flexible and enterprise-ready, the Unifi Dream Machine might fit better. It costs around £290, which could be a bit over your budget. Customization is strong, and you can choose APs that match your requirements. There’s one built-in AP, but if you need more, you’ll have to purchase additional ones. APs start at about £70 for the base model—keep that in mind. Keep in mind, Unifi products can be quite compelling… - T
Running a cable to the hut isn't impossible. You might install an access point or another switch to provide more connectivity choices.
You're restricting the bandwidth to 100Mbps because it doesn't match the typical omnidirectional range you expect. These units are designed to bridge small WiFi gaps and support Ethernet, not wide coverage. The TP-Link Omada line offers a solid entry-level option with capabilities similar to Ubiquiti. For accurate suggestions, we'd need a layout drawing of the area and information about the materials and speeds from your ISP.
I received the incorrect link you were referring to. I was trying to connect to the newer gigabit switch. Currently, my internet speed is around 70 Mbps. I switched to their main APs and think this setup would work better. The layout I described uses a basic design with the Nighthawk, featuring doors at corners and angles. The separate dwelling is a hut. This is the suggested arrangement for the two AP placements. Since you're in the UK, the construction uses bricks and reinforced walls, with plasterboard for the interior. Appreciate your help!