Help with Wi-Fi extender/outdoor security camera

[uscgPSU]

Here is my question if anyone is tech savvy. I have a dog kennel for my working dog that is behind my detached garage and because the way my house is built and window placement, I can’t see the kennel from my bedroom.

I got a Blink camera for the kennel so I can see it when I want. With the help of an extender, my internet is strong enough for me to get a signal out to the kennel but not strong enough for the camera to be used. When I’m out there I can listen to Pandora or use others apps on my phone, but anything video related really slows down. Can I get another extender for the garage or do I need faster internet. Does faster internet translate to a stronger signal. Can I use an extender off another extender?

Any other options you would have?

Thanks

 

[MJG-90]

Faster doesn’t mean better signal. A mesh network like this works best in my opinion. But I have no idea of your layout so can’t say for sure.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/google...MIxIbDguHI4gIVlY2zCh23hQWyEAQYAyABEgLpr_D_BwE

 

[scueng77]

Here is my question if anyone is tech savvy. I have a dog kennel for my working dog that is behind my detached garage and because the way my house is built and window placement, I can’t see the kennel from my bedroom.

I got a Blink camera for the kennel so I can see it when I want. With the help of an extender, my internet is strong enough for me to get a signal out to the kennel but not strong enough for the camera to be used. When I’m out there I can listen to Pandora or use others apps on my phone, but anything video related really slows down. Can I get another extender for the garage or do I need faster internet. Does faster internet translate to a stronger signal. Can I use an extender off another extender?

Any other options you would have?

Thanks

You could get a line of sight device. Depends on how much you want to spend.

 

[91Joe95]

If you're just using an extender, you're staying on the wifi network the entire time, so technically you don't even need internet access as long as you are connected to the network. Now, if you leave the home and are someplace you are not on your wifi network, then you need internet access. Take the camera, move it inside your house and see if it works ok. If it does, then focus on getting an extender. If it doesn't, then look at upgrading your wifi router. Really, your best bet is to get everything working and then add complexity to see where the problem is.

 

[PS4814]

Here is my question if anyone is tech savvy. I have a dog kennel for my working dog that is behind my detached garage and because the way my house is built and window placement, I can’t see the kennel from my bedroom.

I got a Blink camera for the kennel so I can see it when I want. With the help of an extender, my internet is strong enough for me to get a signal out to the kennel but not strong enough for the camera to be used. When I’m out there I can listen to Pandora or use others apps on my phone, but anything video related really slows down. Can I get another extender for the garage or do I need faster internet. Does faster internet translate to a stronger signal. Can I use an extender off another extender?

Any other options you would have?

Thanks

Good thoughts from others thus far but could you share some additional details.

How far is it from your router to the kennel? What kind of obstructions are there between the router and the kennel? What speed internet are you paying for and what brand/mode is your router?

You could always test the speed at the location by using your phone and going to fast.com (or your preference for speed tests) and seeing what kind of signal you’re getting out there. If it’s below what the camera says it needs for HD video then you may need to look at options

One more thing to double check is the settings on the camera. I recently setup a camera in my house and felt the quality was poor, but found that I had to go into the settings to change the resoultion on the video from 360 to 1080.

 

[tboyer]

I guess ethernet is not an option? If it is, it's a lot cheaper/easier than trying to make wireless go where it doesn't want to go.

Are you sure your extender is actually working? Is it located on that side of the house? Is the camera pointed to the EXTENDER access point, and not the router? (That's a mistake a lot of people make). If the answer to those questions is yes, you could put the extender on an extension cord and just try it out in different locations. Depending on where masonry or metal is located you might be able to dramatically improve signal. It might not be the physically closest place -- so try it out in different locations. Also move it vertically if you can, sometimes an extender in a ceiling crawl space is better than one along the floor.

A shot in the dark, but sometimes powerline adapters can work extremely well -- depends on how the house is wired. The router and adapter have to be on the same main branch of wiring obviously. Really no way to know without just trying something out. But powerline is a lot cheaper than a quality mesh system.

 

[interrobang]

I haven't had much luck with security cameras connected though an extender

 

[mgkpsu]

I don't care for wireless cameras.

 

[Obliviax]

I've got a handful of ring cameras I hooked then up with ubiquity networks amplifi mesh system. I now have solid wifi from the road through my back yard

I highly recommend it but the system , base and two mesh extenders was $300

 

[Pinkhippo PeanutButter]

Comcast has an excellent wifi system with 3 extenders that are around $100 or so (for all 3)

 

[aquapong]

I have a 4 floor townhome. I tried extenders before and never could get a good signal on the 3rd and 4th floors. I bought a Linksys Velop mesh network and it works quite well for the 3rd floor...I cut the cable cord long ago, so we stream everything. I can’t say I’ve needed access so the 4th floor so far, so I really haven’t tested it.

I had 5 nodes before one in the kitchen suffered an incident. With 4 it still works fine and looking which node the devices connect to, I suspect 3 would be adequate.

 

[mmp121]

Mesh networks are 100x better than using extenders to expand WiFi network signals. If you can run wired Ethernet to each of your mesh nodes, you will maximize your speeds and reduce the latency of the network.

Mesh networks use to be primarily used in the commercial space, think your whole office building wifi for large companies or mid-sized businesses.

The products for mesh networks are now slowly trickling down into the consumer space, but are still kind of pricey, and marketing materials are full of lots of buzz words which don't provide the consumer with clear easy to understand idea of how mesh is different than extenders.

 

[Pinkhippo PeanutButter]

Mesh networks are 100x better than using extenders to expand WiFi network signals. If you can run wired Ethernet to each of your mesh nodes, you will maximize your speeds and reduce the latency of the network.

Mesh networks use to be primarily used in the commercial space, think your whole office building wifi for large companies or mid-sized businesses.

The products for mesh networks are now slowly trickling down into the consumer space, but are still kind of pricey, and marketing materials are full of lots of buzz words which don't provide the consumer with clear easy to understand idea of how mesh is different than extenders.

Yes! The Comcast xFi product I mentioned above is a mesh solution, reasonably priced with good performance. Very simple to install as well, for anyone.

 

[PSURoar]

Question: When you add a Mesh network, do you replace your current WiFi Router or do the nodes interact with an existing wifi router? My router was provided by Spectrum (not the best).

 

[MJG-90]

Question: When you add a Mesh network, do you replace your current WiFi Router or do the nodes interact with an existing wifi router? My router was provided by Spectrum (not the best).

I replaced my old router with a mesh network -- the google wifi product I linked above. I bought it from Costco and got 4 boxes -- one acts as the main and the other three are placed throughout the house (basement, upstairs hallway, main floor office).

 

[PS4814]

I replaced my old router with a mesh network -- the google wifi product I linked above. I bought it from Costco and got 4 boxes -- one acts as the main and the other three are placed throughout the house (basement, upstairs hallway, main floor office).

I'm curious what kind of range you get from a mesh network outside the house? My Netgear Nighthawk is getting to the end of its lifespan and was considering the mesh network but would like something that can reach ~200+ ft so that when I'm doing work outdoors I can stream music off my wi-fi. My current router can reach just to the edge of my property and I wouldn't want to lose that capability by moving to a mesh network.

 

[hereforthebeer]

Try messing with (worsening) your resolution/pixels. Less data to transmit increases the streamability and still likely is good enough quality for what you need.

I have solved video issues via cell network transmission on ReconX and Buckeye X80 cams via this method previously.

 

[MJG-90]

I'm curious what kind of range you get from a mesh network outside the house? My Netgear Nighthawk is getting to the end of its lifespan and was considering the mesh network but would like something that can reach ~200+ ft so that when I'm doing work outdoors I can stream music off my wi-fi. My current router can reach just to the edge of my property and I wouldn't want to lose that capability by moving to a mesh network.

I don’t have any issues in my yard (I’m barely over an eighth acre though). But it’s easy enough to unplug a unit and move it outside while you’re working.

 

[91Joe95]

I'm curious what kind of range you get from a mesh network outside the house? My Netgear Nighthawk is getting to the end of its lifespan and was considering the mesh network but would like something that can reach ~200+ ft so that when I'm doing work outdoors I can stream music off my wi-fi. My current router can reach just to the edge of my property and I wouldn't want to lose that capability by moving to a mesh network.

You have several options. They do make nodes for outdoor use, but they are expensive. A second cheaper option would be to use a 2nd router, possibly an older one, to connect to your first router and use it as a 2nd network. It is not difficult to do, there are instructions out there for pretty much all the routers. You essentially disable the DHCP on the 2nd router and the hardest part is done. 2.4ghz actually goes farther than 5ghz, so if you have an older router lying around it might be perfect for your needs. Even old wireless G is more than enough to stream the highest quality of music. You can play around with bringing it outside when you need it.

 

[PSU_Chicago]

I tried the Comcast mesh solution a couple years ago and me and Comcast tech could not get it to work. Is it better now?