This topic

Wifi to an outside building

IPAMikey — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:24:45 GMT

I have full fibre broadband with Smart hub 2 and 2 WiFi disks which give signal to the top of my long garden but doesen't penetrate a wooden (solidly built 6 inch insulated walls with metal roof) outbuilding, signal outside the door but none inside. I thought that a weatherproof extender mounted on the outside of the building (near a small window) would probably be a solution. There's too many obstacles to run a solid cable so got to work with wifi signal. Any suggestions of something suitable and compatible to existing system? I have seen various makes and models advertised but none give a comprehensive description of does it need external power or how it connects inside the building and I can't afford to buy something that doesn't work.

Re: Wifi to an outside building

WSH — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 10:22:40 GMT

I would suspect the metal roof is reflecting/absorbing most of the signal.

When you say insulated walls, that's not metal foil is it? If so, same problem.

Edit: Thought occurs...if that outbuilding is connected to the house electricity supply, then powerline adapters may be the answer. Lot depends on how it's wired though.

Re: Wifi to an outside building

IPAMikey — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 11:05:38 GMT

No it's not metal foil insulation it's mainly fibeglass, powerline adapters won't work as the router is on a different circuit, I've still got some from my original installation before full fibre upgrade etc and they were hit and miss extending the wifi.

Re: Wifi to an outside building

WSH — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 12:21:39 GMT

In that case I'd look up "Point to Point" wireless.

I've no experience of it outside of industrial use, so I've no idea what's available on the domestic market. The industrial stuff would be a bit expensive but I would not be surprised if there's something like a home version today.

Re: Wifi to an outside building

gg30340 — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 12:34:49 GMT

When you say the electric is on a different circuit do you mean it is fed from a different consumer unit (fuse box). If it is all going through the same consumer unit powerline adapters even if on a different ring or radial circuit should still work ok.

If you can the best option is to run an Ethernet cable from the Smarthub to the outhouse then connect it to a wireless access point (WAP) in the outhouse. This will give you both an Ethernet connection and a wireless connection.