Since the Covid-19 pandemic arrived in 2020, working from home has become a norm for people in many industries.
While offices are now safe to return to again, many businesses have stuck with some kind of working-from-home set-up, be it a hybrid system or even going fully remote and ditching the office entirely.
But now, working from home has become more sophisticated than in the early days of the pandemic. Rather than having to huddle around the kitchen table or working from bed, many people have some kind of study or room of the house that is dedicated to remote working.
Rise Of The Garden Office
One innovative approach is to install a garden office, either by converting a garden shed or installing a new structure altogether. Offering access to natural light, fresh air and a change of scenery, outdoor offices are great for productivity and privacy as well as providing a natural environment that can have a great impact on well-being and mental health.
However, being a greater distance away from your home’s Wifi router can prove difficult – especially if you need to chat with colleagues digitally on instant messaging applications or video calls.
Choppy or inconsistent Wifi can be extremely frustrating, but there are a number of ways in which you can get a fast, reliable internet connection in your garden office without breaking the bank.
In this blog, we’ll outline the different ways how to get Wifi into the garden office and explain all the pros and cons of each option.
How to get Wifi in the garden office?
There are a variety of different ways how to get Wifi in the garden office, and the best option for you really depends on your circumstances, the layout of your property and the speed of your existing internet connection.
Let’s take a look at some of the things you can do.
Wifi extender
If you want to extend your Wifi, then it makes sense to consider purchasing a Wifi extender. This device is exactly as it sounds, and can extend your existing Wifi single to a larger radius that will hopefully include your garden office.
All you have to do is to plug in the extender and the signal will ‘bounce’ a larger distance, helping all devices that require the internet along the way. Be sure to plug it into a socket that is as close as possible to your garden office.
Pros and cons of a Wifi extender
The biggest advantage of a Wifi extender is that they’re relatively cheap and incredibly easy to use. However, the signal deteriorates the further away it gets and typically can only extend by about 30m. So if your garden office is a larger distance away, you may want to consider alternative options.
Powerline networking
You could also use a powerline network that can deliver internet between two or more units. You can purchase a powerline network fairly easily and inexpensively online and set-up is fairly straightforward.
Simply plug one adaptor into your mains and connect it to your main Wifi router with an ethernet cable. Then, plug the second adaptor into the location you require internet (in this case a garden office) and connect your device to the adaptor with another ethernet cable. Once both adaptors are attached, you should have a usable internet connection in the office.
Pros and cons of powerline networking
Similarly to using a Wifi extender, a powerline network is cheap to buy and easy to set up. However, they cannot be used if your garden office doesn’t have an electricity connection. If this is the case for you you’ll need to consider an alternative.
Ethernet cable
Arguably the method that assures the most reliable connection is using an ethernet cable. Simply connect the cable to the Wifi router, and run it all the way through to the device you’re using in your garden office. Once the two are connected, you’ll have a reliable internet connection just like you were using the internet in your main home.
If you’re having electricity connected to your garden office, having an ethernet cable laid with your existing powerlines is the most recommended method.
Pros and cons of an ethernet cable
As mentioned above, an internet connection is extremely fast and reliable when it comes from an ethernet cable. However, it’s not always as practical as a wireless option especially if it means having a trailing wire through the house and garden. If it’s not been professionally installed, this also means you will need to keep an eye on the weather, as having an exposed wire outdoors could be dangerous if it begins to rain.
Wifi PTP
A Wifi PTP (Point-to-Point) is, in essence, a more sophisticated version of a Wifi extender. Once you’ve purchased the product you’ll be provided with two adaptors- one for the main house and one for your remote location.
Usually, the adaptors will need to be configured prior to installation. You should receive instructions that tell you what to do but if you’re technology savvy it’ll probably help. Then, you plug one into the mains of your house and one into your garden office (so you’ll need electrical power in the office for this option).
Once both adaptors are plugged in, your home’s network will be used to create a wireless connection between the two. This works better without any obstructions. For instance, trees, foliage and other outbuildings can interrupt the signal.
Pros and cons of Wifi PTP
The biggest benefit of Wifi PTP is that the signal range is far better than a normal Wifi extender. This means it’s a great option for garden offices that are a further distance away from the house.
However, if there is no clear line of sight the signal can be patchy and it is one of the more complex systems to initially set-up.
Mesh network
If you have a larger space between your main property and garden network then setting up a mesh network may be worthwhile. A mesh network is made up of multiple ‘nodes’, which are devices that act as mini Wifi routers and which come together to create one home network that can transport a signal over a greater distance.
The idea is to place the various nodes between your garden office and Wifi router, and the signal will be passed between them and to your device- establishing a strong, reliable internet connection.
Pros and cons of a mesh network
A mesh network usually provides a stronger signal and is more effective than a standard Wifi extender, but it can be more difficult to set up. As well as this, they need to be recharged regularly so require greater power consumption and, in some cases, their performance has been known to decrease over time.
In Conclusion
The best way to get Wifi access in your garden office is completely dependent on your circumstances. While a wired option is considered more reliable, it’s not always the most practical option. Assess the pros and cons of each option as listed above and select a solution that is most suitable for your home.
