Shed. Barn. Workshop.
When it’s time to go to work or “work,” getting reliable WiFi signal inside your mancave can be difficult.
Especially for small buildings and guest homes made or lined with metal, because metal is the #1 cause for disrupted WiFi and cellular service. WiFi signal literally bounces off or gets stiff-armed by metal.
Today we look at the best solutions for getting WiFi signal inside your metal shed without needing to purchase a second internet service.
1. The No Apologies aka The Best
Depending on how far your shed is, its build construction, and the priority of your WiFi speed, you may need the best of the best. The PiFi Long Range WiFi Range Extender is a beast.
It’s a point-to-point WiFi repeater. Meaning it’ll reach to a WiFi source up to 1 mile away, pull it in, and presto, WiFi service inside the shed.
Pros:
- The most powerful solution without needing to get a SECOND internet connection.
- Long reach for rural areas, up to 1 mile.
- Easy installation.
Cons:
- Point to point means it delivers WiFi service directly into the shed and nothing in between. There’s another solution if you want outside internet.
- Requires a second router for your shed.
2. The Obi-Wan aka The Very Good
Another option is to get a directional antenna (also known as a yagi antenna) and point to the shed.
If you have a router with external antennas like a Netgear Nighthawk, you can remove one of the broadcasting antennas and attach it to a directional antenna.
So what’s a good directional antenna?
A grid parabolic antenna is the big, bad wolf capable of broadcasting 2.4 GHz WiFi signal up to 8 miles. But again, if you have a very robust metal shed or shop, it’ll still stop WiFi service from getting through, so going with the PiFi Long Range WiFi Range Extender would be a better choice.
For tiny buildings a bit closer like 100 meters away (about 300 ft) in the backyard or a little bit offsite, going with a yagi antenna is definitely more manageable and just as effective.
Pros:
- Simple upgrade to your existing router antenna.
- Grid or yagi antenna has good reach for rural areas.
- Plug-n-play.
Cons:
- If the shed is robust with thick walls, it may not work.
- Will need to install and point external antenna to shed.
3. The 2% Milk aka The OK
The first two options have been about either pulling or pushing WiFi service from the source. How about beefing up the WiFi reception ability inside the shed?
Using a wireless card can help extend the WiFi range of your notebook up to 5X. Granted, this is a bit of a longshot, because if WiFi signal isn’t coming in, then it likely isn’t coming out.
However, if you are able to get spotty reception inside, a wireless card should help. For smartphone users, you’re SOL unless you tether to the laptop.
Pros:
- Power up your laptop or notebook WiFi range.
- Plug-n-play.
- Inexpensive.
Cons:
- If you got the Fort Knox of sheds, it probably won’t work.
- Works for computers and laptops, not for smartphones unless tethered to the notebook.
4. The Don’t Judge Me aka The Desperate
It’s not recommended but doable. You could run an ethernet cable from your router inside the shed.
CAT5e and CAT6 cable runs up to 100 meters (328 ft), so that’s one thing to remember. You’ll also have to shield the cable from the elements and perhaps bury it unless you want it exposed to children, dogs, and lawnmowers.
Pros:
- Something better than nothing.
Cons:
- We’re in the 2020s, it’s wireless technology, why are we talking wires?
5. The Van Gogh aka The Experimental
Powerline adapters use your home’s electrical wiring to deliver internet. If your shed also shares electricity with your home where the WiFi modem is installed, it may deliver WiFi service in your shed.
It’s not the most effective (aka spotty), but it’s definitely the easiest to install. And it does come with some caveats such as directly installing into the outlet (no surges) and not sharing outlet with high-powered devices.
Pros:
- Easy to install.
Cons:
- Must share same electrical wiring.
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26 comments
Ronald Labbie
Looking to get better wifi and cell coverage in metal shop. Good coverage outside shop.
Julie Acosta
I was trying to reach via email address but it was returned undeliverable. I need assistance with my current wifi service.
Garry Barbour
I have a metal building 75ft from my house and ran a ethernet with a deco ax1500 router and a poe injector to work a nest battery outdoor camera..with wired opposition…nothing seems to be working but everything seems in place for it too work …what iam I missing..
Garry
Nest camera 75 ft from my house installment
Lori french
Yeah hi, I’m trying to get wifi into a man cave in shed, from the house wifi extender but it only reaches inside at the window, not picking it up for the Roku TV 🤷 any cheap suggestions? Thanks. There’s no cable out there either
Barb
We gave wifi via phone line in the country at 10MBPS. Need to get wifi into our outbuilding. Your idea of a direct line buried seems to be the best option. Would the internet still be ok at both the home and outbuilding? I can’t afford to lose much speed. Am I correct?
Thanks,
Barb
Leo Meyers
I am trying to bring my wifi signal into a steel safe room ( I’ve attached a link so you can see what I’m talking about: https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;ylt=AwrNY3Ey9StkjbwNS8pXNyoA;ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMyNTQzNFNUXzEEc2VjA3Nj?p=steel+safe+rooms&fr=yfp-t ). Once inside the room, and the door is closed all signal is lost. Room is made of 1/4" steel plates.Tried hanging a dongle attached to a USB cord outside the shelter, then attaching it to the laptop. That didn’t work. Best Buy Geek told me I would have to run an ethernet cord from my router to the inside of the safe room to get a signal. Which would entail running it up the inside of the wall, across the attic, and down to the safe room. GOT TO BE A BETTER WAY! Any ideas you can help me with? Thanks!
Ken Gunderman
Looking for a solution. I have a metal shop and would like internet into it. I have a strong wifi signal around the shop but no signal in the shop. Is there a way to use an antenna or something I can use to get WIFI into my shop?
Norman Cartwright
I have a at&t motam pull signal off a tower 11 miles away but get sorry service i can put ipad up to my window & it pulls up a signal,what i get to get my wifi signal to my motom i have a metal roof
Kayla
Hi there,
I am working on a point to point set up to get internet from our house to our metal shop. Once I get the signal to the shop, what do you recommend I use to have quality signal throughout the shop, including a back office that is inclosed with solid wood walls? Do I use a repeater? If so, what brand do you recommend?
Thanks for any help you can provide,
Kayla
Willard Myers
I live out of town, have wired internet in the home, but the reception out in my metal barn about 150 feet away is hit and miss
John miller
I am looking for a solution for getting a good Wi-Fi signal from router in my house out 100’ to inside my metal shop building.
Bill Tonar
I have two large metal buildings with no windows. The two metal buildings are separated into around 6 bays by metal walls. The buildings are about 100 feet apart. I want to get WiFi into 3 of the bays. I have a cable router in one of the bays so I need to get WiFi to two other bays. Can I set up an outside antenna on the bay with WiFi and two receivers on the outside of the bays I need WiFi and connect the antennas to a router in each of these bays? You suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, BillT
jerrell caskey
I live in a metal building all four sides and roof, my wifi and cellar service is very slow or non existent . I have more than 5 cellar towers within 10 miles of me . How can I get better wifi. what equipment would I have to buy.
Brett Lolley
We have a very strong WiFi signal outside, however I need to extend the signal inside metal warehouses. A bridge would make sense, except I need WiFi signal outside as well. Can I use half of the PiFi Long Range WiFi Range Extender to receive that existing signal to cable the internet through the metal warehouse wall connected to a wireless AP for the inside of the warehouse? I’m thinking that, if this works, I could purchase this system and connect to two of the four buildings with one kit.
Marcus West
I have a church that is built with metal beans and walls. I have a signal-provider but may need routers to extend signal to all locations…? 1001 E Henry Street, Savannah Ga. 31405 plz advise promptly via call or text 9122726687 or email.
Nola
Trying to extend wifi to shop with second modem
Brett Radabaugh
Enjoyed the article. Good info, some things to think about.
Joseph Ward
No internet available to current house besides satellite internet. We run a hotspot from AT&T called NetGear Knighthawk. We both work from home and get about 20 mbps download and 2-4 upload on a really good day, many times slower. Is there a way you could help us get better wifi? Thanks!
Jeff
I have a Starlink system set up at our 10 room motel. We are very happy with mbps (100)that is broadcasts. The problem I am having, is getting the signal into our rooms. We have metal siding on our buildings. There are 6 rooms that keep dropping the signal. What suggestions do you have?
Thank you
Garrison
We built a barndominium using metal siding and roof. We have no cell phone or text ability inside the building. We have to go out to the front porch in order to make calls or receive texts. we are over 700 feet from the nearest connection. what is a good solution for us?
Cindy Brosey
Have Comcast Xfinity in main house. Pole barn on property turned into In-law quarters. 1 pod booster in main house /2 pods in pole barn . Spotty – will work good for days , even weeks then cannot get anything ! Drives us crazy ! Any ideas???Cindy
Doug
Hi. Good info. My problem is I live in a 100% metal RV. I Zget free WiFi in our park but I sometimes can’t even see the network on my iPhone or laptop. Inside I am lucky to get .5 MB/s download. On the roof at any corner on my phone I get a full 9mbs. I want to run an external Anteana from roof to an extender inside. I can’t set up a new network inside. I just want a stronger signal inside.
I was thinking of getting a simple amplifier to rebroadcast the signal from inside.
The WiFi Anteana usually have a N connector but all the Extenders are a RG45? I need to go from N to SMA to coax to RGX45. This is a mess. What is the simplest and inexpensive. I am retired. Thx. Any help from anyone would be appreciated. Doug. 661.309.5153. Texts only please
Elizabeth Isenogle
I currently have Century Link in one section of our metal building. We need internet service on the other side of the building that is separated by thick metal walls. We ran an Ethernet to the other side (thru the wall) but need advice on what to hook up to allow the service to flow to the other building?
John
Hi, we have a horse farm in MD. We have several out buildings (metal) we use wireless wife cameras to keep an eye on some of the horses. I have a wireless router in our maintenance shop (metal) I installed a wavlink external antenna repeater mode. We get great single everywhere. Now how do I get a good reliable signal inside the other buildings to be able to operate and access the cameras via internet? ANY HELP would be greatly appreciated. Thanks John
Ronald
I have h speed internet in my home. I have metal building approx 70 ft from house. I have installed eero for better wifi reception, however when closing door to building my strength decreases. Will the van Gogh’s booster installed in building help. As long as the door is open the signal is fine. Thanks for advice in advance.