How far will wireless internet go?

Question

I have a friend that wants to install wireless internet in his house, but also wants to be able to access it in his shed which is 150 feet from the house. The shed has steel siding on it and he wants to know if it would work in there? Thanks

Answer 1

The limit on a wireless router is usually around 100-150 feet. That is assuming there is nothing to intefere with or weaken the signal. The wireless signal is nothing but a radio wave. So it is affect by the same thing that would affect any other radio signal - pipes, wiring, steel walls, etc.

I would say the odds of getting a signal inside a metal shed at 150 feet are low. He might be able to increase the odds by using a USB wireless receiver, and actually placing it outside the shed towards the house, reducing sheilding by the shed walls itself.....

Answer 2

The standard range for home wifi equipment is 300ft, however that steel siding might be a small issue. I would say go ahead and tell your friend to install it, and if he has trouble getting a signal in his shed then buy a signal repeater. This will boost the signal near his shed to a level that should be able to penetrate the steel.

Answer 3

It depends on lots of things like how powerful the router is, if there are other wireless equipment in the house, walls which obstruct the radio signals and other wireless access points around your house. I think it will work but the signal strength will be low.

Answer 4

It depends what modem router he has?
It should go 100metres but it depends on the width of his walls and what theyre made out of!

With the steel siding in his shed i doubt it would work!
but if you live in a country with good weather you could get a long Ethernet cable (i think they go up to 100m) and use that plus you'd have a slightly faster connection than wireless!

good luck! ;)