Options for room without Ethernet connection

[CallMeMonks]

Hi,

Just wondering if someone could advise me on the best action to take. We have a building with Cisco Meraki wireless with MR42 APs. We have one room which is detached from the main building that doesn't get a strong wireless signal, if it connects at all because it's so weak.

The problem is, the room doesn't have any network points to connect an AP to. So what are the options available to us without the costs of installing a network point in the room?

Is there something like a Cisco Meraki wireless booster? Can we buy an AP and have it connected with a power adaptor and use it as a repeater? Any advice would be great 

[Jason_Ashley]

An option that you could use extend your wireless mesh by placing an AP in repeater mode in the room. This will require two APs with a good signal. Here is an article with more information on this topic. 

https://documentation.meraki.com/MR/WiFi_Basics_and_Best_Practices/Extending_the_LAN_with_a_Wireless...

[CallMeMonks]

I did consider this but I don't think there are two APs near the room with a good signal for it to work properly.

[cmr]

@CallMeMonks you could put an AP with an external sector antenna on the wall nearest the building pointing towards it.  i.e. focussing the signal that way as opposed to an omnidirectional sending it everywhere.

An MR76 or MR86 would work if the AP itself needs to be outside, if the AP can be inside with the antenna outside but shielded from the worst of the weather then an MR46E with a patch antenna might work and you get a better warranty on the AP (though not the antenna).

[CallMeMonks]

Again, this was an option but unfortunately there aren't any network points near to the nearest wall to the building.

[cmr]

@CallMeMonks in that case as the external AP really needs to be directional away from the main building, I don't think it would work as a repeater.  I think you'll need a cable, is it a very difficult route or through a hazardous area etc.?

[BrandonS]

I think the best options will always be pull a cable or setup a point to point wireless bridge.   *Maybe* a pair of those inline power ethernet extenders could work if the buildings share common power mains?

[PhilipDAth]

>Just wondering if someone could advise me on the best action to take.

Spend the money and put in a cable.

If the buildings are close enough you might be able to run a cable aerially (cheaper).  You could run a chain from one roof to the next roof (or if they are quite close you might get away with a thick catenary wire).  Then run an outdoor rated Ethernet cable along the chain/wire.

>So what are the options available to us without the costs of installing a network point in the room?

Close the small building permanently.  Ask those users to work from home.

Wireless repeaters have been mentioned.

If the bandwidth required is low you could also consider using something like an MX67C, and use a 4G backhaul, and use AutoVPN back to the primary MX.

https://meraki.cisco.com/product/security-sd-wan/small-branch/mx67c/ 

If you want more bandwidth, how about Starlink (flat-rate monthly cost) with an MX and AutoVPN back to your main MX or maybe a Z3 if the number of users is really low?

https://starlink.com/ 

https://meraki.cisco.com/product/security-sd-wan/small-branch/mx68/ 

https://meraki.cisco.com/product/security-sd-wan/teleworker/z3/ 

[cmr]

Brilliant post @PhilipDAth you had me laughing out loud with your succinct answer to the second question. Fabulous 🤣😂😎