So I’m looking at buying this TP-Link Deco mesh system from Costco. I’d be running each unit off Ethernet within the house, but would like the outdoor unit to be mounted on the dock. The dock has electricity, so it wouldn’t need PoE. I was just going to buy 200 feet of Cat8 until I just read for the first time about how grounded lighting will destroy electronics connected to trenched ethernet.
Now I’m thinking I buy 2 short ethernet cables, and then use a fiber optic ethernet adapter on each end (like this MC220L). I am however reluctant for a couple reasons. I’ve known mesh points to not work when on adapted ethernet, like MoCA. Also, will I have to conduit this trenched fiber optic line, and considering that, how much more expensive is it as compared to just a long outdoor cat 8 cord (about $70)? Is it possible to make this trenched Cat 8 safe by grounding it to something else? It is a lakefront property after all.
Alternatively, the closest point to the dock that I could mount the outdoor access point without trenching is the base of the patio stairs, which is about 70 feet from where the WiFi would be used on the dock. I need the entire house on 5 Ghz, but am I able to run just the outdoor point on 2.4? Would it reach 70 feet wirelessly anyway?
You must log in or register to comment.
Don’t mess with mesh gear. Just get a good router and enough access points to cover the area you need. This mesh stuff is annoying to set up and use; I have a TP-Link mesh system just sitting in a box in my room.
As far as getting Ethernet near your boat… a fiber run will do exactly what you need; you can use a fiber converter or small switch with SFP adapter at the end near your boat and either mount an outdoor access point, or put the converter and AP inside a weatherproof ABS electrical box.
Ubiquiti Wireless bridge to feed an outdoor WAP
Where exactly do you think your boat dock’s power runs to? Because it probably runs back to your home’s main breaker and isn’t separate service to the street.
Best thing you can run is conduit and yes fiber is the most correct wire for your distance to only do it once. But as far as lightning strikes go; a strike literally in your yard will probably cook half your home’s systems anyway.