# Outdoor winter-capable wireless access point? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 4, 2009, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-winter-capable-wireless-access-point/520019 "2009-12-04T19:48:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2009, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-winter-capable-wireless-access-point/520019/21 "2009-12-05T17:00:07Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Or [like this.](http://www.amazon.com/Actiontec-MegaPlug-Ethernet-Adapter-Twin-Pack/dp/B000QGBC8C/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1260032085&sr=8-4) And it’s cheaper, sold in pairs. ($65/pair, rated 85Mb/sec, and it screams.) > > I’ve used the Actiontec Megaplug and I love it. I think you only have to be on the same side of the same transformer, and avoid plugging either unit into a surge protector, which would degrade the data signal. I’m planning on testing this between two adjacent houses this weekend. Crud. I just spent double that, almost. Oh, well. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2009, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-winter-capable-wireless-access-point/520019/22 "2009-12-05T17:19:01Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Crud. I just spent double that, almost. > > Oh, well. I posted as fast as I could. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![HorseloverFat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8e8cbc/32.png) [@HorseloverFat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HorseloverFat)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-winter-capable-wireless-access-point/520019/23 "2009-12-05T17:46:43Z")
WRT54g plus a tupperware case: [http://www.2xlc.de/outdoor\_wrt.html](http://www.2xlc.de/outdoor_wrt.html) He claims its been used in -20 C, which may not be cold enough but if you position it anywhere near the grill, you’ll be fine. Linksys doesnt rate it at this temp because they have no business reason to do so. Generally, solid state electronics love the cold. ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2009, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-winter-capable-wireless-access-point/520019/24 "2009-12-05T18:14:40Z")
> [@HorseloverFat](#): > > He claims its been used in -20 C, which may not be cold enough but if you position it anywhere near the grill, you’ll be fine. Linksys doesnt rate it at this temp because they have no business reason to do so. Generally, solid state electronics love the cold. Yeah, this is what was confusing me. Obviously electronics hate heat, but shouldn’t they perform well in the cold? Seems like it’s an ideal environment. ---
**Author:** ![sharding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@sharding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sharding)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2009, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-winter-capable-wireless-access-point/520019/25 "2009-12-05T18:22:41Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I’ve never found a wireless AP that couldn’t be set up in bridge mode. As long as I can be confident about weather conditions, I am sure there won’t be any connectivity issues. Yeah, I know, but I was thinking a device designed to be only a bridge might be smaller and cheaper (and it gives you more devices to check for cold resistance). I haven’t actually researched that, though. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2009, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-winter-capable-wireless-access-point/520019/26 "2009-12-05T20:18:00Z")
> [@HorseloverFat](#): > > WRT54g plus a tupperware case: > > [http://www.2xlc.de/outdoor\_wrt.html](http://www.2xlc.de/outdoor_wrt.html) > > He claims its been used in -20 C, which may not be cold enough but if you position it anywhere near the grill, you’ll be fine. Linksys doesnt rate it at this temp because they have no business reason to do so. Generally, solid state electronics love the cold. Yeah, my concern was imagining a solder point that might be near something internal that got warm, and the delta between it and the very cold of the rest of the unit. I’ll report back on progress, or possibly even make my new control device’s web page public the next time I’m cooking up a nice Boston butt. ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-winter-capable-wireless-access-point/520019/27 "2009-12-05T20:19:55Z")
Of course you know that since we helped you, you owe us some delicious barbecue, right? ---
**Author:** ![Alex\_Dubinsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dbc845/32.png) [@Alex\_Dubinsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_Dubinsky)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2009, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-winter-capable-wireless-access-point/520019/28 "2009-12-05T21:40:21Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Yeah, my concern was imagining a solder point that might be near something internal that got warm, and the delta between it and the very cold of the rest of the unit. I doubt it. The temperature deltas should all stay the same whether the environment is 100C or -40C. The only thing I can think of is condensation. I can’t figure exactly how it’d be bad, but besides water I really don’t see what you’d be harming with cold temperature. That, and perhaps a greater susceptibility to mechanical stress from materials become more brittle. But really, I can’t imagine what’s wrong with sub-freezing temps! Overclockers push those often. EDIT: Wait, were the powerline adapters rated for sub-zero, but wifi gear is not? ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-winter-capable-wireless-access-point/520019/29 "2009-12-06T01:27:34Z")
> [@Darth\_Sensitive](#): > > This is what is right with America. No. A company in such a high tech area like the Bay area makes a device designed for outdoor use, needs a internet connection, but doesn’t have wireless built-in? This is what is wrong with America. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-winter-capable-wireless-access-point/520019/30 "2009-12-06T05:11:40Z")
> [@Alex\_Dubinsky](#): > > EDIT: Wait, were the powerline adapters rated for sub-zero, but wifi gear is not? Yup, the powerline adapters were rated to -4° F. I figure I can live with that. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-winter-capable-wireless-access-point/520019/31 "2009-12-06T18:17:13Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > No. A company in such a high tech area like the Bay area makes a device designed for outdoor use, needs a internet connection, but doesn’t have wireless built-in? > > This is what is wrong with America. Touche. Damn liberals. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-winter-capable-wireless-access-point/520019/32 "2009-12-06T18:20:18Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I’ll report back on progress, or possibly even make my new control device’s web page public the next time I’m cooking up a nice Boston butt. I had a nice Boston butt once, but she didn’t stick around for the dessert. ---
**Author:** ![meflin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@meflin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meflin)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-winter-capable-wireless-access-point/520019/33 "2009-12-06T18:35:13Z")
Most equipment doesn’t list true low temps because its sold for indoor use. I’ve used lots of this stuff outdoors way beyond spec temps ( high and low ). If you want good stuff made for outdoor wireless … > **[Ubiquiti - Rethinking IT](https://www.ui.com/)** > > Powerfully simple networking technology for organizations. The ones i’ve used are rated -20C to 70C and some to as low as -40C , and most of it is under $100 Meflin [http://www.ubnt.com/products/nano.php](http://www.ubnt.com/products/nano.php) ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-winter-capable-wireless-access-point/520019/34 "2010-05-10T19:53:46Z")
An update: So there were some acquisition delays in some of the required hardware, but this Sunday I put three racks of ribs on the Big Green Egg, and set the Stoker to keep the temp at 190[sup]o[/sup]F. Then we went off to church, and a trip downtown, and some shopping afterwards. Gone about seven hours. I kept checking in on the ribs via my phone’s browser. After a day’s low, slow cooking, they were fall-off-the-bone delicious. Absolutely awesome… and when I got home, the Egg was still at a rock-solid 190. I didn’t have to touch it once. Next up: brisket. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2010, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-winter-capable-wireless-access-point/520019/35 "2010-05-10T23:14:36Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I kept checking in on the ribs via my phone’s browser. > > Next up: brisket. Link, please. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-winter-capable-wireless-access-point/520019/36 "2010-05-11T16:22:40Z")
So it sounds like you waited for fair weather to play with this. What did you use for internet to the egg? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-winter-capable-wireless-access-point/520019.md?page=1)