# What is my best bet for boosting Wifi signal from home to detached garage for my garage door opener? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 13, 2019, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-best-bet-for-boosting-wifi-signal-from-home-to-detached-garage-for-my-garage-door-opener/835479 "2019-06-13T15:56:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2019, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-best-bet-for-boosting-wifi-signal-from-home-to-detached-garage-for-my-garage-door-opener/835479/1 "2019-06-13T15:56:24Z")
I just had a new garage opener installed and it has Wifi capability. But my Wifi does not reach the garage. Is there a solution that will solve my problem and not break the bank (less than 100 clams, say)? I am looking at [this](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0781YXFBT?tag=mcaveman-20). I don’t need to stream video or surf for porn in my garage, I just need to be able to connect to the opener. Any thoughts? Thanks! mmm ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2019, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-best-bet-for-boosting-wifi-signal-from-home-to-detached-garage-for-my-garage-door-opener/835479/2 "2019-06-13T16:01:56Z")
That’s an access point- you have to connect it with an ethernet cable. You probably don’t want to fool around with that if you don’t have to. I’d look at a range extender- they’re significantly cheaper, and considering that your garage door opener’s data bandwidth requirements are probably infinitesimal, they should do the job. [I have one of these at the house](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L0YLRUW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)- it is pretty effective and was pretty easy to set up as well. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2019, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-best-bet-for-boosting-wifi-signal-from-home-to-detached-garage-for-my-garage-door-opener/835479/3 "2019-06-13T16:03:25Z")
> [@bump](#): > > That’s an access point- you have to connect it with an ethernet cable. You probably don’t want to fool around with that if you don’t have to. > > I’d look at a range extender- they’re significantly cheaper, and considering that your garage door opener’s data bandwidth requirements are probably infinitesimal, they should do the job. > > [I have one of these at the house](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L0YLRUW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)- it is pretty effective and was pretty easy to set up as well. Thanks, bump. I was just reading the link I posted and reached the same conclusion. Was coming back here to “nevermind” my link. I will look into your link. mmm ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2019, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-best-bet-for-boosting-wifi-signal-from-home-to-detached-garage-for-my-garage-door-opener/835479/4 "2019-06-13T16:29:31Z")
Another recommendation for a Netgear extender/repeater. I’ve used them professionally a few times with good results and swapped my private Huawei repeater for a Netgear, more than doubling the bandwidth in my living room. Also quite easy to install and configure. Of course the success depends on structural factors: the distance from your router to the garage and obstacles in the way (walls with/without metal components). Depending on those factors, it’s possible that the best place to install the extender is not somewhere at the garage, but at the nearest possible place in the house to get best results. That’s a matter of trying several places when you’ve got the extender. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2019, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-best-bet-for-boosting-wifi-signal-from-home-to-detached-garage-for-my-garage-door-opener/835479/5 "2019-06-13T19:25:08Z")
I’m curious; how does having wifi capability help with a garage door opener? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2019, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-best-bet-for-boosting-wifi-signal-from-home-to-detached-garage-for-my-garage-door-opener/835479/6 "2019-06-13T19:43:20Z")
I would assume it has to do with a larger concept of home automation. “Open the garage from the kitchen when you see the kids coming up the driveway,” or “Open the garage from work when the water heater repairman shows up,” etc. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2019, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-best-bet-for-boosting-wifi-signal-from-home-to-detached-garage-for-my-garage-door-opener/835479/7 "2019-06-13T19:51:59Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I’m curious; how does having wifi capability help with a garage door opener? I just had mine upgraded. I can open it from anywhere using my mobile phone, but that’s not the main benefit, imo. It has a sensor that _reports_ to my mobile phone when it opens & closes, and I can check the current door status via my mobile phone. So it’s a good security feature when you’re away. And I have mentioned this feature to 4 friends, and _all 4_ told me they that have in the past inadvertently left their garage door wide open when they have been away. Garage doors have a force sensor that can sometimes be too sensitive, and will reopen the door if they detect a blockage - so if you don’t watch it close completely, it may reopen. Now, if I have an OCD moment where I can’t remember if I watched it close, I can just check my phone. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2019, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-best-bet-for-boosting-wifi-signal-from-home-to-detached-garage-for-my-garage-door-opener/835479/8 "2019-06-13T19:58:19Z")
Before buying a range extender, consider where your primary router is. It may be relatively easy to connect it to a different point in your home that would reach the garage. And if you go for a range extender - take advantage of the opportunity and try out various positions - you only need to make it strong _enough_ for the garage, it doesn’t necessarily need to be very close to it. Try it out in various positions and you may be able to improve the signal in other useful parts of your property too. ---
**Author:** ![KMS94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ad7895/32.png) [@KMS94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KMS94)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2019, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-best-bet-for-boosting-wifi-signal-from-home-to-detached-garage-for-my-garage-door-opener/835479/9 "2019-06-13T21:54:25Z")
I happened to purchase the extender in Bump’s link just a week ago. It works great. It was up and running 5 minutes after being unwrapped. It does slow your connection speed a bit compared to connecting directly to the WiFi router, but that shouldn’t matter much for your application. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2019, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-best-bet-for-boosting-wifi-signal-from-home-to-detached-garage-for-my-garage-door-opener/835479/10 "2019-06-13T22:27:37Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Before buying a range extender, consider where your primary router is. It may be relatively easy to connect it to a different point in your home that would reach the garage. > > And if you go for a range extender - take advantage of the opportunity and try out various positions - you only need to make it strong _enough_ for the garage, it doesn’t necessarily need to be very close to it. Try it out in various positions and you may be able to improve the signal in other useful parts of your property too. Moving the router is not practical. I will try different spots, but I have a kitchen outlet that I think/hope will do the trick. I think it will bring Wifi to the deck as well, which would be a bonus. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2019, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-best-bet-for-boosting-wifi-signal-from-home-to-detached-garage-for-my-garage-door-opener/835479/11 "2019-06-14T03:31:29Z")
> [@KMS94](#): > > I happened to purchase the extender in Bump’s link just a week ago. It works great. It was up and running 5 minutes after being unwrapped. It does slow your connection speed a bit compared to connecting directly to the WiFi router, but that shouldn’t matter much for your application. If the bandwidth is important, there are certainly very capable range extenders for a modest outlay. I have a Netgear AC1900 that’s a couple of years old, now only $110 because there are newer and better models. It streams ultra-HD just fine to my obscenely large TV screen.