Working from home? Without a spare room it's difficult to set up a permanent space, which is where the idea of a garden office comes in. Perhaps it's based in a sunroom, or orangery. Maybe you've repurposed a child's playhouse or converted a shed, or perhaps you’re even thinking about purchasing a new garden building to use as an office.
Whatever approach you've used to get away from the bustle of home life to find a productive space outdoors, there is undoubtedly a key issue to overcome – why is it so difficult to get a decent broadband connection in your garden office? We asked our friends at Broadband Genie, to go through the best solutions for broadband in a garden office.
Four options for garden office broadband
If you're planning or are in the process of moving into a garden office, you have four options for broadband access:
- Hardwired/Ethernet
- Powerline adapters
- Wi-Fi
- Mobile broadband
Unless you don't need or want internet access in your erstwhile shed (perhaps you need a space to switch off for writing or crafting), you'll need to work out which connectivity solution is best.
Run a reliable, hardwired Ethernet connection to your garden office
For the most reliable internet connection and speed, like the set up you have indoors, run an Ethernet cable to your garden office.
Gigabit Ethernet cables can carry up to 10Gbps of data from the router to a computer, secondary router, or network switch in your garden office. There is also little signal degradation over short distances. Ethernet is considerably faster than the current fastest domestic Wi-Fi, which manages 2Gbps in most scenarios.
But running Ethernet cables around the house comes with challenges. Installing the cable will undoubtedly mean running it from the router through walls or under floors to a point where it can be routed to the garden office. If other infrastructure is planned for your garden office, it makes sense to do this in one go. For example, an electrician might install your Ethernet cable alongside the mains electric extension.
Garden office already powered? Use Powerline Network Adapters
On the other hand, if the office garden is already equipped with lights and power, powerline network adapters are a smart solution.
On the other hand, if the office garden is already equipped with lights and power, powerline network adapters are a smart solution.
No extra cabling is required as these are easy to install, affordable, and don't require any drilling. They come in pairs and use your home's electrical circuits to route data. So, plug one in near your router, another in your garden office, and your network is extended. Note that this won't work if your garden office is on a separate electrical circuit to the broadband router. For more information, read this guide to powerline networking adapters.
Can home Wi-Fi reach the garden office?
Wireless networks can be notoriously uneven within a property – so what are the chances of you getting a signal in your garden office?
Before making any buying decisions it's worth taking a laptop or tablet out to the building to check reception. If you find it lacking, then it's time to consider a signal boosting solution.
A Wi-Fi range extender or boosters can come in useful here, although these devices have the same shortcomings as standard routers. Designed to receive the signal from the router and then amplify it, extenders have fallen out of favour. Replacing them is mesh Wi-Fi, three or more pre-paired wireless networking devices that are designed to kill network dead zones.
If the garden office is a significant distance from your house and Ethernet cabling and powerline adapters are unsuitable, it might be smarter to mount an external antenna to boost the Wi-Fi signal. Outdoor wireless access points are weatherproof and typically capable of dual band (like most routers) broadcast. Expect speeds of up to 1200Mbps (depending on your home broadband of course) across areas ranging from 600 sq. ft. to 2000 sq. ft.
Consider mobile broadband for your garden office
If extending your home network into the garden isn't working out, all is not lost.
In recent years mobile broadband has become an option for home use, with data received and routed via a 4G or 5G router. With this set up in your garden office, you get a dedicated connection for work use. In metropolitan areas covered by 5G, you can expect fast and reliable connections and speeds, though even 4G can be fast enough for working. You might even consider mobile broadband in addition to setting up your home network in your garden office as a backup.
To use mobile broadband as your garden office internet solution, start by checking the coverage in your area — use a postcode coverage checker, or simply check the signal with your mobile phone. When you're satisfied with the potential for superfast mobile broadband in the garden, consider a provider. You'll need one that either offers a mobile broadband router or Wi-Fi hotspot in a bundle, or you can get a SIM only deal and purchase your own hardware. While you're setting all of this up, you might also simply rely on a tethered smartphone – but beware charges for breaching your data cap.
Ensure your broadband isfast enough for work
Whichever solution you choose for your garden office broadband, remember to check the speed before you start working. This can help you to iron out any issues. It will also give you the opportunity to switch to a different type of connection.
