Do I need a WiFi bridge ?

[Lily the Pink]

I have a detached workshop with a couple of IP CCTV cameras mounted on it. A few weeks ago I got it all working using Devolo Power Line Adaptors, even though there are at least two consumer units between the workshop and router in the house. I was typically only getting 20Mbps over that link, but that was adequate for the CCTV streams. However, the last couple of days has seen the PLA in the workshop failing to make any connection. It works fine if I bring it inside the house; the only thing I can think of is that the setup is susceptible to the damp weather.

The workshop is the other side of a concrete yard; running Ethernet cable to it is not an option. I do have line of sight from one bedroom window to the w/shop, the distance being about 25 metres, and while it would be very difficult to get Ethernet cable to that part of the house, it would be easy to put a PLA there (which would even be on the same ring as the router). I would prefer not to have anything mounted outside either the house or the w/shop as they would be vulnerable to ne'er-do-wells. It would be straightforward to mount equipment on the inside of the w/shop (wooden walls at the relevant height).

WiFi bridges seem to be aimed at distances measured in kilometres rather than metres. Are they overkill in this case, and if so what other options do I have or if not, then any recommendations would be welcome.

[Harpoon]

You should get a WiFi bridge single through a wooden wall and glass. If the house end is being fed by PowerLine, I doubt you've have a full speed uplink to the bridge anyway.

TP-Link for £80 for a pair of units:

https://www.broadbandbuyer.com/products/19215-tp-l...

The Unifi NanoStation AC Loco are sub £100 for the pair - don't forgot to add the relevant power supplies for each end.

https://www.broadbandbuyer.com/products/30942-ubiq...

You can also get them pre-configured if you don't want to set them up (again add PSUs)

https://www.broadbandbuyer.com/products/30941-ubiq...

The Microtik Wireless Wire Kit is a bit more expensive at £210 but includes power supplies and has stands for using on windowsills:

https://linitx.com/product/mikrotik-wireless-wire-...

That uses 60Ghz though, so the wooden wall will have a bigger impact than a 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz bridge.

[Robotron-2084]

Assuming you’ve rebooted the powerline adaptors?

I use the Devolo adaptors from my router to my garage on a different consumer unit and have to reboot them maybe once every 6 months or so.

Try this process - https://www.coolblue.nl/en/advice/reset-devolo-pow...

[Lily the Pink]

Thanks both,

Resetting the remote PLA does restore connectivity, but of course that's no good if I'm monitoring the cameras while away from home.

I had forgotten that the cameras are both WiFi-capable, so presumably a simpler solution would be to use a powerful enough WiFi AP, such as https://www.tp-link.com/uk/business-networking/out... - better than going from cameras via Cat5e to a PtP link ?