How to Get Reliable Wi-Fi in Your Backyard

No one wants the tunes buffering when they have friends round for a barbecue or a stuttering podcast as they try to finish yard work. While the average router might fill your home with Wi-Fi, it doesn’t always extend to the patio or deck, much less the end of your backyard. But you can get great Wi-Fi coverage in your outdoor spaces, and I will show you the best options.

Adjust or Move Your Router

Before you think about spending any money, try adjusting or moving your wireless router. Routers send out Wi-Fi signals in a rough circle, so I always recommend placing your router in the center of your home. Moving it slightly closer to your backyard or wherever you want to extend Wi-Fi is the simplest option. Ensure it’s positioned high and in the open. You may need a longer Ethernet cable. If your router has adjustable antennas, I also strongly recommend moving them and testing the signal strength in your problem spot (this can make a surprising difference).

If you have a mesh system, try moving one of the nodes to the back windowsill of your home to extend Wi-Fi into the backyard. If you’re able, running an Ethernet cable between your main router and the node nearest your outside space for wired backhaul can also extend range and speed significantly. If you have an outbuilding, you could even consider running an armored Ethernet cable from your main router to a mesh node or access point out there.

Use Your Smartphone as a Hot Spot

If you get a decent cellular network signal on your phone in your garden and you have plenty of data, it might be worth using your phone as a hot spot, which enables other devices to piggyback on your mobile network connection. Here’s the quick version:

On an iPhone: Open Settings, Personal Hotspot, toggle on Allow Others to Join, and set a Wi-Fi Password. On an Android: Open Settings, Network and Internet (or Connections on a Samsung phone), choose Hotspot and tethering, toggle Wi-Fi hotspot on, and pick a name and password.

The problem with this is that it will use up your data allowance, tie up your phone, and drain your battery fast. But it’s a good solution in a pinch.

Upgrade Your Setup

If the two options above don’t fix your Wi-Fi woes, it might be time to upgrade your hardware. If you’re currently using an old or ISP-provided router, simply snagging a new one could make a big difference to your range. Most routers have a rough estimate of the square-footage range, but the construction of your home and other factors will impact it.

Switching from a single router to a mesh system is a better upgrade if you need to extend that Wi-Fi coverage. I’m not keen on Wi-Fi extenders, but they can sometimes be the most cost-effective way to get Wi-Fi to a single trouble spot.

Get an Outdoor Router

Folks with a mesh system can often add an outdoor router or node easily. Outdoor routers are weatherproof and generally have an IP rating determining what kind of weather they can withstand. They often come with fixings to mount on an exterior wall, fence, or pole, but you must consider how to run a power cable to an outlet.

The Eero Outdoor 7 is an interesting option for Eero users. It’s a dual-band Wi-Fi 7 router, but if you snag a pair, you can set up a point-to-point connection to deliver up to hundreds of megabits per second, up to a half-mile away. It enables you to get Wi-Fi out to a distant barn, garage, or other outbuilding.

There are other options. The Asus ZenWiFi BD5 Outdoor is a good pick for folks with an Asus mesh, and many of Ubiquiti’s UniFi routers can be used outdoors.

Get a Travel Router

If you already have one or could use one for your travels, a travel router could also work well as a hot spot.

For a dedicated 5G router, the Netgear Nighthawk M6 Pro is tough to beat, but you will need a good signal and a service plan. Pop a 5G SIM card in, and you have a tri-band Wi-Fi 6E router that can connect up to 32 devices via Wi-Fi with a range of around 1,000 square feet.

Devices like the GL.iNet Beryl AX also support USB tethering, potentially helping you get more from your phone’s mobile network connection, or working as a range extender for your existing Wi-Fi network.