Hardwiring’s definitely the way to go if you’re using those spaces regularly. I’ve seen mesh systems get totally stumped by older construction—lathe and plaster just kills the signal. For a few clients, we’ve run direct-burial Cat6 through flexible conduit, similar to what you did, and it’s held up well even with a bit of shifting soil over time.
Honestly, digging under a driveway is never fun, but you only have to do it once. The payoff is huge if you’re streaming video or doing anything bandwidth-heavy. I’d say the only real downside is if you ever need to move things around or repurpose the space, but for most folks, that’s rare.
One thing I’d add: if anyone’s thinking about this for new builds or renovations, laying conduit early saves a ton of hassle later. Even if you don’t pull the cable right away, just having the pathway ready makes future upgrades much simpler. It’s amazing how quickly tech needs change...
NO MORE DEAD ZONES: HOW I GOT WIFI IN MY BACKYARD SHED
Yeah, hardwiring really does make a difference, especially if you’re trying to keep costs down in the long run. Mesh systems are convenient but honestly, I’ve wasted way too much money on repeaters and extra nodes that just didn’t cut it in my old house. Lathe and plaster walls are brutal for wifi—totally agree there.
Digging under the driveway was a pain, but once it’s done, you don’t have to think about it again. I was hesitant at first because of the upfront cost, but not having to mess with spotty connections or keep buying “fixes” actually saved me more over time. Plus, streaming out in the shed actually works now... no more buffering every five minutes.
Conduit’s a smart move if you can swing it during renos—wish I’d thought of that earlier. It’s always something with tech changing so fast. Anyway, good call on going wired. Sometimes spending a bit more upfront is just less hassle overall.
NO MORE DEAD ZONES: HOW I GOT WIFI IN MY BACKYARD SHED
Hardwiring is definitely the gold standard, especially in bigger homes or places with thick walls. I’ve tried mesh too—looked great on paper, but in reality, the signal just never made it past the old stone walls in my place. The upfront hassle of running cable is real, but honestly, once it’s buried and out of sight, you forget about it.
Conduit’s one of those things you only realize you need after the fact. If you’re already tearing things up for a reno, adding extra runs for future-proofing makes sense—even if it feels like overkill at the time. Tech moves fast, but a solid wired connection is always going to be more reliable than chasing after the latest wireless fix.
NO MORE DEAD ZONES: HOW I GOT WIFI IN MY BACKYARD SHED
I hear you on the mesh systems—they sound promising until you run into old masonry or, in my case, a 1920s brick addition that eats signals for breakfast. Hardwiring is definitely more work upfront, but once it’s in, you don’t have to think about it again. I’ve always been a bit skeptical about “future-proofing” with extra conduit, though. It’s smart in theory, but tech changes so quickly—what if the next big thing doesn’t even use cables?
Curious if anyone’s actually gone back and used those extra runs years later, or do they just end up as empty insurance policies? I’ve seen a few projects where folks put in tons of conduit during a reno, only to never touch them again. Still, I get the peace of mind argument... just not sure it always pays off.
I ran a couple of extra conduits when we remodeled our basement in 2015, thinking I’d be swapping out cables every few years. Honestly, they’re still empty. Ended up just using WiFi for most stuff, and the old Cat6 is more than fast enough for what we need. Sometimes I wonder if it’s just one of those “sleep better at night” things, like earthquake insurance... nice to have, but you hope you never need it.
