Cabling’s still my go-to, but I get why mesh is tempting—especially if you’re renting or just don’t want to tear up the yard. That said, I’ve seen mesh setups work great for a while, then suddenly tank when a neighbor sets up a new router or someone adds a bunch of smart devices. Wireless is just unpredictable sometimes. Had one client who swore by mesh until the leaves came in thick on his maple tree and suddenly his shed was a dead zone again. If you’re happy with it, that’s awesome, but I’d still say nothing beats a buried cable for long-term reliability... even if it’s a pain upfront.
Wireless is just unpredictable sometimes. Had one client who swore by mesh until the leaves came in thick on his maple tree and suddenly his shed was a dead zone again.
That’s the thing with wireless—nature always finds a way to mess with it. I’ve seen similar issues pop up, especially in older neighborhoods where trees are everywhere and everyone’s got their own wifi setup. Mesh is super convenient, but I’ve had to troubleshoot more than a few “mystery” dead zones that ended up being caused by stuff like new fences or even a neighbor’s security cam.
Cabling is definitely more work upfront, but once it’s in, you can pretty much forget about it. I usually recommend running conduit if you’re burying cable, just in case you ever need to replace it or add something else later. It’s not glamorous, but it saves headaches down the line.
Still, I get why people go mesh—sometimes you just don’t want to dig up the yard or deal with permits. Just gotta accept that you might be at the mercy of weather... or your neighbor’s new gadgets.
Honestly, I’ve always leaned toward hardwiring when it’s an option—just feels like you’re building something that’ll last, you know? I’ve seen way too many mesh setups that work great until, like you said, a neighbor puts up a new metal fence or someone plants a few trees in the wrong spot. It’s wild how unpredictable it gets.
That said, I get why folks want to avoid trenching up their yards. Permits can be a pain, and not everyone wants to mess with digging around utilities. But in my experience, running conduit early on pays off big time, especially if you ever want to add power or fiber later.
Curious if anyone’s tried those outdoor-rated point-to-point wireless bridges? I’ve used them on a couple projects where cabling just wasn’t practical. They’re not perfect, but sometimes they’re the sweet spot between convenience and reliability... as long as you’ve got a clear line of sight. Anyone had luck with those in leafy neighborhoods, or is it just asking for trouble?
