This article is an overview level of my homestead network deployment, for granular instructions you will need to perform additional research based on the products of your choice. This homestead network model is working like a charm, it allows me to use Sonos throughout my homestead, stream video in any structure without buffering and connect to the many devices (e.g. phones, tablets, smart devices, PC’s…) with no hiccups, no matter my location in the homestead network.
Internet Service Provider (ISP)
In a rural environment where one needs to share ISP between buildings. It’s best to have a WiFi router for each building, having one primary router and secondary routers for the remaining structures. There is also options to project WiFi onto the open areas of your property. Highly recommend having the primary router located in the structure where the ISP point of service (POS) is. No ISP should prohibit or limit the ability to network, if they do then DO NOT Purchase their service. With our chosen ISP Starlink I needed to bypass Starlinks proprietary router.
I needed an Ethernet connection to our house that is better than 1,000 feet away from the outbuilding where our ISP POS is. I choose to use an Ethernet wireless point-to-point (PtP) antenna’s rather than trenching and laying cable. Once the wireless PtP was in place I connected it to a secondary WiFi router in our home. If you can direct connect cable between routers do so, it is always best to direct connect.
Networking the Homestead
Sharing Internet, files and network devices between buildings is a good thing. A LAN-to-LAN configuration for the homestead was our way forward. As mentioned earlier the primary router should be located in the structure where POS of the ISP is present. For all routers to properly communicate in this network the configuration needs to use the same subnet mask.
The equipment
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ISP: Starlink
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Starlink Ethernet Adapter
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TP-Link 2.4GHz N300 Long Range Outdoor CPE
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TP-Link AC1750 Mesh Wi-Fi Routers.
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APC UPS Battery Backup and Surge Protectors (BE600M1)
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Homestead Network Topology
WiFi Router’s Configuration
Primary Router
- Connect an Ethernet cable from a LAN port on router to a computer Ethernet port and access the router’s web interface. Connect ISP Ethernet cable into WAN port of the router. Assure internet connection is operational.
- Check to see if router firmware is up to date, update firmware if applicable. All routers in this network configuration needs to use the same subnet mask.
- Wi-Fi signal overlap is not a concern for me but if it is for you set wireless configuration on each router to use different wireless channels.
- Enable DHCP, the primary router will handle all IP addressing.
- Assure there’s a block of LAN IP addresses available for static/dedicated routing and not for DHCP use.
- Keep primary router default LAN IP address.
- Configure some static/dedicated IP addresses with the router’s unique MAC address for each additional router on your network. My primary router IP is 192.168.0.1 when adding a static/dedicated IP address for additional router’s to be networked only change the fourth set of numbers (what I have in bold). I set a static/dedicated IP address 192.168.0.5 for the second router, give each additional router it’s own static/dedicated IP address.
- Assure all settings are saved throughout the process.
Secondary Router
- Connect an Ethernet cable from a LAN port on the second router to a computer and access the router’s web interface, without WAN connection.
- If Wi-Fi signal overlap is a concern set wireless configuration on each router to use different wireless channel. This will eliminate wireless conflicts between routers.
- Turn off the DHCP service completely, the primary router will handle all IP addressing.
- All routers in this network configuration needs to use the same subnet mask. Change the router LAN IP address to what you configured in the primary router configuration. Example I changed mine to 192.168.0.5 remember the fourth set of numbers in the IP address is what’s to be changed. Every router will have a unique LAN IP address.
- Assure all settings where saved throughout the process. Connect additional routers to primary router LAN port only. The primary router handles internet connection via the WAN port.
Ethernet Wireless Bridge PtP Deployment
There is literally dozens PtP Wireless Ethernet products on the market. I will provide information for very affordable (~ $40 per antenna) option, best suited for distances less than half mile. If you require longer distances then your need is beyond the scope of these words.
Factors to Consider
- PtP antenna’s need to be paired/compatible, its best to purchase identical models.
- Line of sight (LOS) between antenna’s is a must, 2.4GHz is the most forgiving but still needs LOS.
- Expect some degrade in throughput.
- These PtP antenna’s have a small footprint, requires power over Ethernet (PoE) adapter, and is mostly plastic with integrated circuitry. Expect and prepare for failure of these antenna’s.
- More than likely the PtP antenna’s will be deployed outside in a brutal ever-changing seasonal and extreme weather conditions. Expect and prepare for failure of these antenna’s.
- At a minimum purchase a spare PtP antenna.
Configuration and Deployment Tips
It took me several configuration attempts and resets before getting TP-Link 2.4GHz N300 Long Range Outdoor CPE to work as advertised. It was mostly a PICNIC (problem in chair not in computer) but eventually they worked as advertised. First before purchasing Ethernet Wireless PtP hardware assure there is plenty of user friendly support (e.g. FAQ’s, Videos, descriptive how to) from both the vendor and third party guru’s. I am no guru.
Bench configure and bench test all PtP antenna’s. Once antenna’s are in sync and working correctly then deploy to there permanent locations.
In the Ethernet Wireless PtP industry the terminology doesn’t always match. Best is to go with the vendor typical configuration. Take in consideration every deployment has unique situations. I used Access Point and Client configuration for the TP-Link 2.4GHz N300 Long Range Outdoor CPE.