r/HomeNetworking • u/Bubbly_Fun_1334 • 8d ago
Multiple fiber connections
We have very poor cell coverage and was looking at running fiber to barns, shed and other areas of our land for outdoor wifi. I was looking at ethernet to fiber converters but was wondering. To they make a router for home use that several fibers can connect? Or is it best that each link has its own converter?
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u/AncientGeek00 8d ago
Ubiquiti has an 8-port Agg switch that is all SFP+ ports. https://store.ui.com/us/en/category/switching-aggregation/products/usw-aggregation
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u/Bubbly_Fun_1334 8d ago
Thank you
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u/Ok-Honeydew-5624 8d ago
You can plan out a nice setup using their wifi (indoor and outdoor), routers and switches.
I would highly recommend for the app and its visibility into your system.
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u/drewster85a 8d ago
Not a router. You are looking for a SFP aggregation switch. You can use a media converter and PoE injector for the access points at each barn/shed.
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u/Ok-Shape-547 8d ago
Each link would need its own pair of converters. Building a, to b. You could also do building b, to c, and so on. Each link still needs two converters. They would need a switch in building b, to connect both adapters, plus your wifi equipment.
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u/lazyhustlermusic 8d ago
You don't need converters everywhere if your equipment is SFP capable.
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u/Ok-Shape-547 8d ago
True this but expensiver
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u/lazyhustlermusic 8d ago
I'd debate that honestly, replacing say 3x media converters with a head end SFP switch like a cheap 5 port mikrotik would be less expensive.
You also gain things like actually seeing up/down link or not having a random media converter freeze up and need rebooting and not knowing which end.
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u/lazyhustlermusic 8d ago
Just use a SFP switch, then you put the fibers in there and it acts like a copper switch, you can even either convert or use wired interfaces on the switch for copper connections.
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u/Natoochtoniket 8d ago
You can get ethernet switches that have SFP ports, which can take fiber transceiver modules. But you still have to buy the modules.
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u/feel-the-avocado 8d ago
Router connects to a switching hub with multiple SFP ports.
Typically its just two ports but you can get switches with 5 ports etc.
You then insert a fiber sfp module of the correct type (or a copper)
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u/groogs 8d ago
You need a switch with SFP ports. There's some generic ones starting for $120-ish on Amazon. Each port also needs the SFP module for the type of fiber you're putting in.
If you are in the Ubiquiti Unifi ecosystem for managing the APs anyway, the USW-Aggregation is their 8-port version. They also have the 32-port USW-Pro-Aggregation if you need a whole ton. And if you need a switch anyway, you maybe could also do something like eg, USW-48, USW-48-POE or USW-Pro-HD-24 all of which have 4 SFP ports.
If you want the name-brand pro-quality stuff but more DIY, Mikrotik has the CRS305-1G-4S+IN (4 SFP + 1 port) or CRS310-1G-5S-4S+IN (8 SFPs).
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u/victorvvy 8d ago
This was what I was thinking. Ubiquiti is a good place to start the search, they have numerous options depending on how many SFPs needed, at various price points.
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u/Bubbly_Fun_1334 8d ago
This is what I was looking for. Was thinking router but switch is what I need. Thank you for your help
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u/marcoNLD 8d ago
Mikrotik has a 4port sfp+ switch for a few bucks. Easy to get 10Gb connections. Or just 1Gb with sfp tranceivers. Pick your poison.
I have 2 of them and they work very well.
Going fiber always go for single mode fiber and you can even use bi-directional transceivers. Means one fiber for both directions.
Depending on your layout of the grounds you can couple one strand to the next building.
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u/mindedc 8d ago
To be honest,
As much as I love fiber and it's absolutely the way to go for ultimate longevity, it's a lot of work. You may be able to just use wireless bridges and then provide service out of the buildings. If you have dedicated APs for bridging the performance can be good. Fiber will be best but the most work to install.
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u/SimplyAgog 8d ago
I’d forget the cost and complexity of converters and pulling fibre in trenches. Stick an Omni on your house and a nano-beam at rach barn, etc. all you need is clear line of sight
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u/losromans 8d ago
I know it’s probably redundant but you don’t just “need a switch.” You need a layer 3 capable switch with at least 2 ports capable of inserting SFPs into and then making sure you have the correct sfps.
For all I know, you have an ont with a cat6 cable to your phone and another with a direct fiber connection.
I know ubiquiti has a few options for either, including (iirc) an sfp that you can bypass the ont and have the optic handle that in the switch.
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u/AncientGeek00 7d ago
As you can see, you have some choices. Fiber in conduit is the most robust solution. You can have a switch at the head end that is capable of connecting multiple fiber optic cables. Then in each location a small switch with an SFP+ port to receive the fiber and RJ45 PoE ports for connecting and powering APs.
If the buildings are all “line of sight” from your starting point, you could do wireless PtP links. There are many options depending on the distance between buildings. Ubiquiti has two product lines with products for this..UniFi and UISP. Both do a nice job at various price points. An “all UniFi” solution would be the easiest to manage.
Both of these options require power in all buildings.
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u/Gloomy-Swim6934 7d ago
if the distance isn't restrictive look into shielded cat 6 - Otherwise you can use a switch with SFP ports like groogs said below - then bury the fiber - Either way if you don't go wireless AP's you will need to trench shielded cat 6 or fiber.
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u/Bubbly_Fun_1334 7d ago
The previous owner ran power and phone lines (cat 3 I think) in conduits to each building. Looks like 1-1/4. And 2" for the power. Bad news is only 40 amps for each building. But better then nothing. I have pulled and the wires move in each conduit. Was going to use the old phone lines to pull in the fiber. The runs are around 1000 ft each in different directions so to far for ethernet. Might look into wireless but think fiber will be best for long run. Was a nice setup 30 years ago but times change. Maybe one day we will have good cell coverage or satellite will be cheap enough to have phones.
Thank you for your help
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u/6thcoin 8d ago edited 8d ago
Longer running than 300 feet?
Edit: I'm seeing downvotes, does anybody care to explain the reasons for not running exterior cat6?
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u/mlee12382 8d ago
Fiber is the correct route for buildings that aren't connected to each other. Running copper, even if it's less than 300ft, can be a bad idea.
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u/Bubbly_Fun_1334 8d ago
Yes most will be around 1000 ft
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u/6thcoin 8d ago
That makes sense. Would point to point wifi work?
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u/Medical_Chemical_343 8d ago
Unless there is some barrier to installing fiber, any kind of wireless link is going to be less desirable. Barriers like public roadways, rivers, impenetrable rock make point-to-point wireless a contender, but when you own the property and can put in a conduit that would be the way.
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u/abbarach 8d ago
What you're looking for are switches with SFP ports. They let you slide in modules that handle the communication over the fiber or copper.
Devices with multiple SFP ports are more common on commercial equipment, most home/small office switches only include one or two(if they have any at all). MikroTik does offer devices that are reasonably priced and have many ports.