How To Get Open Garden To Work With My Laptop

How to work from your garden on a laptop more effectively

As the UK weather improves, many of us will hope to take a breather from the home office and retire to the garden - but using a laptop outdoors is plagued with issues. Here's how to solve them and work from your garden more effectively.

Overcome common problems of working on a laptop outside with our tips

By | 21 Apr 2020

One of the upsides of lockdown is that it ties in nicely with the UK springtime. Although being stuck indoors can be rather depressing, if you are lucky enough to have a garden it will do you the world of good to occassionally get a change of scenery and a breath of fresh air by working from your garden.

Of course, those of you who have tried that will know that it's not as easy as it sounds. Here's how to get around some common problems associated with working outside.

Problem 1: My internet keeps dropping out

Your home Wi-Fi can reach only so far from your router. We always advise that these are positioned as close as you can get to a central location in your home, but when your home also includes your garden that positioning goes out the window. There are three ways to get around this while working in your garden:

Set up a mesh network and position one of the discs by your back door
Extend your Wi-Fi using a powerline adaptor
Connect your laptop to mobile Wi-Fi using a mobile router or by tethering your Android phone or iPhone

In times like these, the desire to obtain the best kit is likely overtaken by the need to find something that will do the job that is both in stock and available for delivery in the near future. Amazon still has a good selection of mesh routers, powerline adaptors and mobile Wi-Fi routers.

Problem 2: My laptop keeps running out of power

There is a tendency to leave laptops plugged into the mains at all times when working from home, but ultimately this is no good for their batteries. If you have an ultraportable laptop, chances are its battery wasn't pegged for all-day use in the first place. If your battery just can't keep going long enough, there are two ways around this:

Purchase an extension lead
Make use of a laptop power bank - our top-rated model is now 25% off at Amazon with coupon code TECPB201

In the latter solution do note that your laptop must be able to charge over USB-C. You will also need to know the output of your standard wall charger to ensure that the power bank is able to output enough power to charge your laptop - you'll definitely want a power bank certified for Power Delivery, but not all are able to deliver the same amount of power.

Also see our advice on extending laptop battery life.

Problem 3: I can't see the laptop screen in direct sunlight

Laptop screens can be either glossy or matte in finish, with the latter intended to make them more visible in sunlight, but even these can be difficult to see in super sunny conditions. There are a range of solutions here:

Invest in a laptop sun shade, or make your own by lopping off the sides of a cardboard box
Turn up the screen brightness to its maximum level, turn off auto brightness controls, and turn on High Contrast mode
Move so you are sitting in the shade, or invest in a garden umbrella

Problem 4: My laptop is getting hot

All consumer tech will get hot in use, especially thin and light devices such as business laptops. You need to concern yourself only if it gets to the point that it is so hot it is uncomfortable to touch. Possible solutions include:

Move out of the sun, preferably to somewhere there is a breeze
Temporarily stop using the laptop and allow it to cool down
Ensure optimal airflow is maintained - placing it on a hard, flat surface such as a desk or laptop stand is best
Clean out any dust from the air vents
Check your laptop is not working harder than it should be - what apps and processes are running in the background?
Install a temperature monitor such as SpeedFan

How to fix common problems working on a laptop in the garden

Problem 5: My computer mouse won't work on the garden table

We expect that most remote workers will by now have given up on the trackpad built into their laptop - fine for casual work, but nothing intensive - and opted for a dedicated mouse. Indeed, search data for wired and wireless mice has gone through the roof in the past couple of weeks, and they are becoming increasingly difficult to find. If you haven't already found one, eBuyer still has some stock with short delivery times.

So, next problem: computer mice can be very particular about which surfaces they are used on. The ideal solution is naturally a mousepad, but if you are unable to obtain one you can relatively easily fashion one yourself from any old fabric you have to hand, potentially made sturdier glued to a sheet or cardboard.

Problem 6: My neighbours are in their garden

One of the massive issues regarding millions of workers now operating remotely is the security of company data. It's why we encourage all remote workers to use a VPN at home, and to keep their wits about them with the rise in online scams.

But the need to be careful is also worth considering when you're on the phone or on a video call, talking company business. It's common sense, really: if you're discussing sensitive information, go inside the house and away from others who might be listening in.

Problem 7: Wasps keep bothering me

I don't like wasps any more than the next person, but traps, swatters, sprays and other repellents aren't the most humane way to deal with them.

If you don't like them being near you, peppermint oil is said to be a natural repellent. Dilute it in some water and spray it anywhere that tends to attract wasps.

Remember that if you have a wasp nest in your garden, it is a professional pest company you need to call.

What you definitely shouldn't do is wave your arms around or run away when you see one (easy said than done, I know). And you might want to move your Armageddon snacks and any other food a little further away from where you are working. Try to keep your drinks covered, too - you can buy special gadgets for covering drink cans.

Problem 8: It's raining!

We can help you only so far. If it's raining, hailing, snowing or any other type of adverse weather condition, go and find some shelter. Unless you have a rugged laptop such as a Panasonic Toughbook, it's unlikely to be waterproof.

Visit Home Hacks for more top tips and advice on dealing with the new normal.

Author: Marie Black, Editor In Chief

Marie Black

Marie has been writing about tech for 15 years. Our resident Xiaomi expert and a follower of all upcoming phones, she is also the go-to for charging tech.