WiFi extender for full fibre in a big old house
Discussion
Evening folks
We recently moved to a large Edwardian semi and had full fibre broadband installed (lightning fibre is the company) zyxel router and a 150mbs package. The router is in the front room downstairs.
On the middle floor the internet is ok but the top attic room receives almost nothing.
I have a zyxel mesh extender but it doesn't seem to work....
I plugged it in on the middle floor. Stood next to it the signal is fine and speed is about 120mbs.
Go up the short flight of stairs to the top floor and the speed is sub 10mbs!
If I try the extender in the attic room it shows a red light and not enough signal from the router to work.
Any ideas what I can do? Assume I need two boosters/repeaters? I'm a bit of a novice here but need WiFi for the top bedroom to stream via a smart TV and mobile phone use.
Really appreciate any tips/advice!
We recently moved to a large Edwardian semi and had full fibre broadband installed (lightning fibre is the company) zyxel router and a 150mbs package. The router is in the front room downstairs.
On the middle floor the internet is ok but the top attic room receives almost nothing.
I have a zyxel mesh extender but it doesn't seem to work....
I plugged it in on the middle floor. Stood next to it the signal is fine and speed is about 120mbs.
Go up the short flight of stairs to the top floor and the speed is sub 10mbs!
If I try the extender in the attic room it shows a red light and not enough signal from the router to work.
Any ideas what I can do? Assume I need two boosters/repeaters? I'm a bit of a novice here but need WiFi for the top bedroom to stream via a smart TV and mobile phone use.
Really appreciate any tips/advice!
That's epic thanks folks!
So something like this if I want the powerline?
https://www.johnlewis.com/tp-link-deco-p9-ac1200-w...
I was hoping to get internet to the summerhouse too so if I can add an outdoor point thats a massive bonus too.
So something like this if I want the powerline?
https://www.johnlewis.com/tp-link-deco-p9-ac1200-w...
I was hoping to get internet to the summerhouse too so if I can add an outdoor point thats a massive bonus too.
Eero Pro 6 mesh
Added bonus - although I believe limited to 100mb and potentially 5GHz only… echo devices also act as additional mesh nodes.
I have 4 eero’s and something over 10 echo speakers/devices, it sets its self up / won’t let you use a speaker as a node if too close to an eero.
WiFi (and music) everywhere!
Added bonus - although I believe limited to 100mb and potentially 5GHz only… echo devices also act as additional mesh nodes.
I have 4 eero’s and something over 10 echo speakers/devices, it sets its self up / won’t let you use a speaker as a node if too close to an eero.
WiFi (and music) everywhere!
I would stick to something that can do 2.4 GHz, as it is better for penetration of walls.
Mesh stuff works ok, I had Deco stuff in my old.house but bear in mind they can only transmit the same quality that they receive. WiFi repeaters are another good example of this rule, boosting the apparently strength of signal but with no speed and low quality.
With a Mesh solution it sounds like you might benefit from quite a few strategically placed repeaters.
The only real way to make sure it will work well is to wire the house with Cat 6 and put in wired access points really.
Mesh stuff works ok, I had Deco stuff in my old.house but bear in mind they can only transmit the same quality that they receive. WiFi repeaters are another good example of this rule, boosting the apparently strength of signal but with no speed and low quality.
With a Mesh solution it sounds like you might benefit from quite a few strategically placed repeaters.
The only real way to make sure it will work well is to wire the house with Cat 6 and put in wired access points really.
Danns said:
Eero Pro 6 mesh
Added bonus - although I believe limited to 100mb and potentially 5GHz only… echo devices also act as additional mesh nodes.
I have 4 eero’s and something over 10 echo speakers/devices, it sets its self up / won’t let you use a speaker as a node if too close to an eero.
WiFi (and music) everywhere!
+1 Added bonus - although I believe limited to 100mb and potentially 5GHz only… echo devices also act as additional mesh nodes.
I have 4 eero’s and something over 10 echo speakers/devices, it sets its self up / won’t let you use a speaker as a node if too close to an eero.
WiFi (and music) everywhere!
I also have 4 EEROs (Comms Room direct to BT Router, Utility Room, Garage and Summerhouse) also have 2 TP Powerline Adapters (previously bought), cover the whole of the house and garden (front and back) .The house is constructed on NORI Accrington brick !!! Only device on BT WIFI is BT TV (which won't work through EERO
) .SONOS on it's own WIFI except SONOS MOVE which always me to take it anywhere in the garden . Security Cameras running 5 GHz WIFI . Over 60 devices on my EERO WIFI network (from SMARTTHINGS , to 3D printer , SOMFY , HIVE , FIREANGEL , TAPO, KASA , PCs, Tablets , Mobiles on WIFI calling).I have 900Mb internet FTTP connection and my HP Spectre has just FAST tested at 240Mbps on its EERO 5GHz WIFI connection
Edited by The Three D Mucketeer on Sunday 5th May 07:48
guywilko said:
Unifi wired APs was the only solution for me
Some 2ft stone walls
Same here. Some 2ft stone walls
Powerline and/or wireless repeaters do not deliver anywhere near the same level of performance and proper AP’s with Ethernet backhaul.
If you’re going to be there for a while, OP, bit the bullet and get some cabling in.
LooneyTunes said:
Powerline and/or wireless repeaters do not deliver anywhere near the same level of performance and proper AP’s with Ethernet backhaul.
Tri-band wifi mesh routers aren't too bad as long as there is a decent signal between the nodes. I can get about 500mbps via a secondary router on our (linksys) mesh, compared to about 700mbps when near to the primary (which seems to be the limit of what my laptop's wifi hardware can handle). Obviously a gigabit ethernet link for backhaul would be faster and I'll probably install one at some point to free both 5GHz wifi networks for endpoint connection, but for the moment it's fast enough with the wifi backhaul that very few external sites can stream data fast enough to need more anyway.
I had a powerline setup beforehand and despite claiming to be running at about 300mbps, that could barely keep up with our old ~40mbps FTTC connection. I guess it depends very much on the wiring of your house though, I had to cross rings.
Tried for ages with all sorts of Jungle specials, including a few TP Link products without a lot of success. Either difficult to connect, weak signal or dropping out issues. Or failed after 6 months.
Advice was to try Ubiquiti products and despite being very reluctant to pay for any specialist in anything whatsoever I also rang a few local outfits to see what the damage would be. They all recommended Ubiquiti for the domestic environment.
After wandering around waving his phone using a speed checker, the chosen specialist fixed an outdoor Ubiquiti whateveritis mounted externally at the far end of the house and I now have seamless wi-fi throughout my home, garden and home office. £300. Probably spent twice this much on crap from the jungle!
Advice was to try Ubiquiti products and despite being very reluctant to pay for any specialist in anything whatsoever I also rang a few local outfits to see what the damage would be. They all recommended Ubiquiti for the domestic environment.
After wandering around waving his phone using a speed checker, the chosen specialist fixed an outdoor Ubiquiti whateveritis mounted externally at the far end of the house and I now have seamless wi-fi throughout my home, garden and home office. £300. Probably spent twice this much on crap from the jungle!
Thanks everyone, so many useful answers I really appreciate it.
I'll do some research over the different options. I know it's tight but I really don't want to spend tooooo much- it's mainly so our foreign students in the top bedroom can enjoy the internet- for is to use on the second floor is currently ok. Our package is 150mbs (you can go 1gb plus with this company) but as long as we maintain near 100mbs or so that'll be more than enough.
As you can tell I really am a novice with this stuff.
The eero kit looks great but a two pack of the pro 6 is £290 so fairly spendy. I like the idea of something that would work in the summerhouse too which must be 100 ft away. Not sure if this system would be sufficient or if I can mix and match with the deco outdoor stuff.
I shall keep up with the research!
I'll do some research over the different options. I know it's tight but I really don't want to spend tooooo much- it's mainly so our foreign students in the top bedroom can enjoy the internet- for is to use on the second floor is currently ok. Our package is 150mbs (you can go 1gb plus with this company) but as long as we maintain near 100mbs or so that'll be more than enough.
As you can tell I really am a novice with this stuff.
The eero kit looks great but a two pack of the pro 6 is £290 so fairly spendy. I like the idea of something that would work in the summerhouse too which must be 100 ft away. Not sure if this system would be sufficient or if I can mix and match with the deco outdoor stuff.
I shall keep up with the research!
Lozw86 said:
Could you run a cable up there? Is there a feasible route? I faffed around with various wireless options before running a CAT5 cable to a wireless access point in the remote location. Much better!
Sorry missed this one- could be an option yes! Internet is at the front of the house and the upstairs room at the back but it wouldn't be completely unfeasible to do.TT86 said:
Thanks everyone, so many useful answers I really appreciate it.
I'll do some research over the different options. I know it's tight but I really don't want to spend tooooo much- it's mainly so our foreign students in the top bedroom can enjoy the internet- for is to use on the second floor is currently ok. Our package is 150mbs (you can go 1gb plus with this company) but as long as we maintain near 100mbs or so that'll be more than enough.
As you can tell I really am a novice with this stuff.
The eero kit looks great but a two pack of the pro 6 is £290 so fairly spendy. I like the idea of something that would work in the summerhouse too which must be 100 ft away. Not sure if this system would be sufficient or if I can mix and match with the deco outdoor stuff.
I shall keep up with the research!
Ah if you can wait until prime day / any reason Amazon fancy a sale - individual units have been down to £100 and the 3 pack has been down to £240.I'll do some research over the different options. I know it's tight but I really don't want to spend tooooo much- it's mainly so our foreign students in the top bedroom can enjoy the internet- for is to use on the second floor is currently ok. Our package is 150mbs (you can go 1gb plus with this company) but as long as we maintain near 100mbs or so that'll be more than enough.
As you can tell I really am a novice with this stuff.
The eero kit looks great but a two pack of the pro 6 is £290 so fairly spendy. I like the idea of something that would work in the summerhouse too which must be 100 ft away. Not sure if this system would be sufficient or if I can mix and match with the deco outdoor stuff.
I shall keep up with the research!
You do have the option of 1 eero then add echos at £30-£40 a pop to get your additional coverage.
(I purchased the other way round- the echo as eero extender got unlocked as a feature / via Amazon updating the firmware about a year into using that system, rarely happens in this day and age, apple would use it as an excuse to sell you something new and twice the price!)
LooneyTunes said:
guywilko said:
Unifi wired APs was the only solution for me
Some 2ft stone walls
Same here. Some 2ft stone walls
Powerline and/or wireless repeaters do not deliver anywhere near the same level of performance and proper AP’s with Ethernet backhaul.
If you’re going to be there for a while, OP, bit the bullet and get some cabling in.
I have both the Deco P9 setup in one house in the family and a hardwired UniFi setup in another.
UniFi is obviously better, but I had the advantage of the house already being wired with Cat6 so it was an easy job of just fitting a mini rack in a cupboard and hiding some APs behind some picture frames.
The Deco kit isn’t the absolute fastest but is stable, more than fast enough and needs very little intervention. Only watch out is that is is a ‘closed’ system so you can’t add a 4th unit for the summer house you mention.
For £150, I’d give the Deco a go - JL are normally good with returns. There is a newer version - the PX50 which is about £100 more on Amazon.
UniFi is obviously better, but I had the advantage of the house already being wired with Cat6 so it was an easy job of just fitting a mini rack in a cupboard and hiding some APs behind some picture frames.
The Deco kit isn’t the absolute fastest but is stable, more than fast enough and needs very little intervention. Only watch out is that is is a ‘closed’ system so you can’t add a 4th unit for the summer house you mention.
For £150, I’d give the Deco a go - JL are normally good with returns. There is a newer version - the PX50 which is about £100 more on Amazon.
Don't bother with Eero if you have a challenging house. My 5 year old BT Whole Home WiFi 5 mesh does a significantly better job of coverage in my thick walled stone house than the WiFi 6 Eero mesh that was supposed to replace it (even on WiFi 6 devices). I have reverted to the BT set-up which still works extremely well - 4 disks with Ethernet backhaul. I expect established brands like TP Link are a better bet than Eero.
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