Virgin Internet & Crap WIFI

[BrotherTobious]

Hows the network going Smite?

Also anyone else been looking at this tech recently?  I am looking to go mesh like as my single AP + Router is not working for me and wondering if anyone had invested recently to give me feedback on products in real life?

Sorry for the slight case of necromancy

[A Twig]

We have the Linksys Velop Tri-Band system - one of the more spendy options but its brilliant - even copes with the 18 inch thick stone walls of the property

We have 3 to cover a 4 bed house, the app makes install and management super easy - allows you to set up a guest wifi network for when antisocial in laws visit etc.

EDIT: forgot a link - bought mine from here
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Linksys-WHW0303-UK-Tri-Band-Extender-Whole-Home/dp/B01N5M9NNB

[smite]

Hows the network going Smite?

Also anyone else been looking at this tech recently?  I am looking to go mesh like as my single AP + Router is not working for me and wondering if anyone had invested recently to give me feedback on products in real life?

Sorry for the slight case of necromancy

Still working great.
Ended up using 2. One in the office downstairs and the other upstairs.
Getting 200+ anywhere around the house and garden.

[smilodon]

And another raising from the dead. Seems sensible to keep the topic in a single thread.

I'm tantalisingly close to exchanging contracts on a 250 year old Snowdonia House and even older two bedroom cottage that sits directly behind. The big plan is to sign up with Zen Internet and get one of their rather nice looking Fritz Boxes. Although we're living in the arse end of nowhere both BT and Zen have assured us we're good for 900mb fibre! The cottage is going to be a holiday let (dMw discounts obviously) and I want to add a guest Wi-Fi at least powerful enough to give the guests Netflix speeds.

My plan is to do the Mesh thing and put one mesh hub in the kitchen at the back of the house and hope it gets through a 2ft stone wall across a 10-12 ft courtyard and through another 2 ft stone wall into the lounge of the cottage.

The two buildings are actually connected with a couple of outbuildings linking the back of the house and the corner of the cottage. So in theory I could run a  CAT 6 from the house to the cottage. However the cottage is Grade 2 listed so I don't think I can make a hole to get the CAT 6 in through the wall?


Would one of the BT, TP-Link etc type mesh hub doodahs be capable of getting that far? I know that's a bit of a how long is a piece of  string question. But for those who have Mesh does it seem vaguely  possible or am I expecting far to much from a technology I'll admit I know very little about?

Cheers

[Benny]

I've got the same Deco's as Smite with one being outside around 15m from the router through one main wall and the obligatory shed wall, signal is rock solid. Not sure if that helps Smilo but good feedback on the Decos for me (and the reporting is really good)

[smilodon]

Cheers, I'm just looking to see if my plan is at least a little sane. Looks like it's at least worth a punt.

[OldBloke]

My BT Whole Home mini system (3 disks) mesh system was binned in favour of a couple of ASUS ZenWiFi AC (CT8)

These are tri-band units meaning they offer both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz wifi connections but they also have a dedicated 5 GHz backhaul connection which the 2 units use to carry traffic between them. I mention this because 5 GHz may well struggle to get through the type of walls and distance you describe, Smilo.

I would recommend using a wifi analyser app on your phone to test signal strength at various points around the property using a quality wifi router at source.

I recommend the Farproc app

[BrotherTobious]

I have a deco system and it works great no issue and make like easier.

[smilodon]

Thanks. It's certainly worth a go. I'll definitely be using The Deco kit in the main house. I'll use the App (thanks Oldie), move things about and see if it gets me over to the cottage. If it does I'll buy one or two for over there.
Now all I need to do is wait for the glacial process of moving house to finish. :eyebrow:

[smite]

One year on and these Deco units have not gone down once. Based on previous experience with wifi boosters, powerline adapters etc... these things are fantastic.
5ghz works great throughout the house, switching to 2.4Ghz automatically for all those shitty LED Alexa lights and the dedicated guest network at 2.4Ghz, which I use for the outside camera.

For your application Smilo, I couldn't comment as I live in a new build with paper thin walls.

I can only suggest buying the 3 pack from Amazon like I did and test it, 1 at the router 1 in the cottage and one in between. If they don't work pack them up and send them back.

Good luck on the house purchase, send the details over when you start letting.

[BrotherTobious]

The deco kit has a really good setup for guest WiFi too mate. Most of them do but something to think about.

[DannagE]

Should you not be aiming for AX (WiFi 6) as a minimum standard now? Or even WiFi 6E that is coming out soon if you're in congested wireless areas?

[OldBloke]

Should you not be aiming for AX (WiFi 6) as a minimum standard now? Or even WiFi 6E that is coming out soon if you're in congested wireless areas?

In his proposed mesh solution he'd still suffer from attenuation due to the thick walls/distance.

Smilo - all this is moot if you can run a cable (2 for redundancy) between the buildings.

[smilodon]

We'll see about the cables. I've a bigger problem to worry about now as I need to get a 32 amp supply out to the rear patio for the HotTub!

[albert]

We'll see about the cables. I've a bigger problem to worry about now as I need to get a 32 amp supply out to the rear patio for the HotTub!

Real world problems mate!!! You know in the Netherlands only 2 out of 10 homes even have a bath in the bathroom! They call a blow up padling pool a garden pool. Adults use them more than kids!