WIFI/Tenda MW3 Issues
Discussion
Hi all,
Having trouble with my home wifi at the moment and thought i'd ask here for some advice.
Background/Context - Virgin Fibre M100, Superhub3. Hub located in lounge media cabinet at rear corner of house (grd floor). 2400sqft with some masonry internal walls - struggling to get a decent WIFI signal in some of the bedrooms for TVs & upstairs office (front corner). Probably getting 75MBPS on average on direct ethernet connection to hub.
Steps Taken - Tried a Netgear EX3700 Plug in WIFI extender about 12 months ago which has generally given workable results (odd problem now & again with BBC Iplayer on bedroom tv). Signal quality & speed workable but not fantastic
Latest Steps Taken - After reading about these mesh systems thought i'd try a 3 node MW3 Tenda kit.
Config - Factory reset nodes, connected #1 node to port 1 of superhub. Downloaded the Tenda app, and then linked the other 2. Performed a firmware update (all now on v1.0.0.31). Set connection type to Bridge & went into the Superhub settings and turned off WIFI. Linked all devices to new Tenda network. Maintenance schedule on to reboot nodes at 3am every morning.
Results - Signal quality, excellent on all devices anywhere. Tenda app shows the nodes all green. Nodes themselves show stable green light. Connection speed a different matter, one minute brilliant (40mbps connection in upstairs room that would have previously seen <15). Next minute devices unusable (<0mbps recorded on NowTV connection tests) and 0.5mbps on broadband speed test websites.
AOB - aswell as the above config settings (bridge/superhub wifi disabled). Node 1 in port 1 of superhub. Tivo & PS4 hardwired in ports 2 & 3. Possibly related but the Tenda app never shows any download speed on the app (maybe because in bridge mode?)
On the verge of sacking the Tenda off and going back to the Netgear extender but don't know if i'm doing something obviously wrong here?
Having trouble with my home wifi at the moment and thought i'd ask here for some advice.
Background/Context - Virgin Fibre M100, Superhub3. Hub located in lounge media cabinet at rear corner of house (grd floor). 2400sqft with some masonry internal walls - struggling to get a decent WIFI signal in some of the bedrooms for TVs & upstairs office (front corner). Probably getting 75MBPS on average on direct ethernet connection to hub.
Steps Taken - Tried a Netgear EX3700 Plug in WIFI extender about 12 months ago which has generally given workable results (odd problem now & again with BBC Iplayer on bedroom tv). Signal quality & speed workable but not fantastic
Latest Steps Taken - After reading about these mesh systems thought i'd try a 3 node MW3 Tenda kit.
Config - Factory reset nodes, connected #1 node to port 1 of superhub. Downloaded the Tenda app, and then linked the other 2. Performed a firmware update (all now on v1.0.0.31). Set connection type to Bridge & went into the Superhub settings and turned off WIFI. Linked all devices to new Tenda network. Maintenance schedule on to reboot nodes at 3am every morning.
Results - Signal quality, excellent on all devices anywhere. Tenda app shows the nodes all green. Nodes themselves show stable green light. Connection speed a different matter, one minute brilliant (40mbps connection in upstairs room that would have previously seen <15). Next minute devices unusable (<0mbps recorded on NowTV connection tests) and 0.5mbps on broadband speed test websites.
AOB - aswell as the above config settings (bridge/superhub wifi disabled). Node 1 in port 1 of superhub. Tivo & PS4 hardwired in ports 2 & 3. Possibly related but the Tenda app never shows any download speed on the app (maybe because in bridge mode?)
On the verge of sacking the Tenda off and going back to the Netgear extender but don't know if i'm doing something obviously wrong here?
The Tenda nodes have still got to communicate with each other.
Where are the other two nodes located?
Ideally you want to arrange things so the connections between the nodes don't go through masonry at all, but at all costs avoid a connections that go obliquely through a masonry wall, as the signal attenuation will be significantly increased.
Where are the other two nodes located?
Ideally you want to arrange things so the connections between the nodes don't go through masonry at all, but at all costs avoid a connections that go obliquely through a masonry wall, as the signal attenuation will be significantly increased.
megaphone said:
Try putting the SH3 into modem mode, then put the Tenda into router mode see if that works better, you've probably got some double NAT issues in current set-up. You'll lose the other ports on the SH3, you'll need a small switch.
Now, I was looking at these today, same setup, but the lack of Ethernet ports is a pain, I don’t really want to run another switch off the virgin hub. I get the idea that you don’t need it next to the virgin super hub but that’s where one would sit in my house. ScottJB said:
Possibly related but the Tenda app never shows any download speed on the app (maybe because in bridge mode?)
I run my MW3 system in bridge mode and can confirm it doesn’t show the download speed. I used bridge mode as my Plusnet hub doesn’t have a pure modem mode and I didn’t want to get into double NATing issues. I think the MW3 features are limited in this mode (no guest WiFi etc) so if your super hub has a modem mode I’d be inclined to go with the other poster’s advice of trying this along with other modes on the MW3 (sorry I don’t know what other mode, I’d guess DHCP or PPPoE)
If you put your hub in modem mode the bottom (I think No1 maybe No 4 will work and none others)
I currently have
Superhub to Node
Node to Switch and all wired devices in
2 other nodes around the house both using the ethernet for musicast devices
Green Nodes all round
The kicker being, I have TP Link Deco M4, because I bought the Tenda MW6 and had exactly the same issue as you, couldn't find any answers online and the support was useless.
Happily I bought them from Amazon so boxed them up and replaced with the Deco, I haven't touched them since, they just work, brilliantly
I currently have
Superhub to Node
Node to Switch and all wired devices in
2 other nodes around the house both using the ethernet for musicast devices
Green Nodes all round
The kicker being, I have TP Link Deco M4, because I bought the Tenda MW6 and had exactly the same issue as you, couldn't find any answers online and the support was useless.
Happily I bought them from Amazon so boxed them up and replaced with the Deco, I haven't touched them since, they just work, brilliantly
Thanks for the advice so far.
I've tried (a) relocating the nodes closer and (b) removing 2 additional nodes from the network entirely and using just the primary node and still getting inconsistent speed (excellent to unusable).
Will try the suggested and put the SH3 into modem mode. The V6 box requires an ethernet connection & i don't have a switch, presume i can wire off node 1 into the V6 (the PS4 can be put onto wifi)?
RE: the Deco M4's i had read these were good but went for the cheap MW3 option. Might have to reverse that decision pending putting the SH3 into modem mode.
Thanks to the poster who confirmed the Tenda App would show 0 download in bridge mode
I've tried (a) relocating the nodes closer and (b) removing 2 additional nodes from the network entirely and using just the primary node and still getting inconsistent speed (excellent to unusable).
Will try the suggested and put the SH3 into modem mode. The V6 box requires an ethernet connection & i don't have a switch, presume i can wire off node 1 into the V6 (the PS4 can be put onto wifi)?
RE: the Deco M4's i had read these were good but went for the cheap MW3 option. Might have to reverse that decision pending putting the SH3 into modem mode.
Thanks to the poster who confirmed the Tenda App would show 0 download in bridge mode
They just dont sound reliable.
Remember a network will perform as well as the worst device on it. You'd need to disconnect all devices. Add one at a time and test for a while to check for consistent performance. Then add a device and check again.
It's a pain in the arse but the only way you will deduce the problem.
If wifi is that bad in your house, any mesh system will struggle with the walls unless you place them all more or less within line of sight. the word mesh doesnt mean normal wifi transmission rules dont apply.
Personally I would seriously consider a switch and an ethernet cable to at least another part of the house and run another wifi point from there. Sometimes I wonder if there is alot of marketing bull with these systems or the internal switching isnt as powerful as they make out in real world scenarios.
Doing this stuff for work is fine when you get paid for it, but pissing around for days trying to get stuff to just do what it is meant to at home is a pain in the arse.
Remember a network will perform as well as the worst device on it. You'd need to disconnect all devices. Add one at a time and test for a while to check for consistent performance. Then add a device and check again.
It's a pain in the arse but the only way you will deduce the problem.
If wifi is that bad in your house, any mesh system will struggle with the walls unless you place them all more or less within line of sight. the word mesh doesnt mean normal wifi transmission rules dont apply.
Personally I would seriously consider a switch and an ethernet cable to at least another part of the house and run another wifi point from there. Sometimes I wonder if there is alot of marketing bull with these systems or the internal switching isnt as powerful as they make out in real world scenarios.
Doing this stuff for work is fine when you get paid for it, but pissing around for days trying to get stuff to just do what it is meant to at home is a pain in the arse.
FlossyThePig said:
The latest PC Pro has a "Labs" review of Mesh extender systems, the Tenda MW3 is really cheap, isn't it.
Their summary comment "An incredible price for a bona fide mesh system, but performance is a long way behind the alternatives"
Cheap because it's been superseded by the 5s and 6Their summary comment "An incredible price for a bona fide mesh system, but performance is a long way behind the alternatives"
The_Jackal said:
They just dont sound reliable.
Remember a network will perform as well as the worst device on it. You'd need to disconnect all devices. Add one at a time and test for a while to check for consistent performance. Then add a device and check again.
It's a pain in the arse but the only way you will deduce the problem.
If wifi is that bad in your house, any mesh system will struggle with the walls unless you place them all more or less within line of sight. the word mesh doesnt mean normal wifi transmission rules dont apply.
Personally I would seriously consider a switch and an ethernet cable to at least another part of the house and run another wifi point from there. Sometimes I wonder if there is alot of marketing bull with these systems or the internal switching isnt as powerful as they make out in real world scenarios.
Doing this stuff for work is fine when you get paid for it, but pissing around for days trying to get stuff to just do what it is meant to at home is a pain in the arse.
Tenda had this weird following, it's not just on here either I had 3 people recommend them to me outside of PHRemember a network will perform as well as the worst device on it. You'd need to disconnect all devices. Add one at a time and test for a while to check for consistent performance. Then add a device and check again.
It's a pain in the arse but the only way you will deduce the problem.
If wifi is that bad in your house, any mesh system will struggle with the walls unless you place them all more or less within line of sight. the word mesh doesnt mean normal wifi transmission rules dont apply.
Personally I would seriously consider a switch and an ethernet cable to at least another part of the house and run another wifi point from there. Sometimes I wonder if there is alot of marketing bull with these systems or the internal switching isnt as powerful as they make out in real world scenarios.
Doing this stuff for work is fine when you get paid for it, but pissing around for days trying to get stuff to just do what it is meant to at home is a pain in the arse.
I wouldn't judge all Mesh by them or indeed start running cables until a decent one has been tried
Just to close this out.
I gave up on the Tenda in the end. Tried various things such as putting the superhub into modem mode, re-positioning nodes etc etc. But still encountered a lot of drop outs and inconsistent performance.
Scrapped it all and went back to the superhub only. Changed some more settings - e.g. disabling channel optimisation, moving 2.4 to channel 1. Tested the speed, 110mbps. Stability returned but the original problem of poor signal in the furthest away spots remaining.
Then just this week i have opted for a TP-Link Powerline setup in the office upstairs. Ultimate speed not the goal but rather stability for home working. Opted for the AV600 2 part kit for £40 and getting a reliable 40mbps today wired direct in the office. This is with the powerline sockets on different ring circuits.
The AV600 also acts as a cloned wifi extender/repeater (?) but haven't really tried that yet. I guess as it's cloned i'll never know where i'm getting the signal from on my devices anyway.
I gave up on the Tenda in the end. Tried various things such as putting the superhub into modem mode, re-positioning nodes etc etc. But still encountered a lot of drop outs and inconsistent performance.
Scrapped it all and went back to the superhub only. Changed some more settings - e.g. disabling channel optimisation, moving 2.4 to channel 1. Tested the speed, 110mbps. Stability returned but the original problem of poor signal in the furthest away spots remaining.
Then just this week i have opted for a TP-Link Powerline setup in the office upstairs. Ultimate speed not the goal but rather stability for home working. Opted for the AV600 2 part kit for £40 and getting a reliable 40mbps today wired direct in the office. This is with the powerline sockets on different ring circuits.
The AV600 also acts as a cloned wifi extender/repeater (?) but haven't really tried that yet. I guess as it's cloned i'll never know where i'm getting the signal from on my devices anyway.
ScottJB said:
Just to close this out.
I gave up on the Tenda in the end. Tried various things such as putting the superhub into modem mode, re-positioning nodes etc etc. But still encountered a lot of drop outs and inconsistent performance.
Scrapped it all and went back to the superhub only. Changed some more settings - e.g. disabling channel optimisation, moving 2.4 to channel 1. Tested the speed, 110mbps. Stability returned but the original problem of poor signal in the furthest away spots remaining.
Then just this week i have opted for a TP-Link Powerline setup in the office upstairs. Ultimate speed not the goal but rather stability for home working. Opted for the AV600 2 part kit for £40 and getting a reliable 40mbps today wired direct in the office. This is with the powerline sockets on different ring circuits.
The AV600 also acts as a cloned wifi extender/repeater (?) but haven't really tried that yet. I guess as it's cloned i'll never know where i'm getting the signal from on my devices anyway.
If you do ever decide to go for Mesh again, I have forgotten I've even got the Deco its that reliable, had a similar Tenda experience as you but these are much betterI gave up on the Tenda in the end. Tried various things such as putting the superhub into modem mode, re-positioning nodes etc etc. But still encountered a lot of drop outs and inconsistent performance.
Scrapped it all and went back to the superhub only. Changed some more settings - e.g. disabling channel optimisation, moving 2.4 to channel 1. Tested the speed, 110mbps. Stability returned but the original problem of poor signal in the furthest away spots remaining.
Then just this week i have opted for a TP-Link Powerline setup in the office upstairs. Ultimate speed not the goal but rather stability for home working. Opted for the AV600 2 part kit for £40 and getting a reliable 40mbps today wired direct in the office. This is with the powerline sockets on different ring circuits.
The AV600 also acts as a cloned wifi extender/repeater (?) but haven't really tried that yet. I guess as it's cloned i'll never know where i'm getting the signal from on my devices anyway.
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