mesh wi-fi rubbish - wired backhaul instead??
mesh wi-fi rubbish - wired backhaul instead??
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Blown2CV

Original Poster:

31,660 posts

233 months

Saturday 5th February 2022
quotequote all
i've just about had it with my linksys velop network. I originally had a 3 node setup, but we moved house and with a larger space it's just been a PITA. So, i've added 2 further nodes since we moved house, but it's impossible to get them in the right places to optimise the signal/noise. I've fiddled endlessly, and i am an IT pro too. Am I pissing into the wind? Should I just go wired backhaul and bin mesh entirely??

guyvert1

2,161 posts

272 months

Saturday 5th February 2022
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Although Mesh can be fantastic, it still over air, which depending on your house can be a right PITA..

I've found the best way, especially in older houses is the ethernet over power. I've used TP LINK ones for years now, they even come with 1gb ports plus WIFI.

This sort of thing : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gigabit-Passthrough-Power...

Jenny Tailor

1,727 posts

67 months

Saturday 5th February 2022
quotequote all
I have a TP Link Deco M9 - Brilliant. ( separate backbone too )

But nothing will beat physical hard wiring.

If you are not planning on moving - I would seriously consider getting it wired.

Harry Flashman

21,892 posts

272 months

Saturday 5th February 2022
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I went through various mesh systems, never got them working properly in my old, thick-walled house.

Netear Orbi triband (one band for backhaul only) was a game changer. I get excellent WiFi throughout the house, at very little dropoff in speed, and it has been totally reliable so far.

Wired is better, but this is way cheaper and more convenient. Bought it at 50% off on amazon Black Friday.

Edited by Harry Flashman on Saturday 5th February 14:27

pozi

1,725 posts

217 months

Saturday 5th February 2022
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I think you have answered your own question, time to cut your losses and hard wire the APs around your house.

nyt

1,939 posts

180 months

Saturday 5th February 2022
quotequote all
Jenny Tailor said:
I have a TP Link Deco M9 - Brilliant. ( separate backbone too )

But nothing will beat physical hard wiring.

If you are not planning on moving - I would seriously consider getting it wired.
I have TP Link Deco P9 - similar tech I think. Works flawlessly

I think that I paid £140 for 4 units from: https://www.box.co.uk/products/ex/true/keywords/de...

bloomen

10,124 posts

189 months

Saturday 5th February 2022
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I've found the mesh stuff to be junk. The latest attempt is the big BT ones. Still junk.

Powerline stuff didn't work for me, maybe bum wiring.

Next up is good old ethernet cables snaking everywhere which I should've done from the start.

somouk

1,425 posts

228 months

Saturday 5th February 2022
quotequote all
I use unifi mesh kit and it’s great, also used some TP Link Deco stuff that was good.

Nothing will beat hard wiring the APs though.

Blown2CV

Original Poster:

31,660 posts

233 months

Saturday 5th February 2022
quotequote all
ok mind made up then. I am sure one day mesh systems will be great in any type of home (well, more types than today) but it seems they work incredibly well in some places and not in others. We have a mixture of thin and thick (very thick) walls in our house due to the age of it. Yep wiring time. Admittedly we are on stty 4G broadband at the mo, but we'll be getting FttP in the next 2-3 years so i'll ensure to wire it with that in mind. So, which cat of cable... i need to do some reading. I had the old house partly wired with cat6 and it was a ballache to work with.

Robotron70

1,965 posts

73 months

Saturday 5th February 2022
quotequote all
I mostly fit TP-Link P9’s, probably in excess of 20 systems now, all working perfectly in a variety of locations from small homes to a large B&B.

I’ve got an old Netgear Orbi system at home, this has also been rock solid across my entire house and garden.

camel_landy

5,512 posts

213 months

Saturday 5th February 2022
quotequote all
Harry Flashman said:
Netear Orbi triband (one band for backhaul only) was a game changer. I get excellent WiFi throughout the house, at very little dropoff in speed, and it has been totally reliable so far.
^^^ This...

A lot of mesh networks only have 2x radios, which means the backhaul is sharing with the clients. The Orbi has a dedicated 3rd radio, purely for the backhaul... It makes a huge difference.

However, if you can get the units wired, that'll be even better still.

M

33q

1,628 posts

153 months

Saturday 5th February 2022
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Robotron70 said:
I mostly fit TP-Link P9’s, probably in excess of 20 systems now, all working perfectly in a variety of locations from small homes to a large B&B.

I’ve got an old Netgear Orbi system at home, this has also been rock solid across my entire house and garden.
agree 100% with the P9

Good WiFi around the house workshop and garden

dmsims

7,454 posts

297 months

Sunday 6th February 2022
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Blown2CV said:
ok mind made up then. I am sure one day mesh systems will be great in any type of home (well, more types than today) but it seems they work incredibly well in some places and not in others. We have a mixture of thin and thick (very thick) walls in our house due to the age of it. Yep wiring time. Admittedly we are on stty 4G broadband at the mo, but we'll be getting FttP in the next 2-3 years so i'll ensure to wire it with that in mind. So, which cat of cable... i need to do some reading. I had the old house partly wired with cat6 and it was a ballache to work with.
Try Orbi, wireless, you have nothing to lose

If for some bizaare reason (I can't think of one) it doesn't work wire the backhaul

Cpl nobby nobbs

388 posts

167 months

Sunday 6th February 2022
quotequote all
I have 5 x Velop tri band nodes 2 supplied by Gigaclear and found getting the nodes to stay connected wireless was next to impossible even with just 1 wall in between.

I now have the 3 main nodes with wired backhaul using cat6 and the other 2 wireless. Works perfectly now just Re start it every month and job done.

Shame you can't schedule a Re start on the Lynksys.

Captain_Morgan

1,453 posts

89 months

Sunday 6th February 2022
quotequote all
Blown2CV said:
ok mind made up then. I am sure one day mesh systems will be great in any type of home (well, more types than today) but it seems they work incredibly well in some places and not in others. We have a mixture of thin and thick (very thick) walls in our house due to the age of it. Yep wiring time. Admittedly we are on stty 4G broadband at the mo, but we'll be getting FttP in the next 2-3 years so i'll ensure to wire it with that in mind. So, which cat of cable... i need to do some reading. I had the old house partly wired with cat6 and it was a ballache to work with.
5e is easier to work with and will if well installed work at 2.5 or 5gb which is where domestic installs are trending, I suspect it will be a long while before we see requirements for everyday 10gb installs.

Also prior to this have you put the latest firmware on the veloops?

vladcjelli

3,370 posts

188 months

Sunday 6th February 2022
quotequote all
I’ve got the cheaper orbi, without the dedicated back haul radio channel.

Backhaul wired via power line and roberts your fathers brother.

Mesh is fantastic for not having to constantly switch which Wi-Fi point you are connected to or holding tight to a weaker one depending on which end of the sofa you sit.

Sometimes it just needs a helping hand. Don’t ditch the mesh, combine it with power line.

page3

5,197 posts

281 months

Sunday 6th February 2022
quotequote all
Blown2CV said:
ok mind made up then. I am sure one day mesh systems will be great in any type of home (well, more types than today) but it seems they work incredibly well in some places and not in others. We have a mixture of thin and thick (very thick) walls in our house due to the age of it. Yep wiring time. Admittedly we are on stty 4G broadband at the mo, but we'll be getting FttP in the next 2-3 years so i'll ensure to wire it with that in mind. So, which cat of cable... i need to do some reading. I had the old house partly wired with cat6 and it was a ballache to work with.
4G can be pretty good, certainly ours is better than our previous FTTC (with a broken cable OpenReach refused to fix).



However, what internet connection you have is immaterial if you’re talking about your own internal WiFi.

I use a couple of UniFi access points. They were dire until I went against advice (almost always US based) and installed them in the loft, pointing down at 45 degrees. WiFi penetrates our floors/ceilings far better than our walls. Might be worth a go,

Griffith4ever

6,965 posts

65 months

Sunday 6th February 2022
quotequote all
I use Orbi in a 1700s thick walled building and it's surprising how close they need to be to each other. I bought three units, and to get coverage throughout my ground floor building I have one in my lounge with the router, one in the room next door (through thick as hell wall) literally 5 or 6 m away as the crow flies, and then one in the next room to that. That then beams it on through a traditional stud wall to my kitchen and then bathroom. The second one is not needed for WiFi and is there purely as a relay.

Conversely in my mum's bloody massive house I have one in the hallway, one in the far away lounge, and one upstairs above the lounge one, and the whole house (two knocked through) gets full coverage! And that's an Georgian old house too, not some new build. Seemingly having one upstairs to repeat / broadcast makes all th difference. Floors are easy to go through.

P.s. the reviews all point to the deco M9 being just as good at a fraction of the cost.

Blown2CV

Original Poster:

31,660 posts

233 months

Sunday 6th February 2022
quotequote all
camel_landy said:
Harry Flashman said:
Netear Orbi triband (one band for backhaul only) was a game changer. I get excellent WiFi throughout the house, at very little dropoff in speed, and it has been totally reliable so far.
^^^ This...

A lot of mesh networks only have 2x radios, which means the backhaul is sharing with the clients. The Orbi has a dedicated 3rd radio, purely for the backhaul... It makes a huge difference.

However, if you can get the units wired, that'll be even better still.

M
i have a velop tri-band already. It doesn't matter if there is a dedicated channel for node comms, if the house is a certain type and you are unable to get the node placement right.

Blown2CV

Original Poster:

31,660 posts

233 months

Sunday 6th February 2022
quotequote all
dmsims said:
Blown2CV said:
ok mind made up then. I am sure one day mesh systems will be great in any type of home (well, more types than today) but it seems they work incredibly well in some places and not in others. We have a mixture of thin and thick (very thick) walls in our house due to the age of it. Yep wiring time. Admittedly we are on stty 4G broadband at the mo, but we'll be getting FttP in the next 2-3 years so i'll ensure to wire it with that in mind. So, which cat of cable... i need to do some reading. I had the old house partly wired with cat6 and it was a ballache to work with.
Try Orbi, wireless, you have nothing to lose

If for some bizaare reason (I can't think of one) it doesn't work wire the backhaul
nothing to lose except the money associated with a new mesh setup?