Weapons-grade home WiFi suggestions

[Gary C]

Defcon5 said:

My router is in the middle floor of my house. On it, it says it must be kept upright to prevent poor connections- is this nonsense?

If it were true I wouldn’t get any signal on the floor underneath surely?

It’s the standard sky FTTP router, and signal is weak in some parts of the house, would a better router improve this? If so can I get something decent for 100 quid?

I don’t want any separate disks or mesh setup. All the TVs and consoles are Ethernet connected so it’s just phones/tablets that use the Wi-Fi in a meaningful manner

I imagine they suggest it due to beamforming in the X plane.

Beamforming varies the carrier phasing between aerials and I imagine it wants them in the correct XY orientation to push the signal horizontally though walls because they assume most devices are within about 3 meters vertical of the router but spread around over ~10 meters

Did this in my finals at Uni, they wanted us to calculate the 0dB strength contour and then draw it. A laborious calc by hand, but the recently released graphic calculators made it simple, easy pass on that question

[silentbrown]

Defcon5 said:

It’s the standard sky FTTP router, and signal is weak in some parts of the house, would a better router improve this? If so can I get something decent for 100 quid?

I don’t want any separate disks or mesh setup. All the TVs and consoles are Ethernet connected so it’s just phones/tablets that use the Wi-Fi in a meaningful manner

Just changing the router isn't likely to improve things significantly.

Worth checking that your router has the 2.4GHz band as well as 5GHz enabled. You'll get better range with that.

[bodhi]

silentbrown said:

Defcon5 said:

It’s the standard sky FTTP router, and signal is weak in some parts of the house, would a better router improve this? If so can I get something decent for 100 quid?

I don’t want any separate disks or mesh setup. All the TVs and consoles are Ethernet connected so it’s just phones/tablets that use the Wi-Fi in a meaningful manner

Just changing the router isn't likely to improve things significantly.

Worth checking that your router has the 2.4GHz band as well as 5GHz enabled. You'll get better range with that.

Also I know the OP mentioned they didn't want additional disks, but if you call up Sky and say you're struggling with WiFi in a particular area, they'll send you a booster. We did this when struggling with Sky Q reception - it was free, easily hidden and has improved things no end.

[Thats What She Said]

A friend has asked how to extend their wifi network to some out buildings in order to get their wifi cctv and alarm working.

They keep getting visits from those cheeky little travelling folk, who help themselves to quad bikes, motorbikes, anything else they fancy (even when it's chained down).

We're not wifi / network experts so don't know the best way of approaching this, and of course they want to do this in the most economical way.

We've considered an outdoor wifi aerial such as TP-Link CPE710, 5GHz 867Mbps 23dBi Outdoor CPE Antenna

Hardwiring is another option to run from the house to the outbuildings. I guess we'd need some kind of access point in each outbuilding to beam out the wifi.

[megaphone]

Thats What She Said said:

A friend has asked how to extend their wifi network to some out buildings in order to get their wifi cctv and alarm working.

They keep getting visits from those cheeky little travelling folk, who help themselves to quad bikes, motorbikes, anything else they fancy (even when it's chained down).

We're not wifi / network experts so don't know the best way of approaching this, and of course they want to do this in the most economical way.

We've considered an outdoor wifi aerial such as TP-Link CPE710, 5GHz 867Mbps 23dBi Outdoor CPE Antenna

Hardwiring is another option to run from the house to the outbuildings. I guess we'd need some kind of access point in each outbuilding to beam out the wifi.

Best option for this is a 'WiFi Bridge'. You have a transmitter at one end and a receiver at the other, acts like a cable. I use Ubiquiti Airmax kit for this, a couple of Nanobeams, or even Nanostation locos will work. Need to be mounted externally and ideally have direct line of site. You will need a switch and Wifi access point at the far end.

[Bonefish Blues]

Bonefish Blues said:

RizzoTheRat said:

Bonefish Blues said:

Welcome thoughts about the TP P9 model - as a reminder, I'm nearly 3k ft2, with some thick internal walls because of various conversions. I get 72mb at best, with no prospect of more until someone decides to lay full fibre, but that's unlikely. I'm quite happy to go with a relatively cheap solution and chuck 5 or 6 units at it - I put plenty of electrical sockets in when we converted!

I have they P9's and while they do work, powerline connections can be a bit hit and miss, I only get about 20Mbps when they're talking over powerline, whereas if I position them to get a decent wifi connection I get way more. If you can get ethernet cables anywhere useful you can connect nodes via ethernet and they'll work way better I now have all mine on ethernet and get my full 250Mbps in most places.

So I may as well stay wifi in the main then, apart from my one ethernet extension, but just make sure I have units positioned well, and in sufficient numbers?

By way of update, I went with a TP X55 3-unit mesh in the end and am very happy with the result

[Rob.]

Does anyone have experience with the UniFi Express?

I currently have Virgin 350Mb with a 3 node Tenda MW6 mesh. It works fine, but I'm looking to upgrade to something with more controls (and maybe separate VLAN for IoT devices). House is only 50m2 per floor, 2 floors, though would need solid signal in the garden office.

I'm in the process of running Cat6 from the lounge (Virgin cable entry point) to the loft (new location for my Dell server running Home Assistant), as well as running cables for future PoE cameras.

I'm considering something like: UniFi Express in the lounge ---> Cat6 ---> 5-port PoE switch in the loft ---> UniFi U6 in the 1st floor ceiling. Would that be a good starting point, or should I be looking at other options?

[Gary C]

Unifi has generally good reviews

but, make sure you run more than one cable. While its rare these days for a cable to fault, you will be thanking the heavens if it does but you already have a spare in the wall

[NomadicTurbo]

Rob. said:

Does anyone have experience with the UniFi Express?

I currently have Virgin 350Mb with a 3 node Tenda MW6 mesh. It works fine, but I'm looking to upgrade to something with more controls (and maybe separate VLAN for IoT devices). House is only 50m2 per floor, 2 floors, though would need solid signal in the garden office.

I'm in the process of running Cat6 from the lounge (Virgin cable entry point) to the loft (new location for my Dell server running Home Assistant), as well as running cables for future PoE cameras.

I'm considering something like: UniFi Express in the lounge ---> Cat6 ---> 5-port PoE switch in the loft ---> UniFi U6 in the 1st floor ceiling. Would that be a good starting point, or should I be looking at other options?

Have you tried out Ubiquiti design tool?

design.ui.com

You can submit your floorplan and then plan your APs accordingly.

Although frustratingly it doesn't let you have multi floor floorplan

[Paulsd]

I've just set up a unifi express this morning.

Looks really cool from a nerdy management perspective!

I think I need another AP and can only run as a mesh for now (cables awaiting) so am thinking about getting another express as it looks like you can do that.

Anyone have two (or more) of them?

I also want to remove the trooli router and use the express as the gateway. I struggled to get the PPPoE details before - will need to have another google.

[Paulsd]

Paulsd said:

I've just set up a unifi express this morning.

Looks really cool from a nerdy management perspective!

I think I need another AP and can only run as a mesh for now (cables awaiting) so am thinking about getting another express as it looks like you can do that.

Anyone have two (or more) of them?

I also want to remove the trooli router and use the express as the gateway. I struggled to get the PPPoE details before - will need to have another google.

Trooli always refused to give the password but I've just asked them again and they gave it to me! Just needed to agree to not be an idiot and throw their router in the bin as they may want me to reconnect it for troubleshooting.

[GuyW]

Paulsd said:

I've just set up a unifi express this morning.

Looks really cool from a nerdy management perspective!

I think I need another AP and can only run as a mesh for now (cables awaiting) so am thinking about getting another express as it looks like you can do that.

Anyone have two (or more) of them?

I also want to remove the trooli router and use the express as the gateway. I struggled to get the PPPoE details before - will need to have another google.

Another Trooli user here, I had the same issues in getting the details directly. Although you can push the advisors to release. I gave up and you can get the info required directly from the router if you have any knowledge of terminals and SSH into the router.

Also, another Unifi household. Albeit refusing to Mesh ever again.
Setup with a Cloud Gateway Ultra, being fed directly from the ONT, then a few USW Lite POE switches going to different parts of the house and some U6+ APs for Wi-Fi. Didn't feel the need yet to go Wi-Fi 6e or 7. Especially given the bargain price of the U6+ APs!

Paulsd said:

Trooli always refused to give the password but I've just asked them again and they gave it to me! Just needed to agree to not be an idiot and throw their router in the bin as they may want me to reconnect it for troubleshooting.

Yes, I've got the supplied router back in the box. I have to say for an ISP supplied device, it actually had decent Wi-Fi speeds.

[Paulsd]

GuyW said:

Paulsd said:

I've just set up a unifi express this morning.

Looks really cool from a nerdy management perspective!

I think I need another AP and can only run as a mesh for now (cables awaiting) so am thinking about getting another express as it looks like you can do that.

Anyone have two (or more) of them?

I also want to remove the trooli router and use the express as the gateway. I struggled to get the PPPoE details before - will need to have another google.

Another Trooli user here, I had the same issues in getting the details directly. Although you can push the advisors to release. I gave up and you can get the info required directly from the router if you have any knowledge of terminals and SSH into the router.

Also, another Unifi household. Albeit refusing to Mesh ever again.
Setup with a Cloud Gateway Ultra, being fed directly from the ONT, then a few USW Lite POE switches going to different parts of the house and some U6+ APs for Wi-Fi. Didn't feel the need yet to go Wi-Fi 6e or 7. Especially given the bargain price of the U6+ APs!

Paulsd said:

Trooli always refused to give the password but I've just asked them again and they gave it to me! Just needed to agree to not be an idiot and throw their router in the bin as they may want me to reconnect it for troubleshooting.

Yes, I've got the supplied router back in the box. I have to say for an ISP supplied device, it actually had decent Wi-Fi speeds.

I tried SSH using the engineer account but never managed to log in. When I called them I just asked for the password and he gave it to me with no issue after making me read and accept the don't be an idiot statement so I think they've softened their stance now.

I tried the mesh APs that trooli supplied which were aweful and we have found the Trooli router's wifi lacking on range in our house (it's not a typical PH Director sized house!) so have gone for Unifi. I've got another UX ordered. Will mesh for now while I work out a cable run.

[paralla]

I've moved into a big new house that is currently being served by the single BT Smart hub. I pay for 350mbps and get it in the room the hub is in and the room next door to it. Speeds fall off the further away you are from the hub and there's no connection at all on the 3rd floor, the hub is on the ground floor.

I had good results previously using Orbi mesh but it's expensive. I want to set up a Ubiquiti system at the new house but half the devices I want have been sold out and unavailable for months.

Cloud Gateway Ultra - Out of stock in the UK but available in the EU store
I could use a Unifi Express instead of the Ultra but it's also out of stock
Switch Ultra 210W - Out of stock

I've signed up to be notified when they are available but it's been months already

[NomadicTurbo]

paralla said:

I've moved into a big new house that is currently being served by the single BT Smart hub. I pay for 350mbps and get it in the room the hub is in and the room next door to it. Speeds fall off the further away you are from the hub and there's no connection at all on the 3rd floor, the hub is on the ground floor.

I had good results previously using Orbi mesh but it's expensive. I want to set up a Ubiquiti system at the new house but half the devices I want have been sold out and unavailable for months.

Cloud Gateway Ultra - Out of stock in the UK but available in the EU store
I could use a Unifi Express instead of the Ultra but it's also out of stock
Switch Ultra 210W - Out of stock

I've signed up to be notified when they are available but it's been months already

https://www.broadbandbuyer.com/ubiquiti/

Have stock of most Ubiquiti devices

Alternatively, you can use the EU Ubiquiti store as they often have stock when the UK don't

[dmsims]

Deco is all you need - no need for corporate willy waving at home

paralla said:

I've moved into a big new house that is currently being served by the single BT Smart hub. I pay for 350mbps and get it in the room the hub is in and the room next door to it. Speeds fall off the further away you are from the hub and there's no connection at all on the 3rd floor, the hub is on the ground floor.

I had good results previously using Orbi mesh but it's expensive. I want to set up a Ubiquiti system at the new house but half the devices I want have been sold out and unavailable for months.

Cloud Gateway Ultra - Out of stock in the UK but available in the EU store
I could use a Unifi Express instead of the Ultra but it's also out of stock
Switch Ultra 210W - Out of stock

I've signed up to be notified when they are available but it's been months already

[Paulsd]

NomadicTurbo said:

paralla said:

I've moved into a big new house that is currently being served by the single BT Smart hub. I pay for 350mbps and get it in the room the hub is in and the room next door to it. Speeds fall off the further away you are from the hub and there's no connection at all on the 3rd floor, the hub is on the ground floor.

I had good results previously using Orbi mesh but it's expensive. I want to set up a Ubiquiti system at the new house but half the devices I want have been sold out and unavailable for months.

Cloud Gateway Ultra - Out of stock in the UK but available in the EU store
I could use a Unifi Express instead of the Ultra but it's also out of stock
Switch Ultra 210W - Out of stock

I've signed up to be notified when they are available but it's been months already

https://www.broadbandbuyer.com/ubiquiti/

Have stock of most Ubiquiti devices

Alternatively, you can use the EU Ubiquiti store as they often have stock when the UK don't

I got my two unifi expresses from Amazon - they are EU models but came with adapters. Very quick delivery.

[paralla]

dmsims said:

Deco is all you need - no need for corporate willy waving at home

paralla said:

I've moved into a big new house that is currently being served by the single BT Smart hub. I pay for 350mbps and get it in the room the hub is in and the room next door to it. Speeds fall off the further away you are from the hub and there's no connection at all on the 3rd floor, the hub is on the ground floor.

I had good results previously using Orbi mesh but it's expensive. I want to set up a Ubiquiti system at the new house but half the devices I want have been sold out and unavailable for months.

Cloud Gateway Ultra - Out of stock in the UK but available in the EU store
I could use a Unifi Express instead of the Ultra but it's also out of stock
Switch Ultra 210W - Out of stock

I've signed up to be notified when they are available but it's been months already

I'm all in with a house full of Bang & Olufsen equipment which is notoriously unstable on mesh networks. B & O recommend Ubiquiti and I'm happy enough to install and manage it myself. I probably should get over the resentment of the resellers marking up the prices of the Ubiquiti equipment and just bite the bullet. I recently spent £700 on a remote control, £400-£500 on a solid WiFi network seems reasonable, I like a bargain and knowing I could get the wifi hardware cheaper if I wait rubs me up the wrong way.

[Gary C]

dmsims said:

Deco is all you need - no need for corporate willy waving at home

paralla said:

I've moved into a big new house that is currently being served by the single BT Smart hub. I pay for 350mbps and get it in the room the hub is in and the room next door to it. Speeds fall off the further away you are from the hub and there's no connection at all on the 3rd floor, the hub is on the ground floor.

I had good results previously using Orbi mesh but it's expensive. I want to set up a Ubiquiti system at the new house but half the devices I want have been sold out and unavailable for months.

Cloud Gateway Ultra - Out of stock in the UK but available in the EU store
I could use a Unifi Express instead of the Ultra but it's also out of stock
Switch Ultra 210W - Out of stock

I've signed up to be notified when they are available but it's been months already

Not even Deco

I use BT mini's and they are fine, I get 480mbps to my laptop which is perfectly good on our 1gbps fibre and for a mesh they were really cheap.

I do use a hardwired link for backhaul though which makes all the difference.

[paralla]

Gary C said:

Not even Deco

I use BT mini's and they are fine, I get 480mbps to my laptop which is perfectly good on our 1gbps fibre and for a mesh they were really cheap.

I do use a hardwired link for backhaul though which makes all the difference.

I’m new to BT and didn’t know BT mini’s or Discs existed. I’ve just bought 4 mini’s for £28 off eBay. I’ll report back when they arrive and I’ve set them up.

Cheers