BT Whole Home Wi-Fi

[IanA2]

Does anyone have experience of this?

https://www.shop.bt.com/products/bt-whole-home-wi-...

Seems a bit pricey, but if it actually does what it claims, it would be worth the money methinks.

[Skier]

No experience of the BT system as I went for the Netgear Orbi solution as it allows me to establish a Guest Network and configure the DHCP. Mine has been set up for 9 days now and has been perfect with excellent WiFi throughout my home (a large converted barn with very thick walls in places). There are several options for creating a Mesh WiFi Network:

BT Whole Home WiFi
Netgear Orbi
Google WiFi

There are differences between the systems so if you are looking at these read up on them. For example, the BT system requires you to use a BT Smart Hub (or Home Hub of some sort); the Netgear system requires just a modem with the main Orbi unit acting as a router; the Google solution requires you to use an external router and modem.

Edited by Skier on Friday 28th April 23:39

[Fore Left]

£5 cheaper from Amazon. Gets 4.1 out of 5

[IanA2]

Skier said:

No experience of the BT system as I went for the Netgear Orbi solution as it allows me to establish a Guest Network and configure the DHCP. Mine has been set up for 9 days now and has been perfect with excellent WiFi throughout my home (a large converted barn with very thick walls in places). There are several options for creating a Mesh WiFi Network:

BT Whole Home WiFi
Netgear Orbi
Google WiFi

There are differences between the system so if you are looking at these read up on them. For example, the BT system requires you to use a BT Smart Hub (or Home Hub of some sort); the Netgear system requires just a modem with the main Orbi unit acting as a router; the Google solution requires you to use an external router and modem.

Thanks. I wasn't aware of those differences. Would you happen to know if throwing a Airport Extreme into the mix limits my options. Currently using BT HH4 and Airport but have other router options (Linksys).

[Skier]

I have no knowledge of the Airport Extreme but if you're seriously looking into the Mesh WiFi solution then don't hang on to previous hardware and make new kit fit - go all out. I think you could simply ditch the AirPort Extreme. Personally I ditched a BT Smart Hub and WiFi extender 1200 for the Netgear Orbi system and haven't regretted it for a minute.

I'm IT savvy and have specific requirements that took me down the Orbi route (it's as configurable as a high-end Netgear router) though it's more expensive.

[ladderino]

Out of interest, why didn't you go for something like the Ubiquiti stuff?

I'm looking at options to replace several airports, homeplugs, etc., at the moment.

[IanA2]

Skier said:

I have no knowledge of the Airport Extreme but if you're seriously looking into the Mesh WiFi solution then don't hang on to previous hardware and make new kit fit - go all out. I think you could simply ditch the AirPort Extreme. Personally I ditched a BT Smart Hub and WiFi extender 1200 for the Netgear Orbi system and haven't regretted it for a minute.

I'm IT savvy and have specific requirements that took me down the Orbi route (it's as configurable as a high-end Netgear router) though it's more expensive.

Thanks. I need to keep the Time Capsule. I'll keep reading.

[Skier]

IanA2 said:

Thanks. I need to keep the Time Capsule. I'll keep reading.

My understanding is that the Time Capsule is simply an Apple NAS, that won't be an issue whichever solution you go for. You mentioned an Airport Extreme which I understand is a wireless router. Some solutions (BT, Google) will require you to keep the router element and disable the WiFi element. The Netgear Orbi has it's own router built in and just requires a modem.

[jamoor]

Just get a synology Nas.

I'd probbably go for the google wifi over a BT or netgear one as it's more likely to work well.

[Skier]

jamoor said:

Just get a synology Nas.

I'd probbably go for the google wifi over a BT or netgear one as it's more likely to work well.

Based on?

[IanA2]

Skier said:

IanA2 said:

Thanks. I need to keep the Time Capsule. I'll keep reading.

My understanding is that the Time Capsule is simply an Apple NAS, that won't be an issue whichever solution you go for. You mentioned an Airport Extreme which I understand is a wireless router. Some solutions (BT, Google) will require you to keep the router element and disable the WiFi element. The Netgear Orbi has it's own router built in and just requires a modem.

Not simply an Apple NAS, also a wifi base station: https://www.apple.com/uk/airport-time-capsule:https://www.apple.com/uk/airport-time-capsule/ My primary use is for it is storage.

[Bikerjon]

You can keep the time capsule, just disable the Wi-Fi and use it as a NAS. My understanding is the BT whole home product can work with any router, not just a home hub. £200 for 3 access points is a pretty good price based on the reviews I've read so far, but I haven't tested them out for myself yet.

[jamoor]

Skier said:

Based on?

I can't think of many Google products that are counter intuitive.
Netgear however.

[h0b0]

I've had google wifi since it's release in the US. Overall, I'm very happy. The set up is extremely easy. This is a good thing because they updated it once and I had to repeat the set up.

Everything is done through they app and is intuitive. Guest networks are a couple of clicks and done. I think one of the most significant advantages google wifi has over my previous wifi is that it looks good. This means it's not shoved down the back of a cabinet or in the office. I have one in the lounge next to my PS4,a google chrome and an Amazon fire stick. Due to the proximity I have no issues streaming anymore. I was also able to eliminate all dead zones that even extenders couldn't reach. And of course, its mesh so it's seamless instead of having EXT networks.

2 thumbs up from me.

[Fore Left]

Just seen it for £169.99 at Robert Dyas on HotUKDeals.

[clockworks]

Fore Left said:

Just seen it for £169.99 at Robert Dyas on HotUKDeals.

Thanks for the heads up. I've ordered from Dyas

[IanA2]

clockworks said:

Fore Left said:

Just seen it for £169.99 at Robert Dyas on HotUKDeals.

Thanks for the heads up. I've ordered from Dyas

Now out of stock.

[Bikerjon]

I decided to buy the BT set for a bit of testing. I've only had it setup for a day but initial thoughts are mostly good. The speed of setup is impressive and is all done via an app. This isn't a system for people who like to "tinker" but that's fine - it's consumer grade afterall.

The speed of the Wi-Fi is impressive. I'm getting a 1300Mbps connection on my iMac which I think is more than any other Wi-Fi kit I've tested at the same location - even more than the Ubiquiti Unifi AP's which I normally use. I have a feeling that the overall range may not be quite as strong as Ubiquiti, but the speed is. As this is PH I'm ashamed to say I don't have the largest of houses, so just two of these disks easily covers the whole property. Gut feeling says you may well need more than the 3 disks for larger homes or ones with thick walls.

I do however have one problem and it's to do with printers disappearing and then randomly re-appearing on the network. If I restart the AP's then everything is visible again, but they appear to go offline after a while. I need to spend a little more time looking into this, but it's just one of those issues that never happens when I use Ubiquiti, Openmesh or Apple Wi-Fi kit.

[Debaser]

I've just bought a powerline adaptor - what are the differences between what I've just got and something like Google Wi-Fi (I'm a dunce when it comes to computers so any answers in the style of 'Internet for Dummies' would be appreciated).

[anonymous-user]

The 2 disk kit is on sale at Argos, by, Amazon & others for £99.99

I'm going to take the plunge with the expectation of getting rid of almost all powerline adapters