Weapons-grade home WiFi suggestions

Weapons-grade home WiFi suggestions

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Discussion

Northernboy

12,642 posts

256 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
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RizzoTheRat said:
In theory your current Linksys system should do the job nicely. Have you checked if there's a firmware update for them? It's possible there was a software issue that's since been patched but yours don't have the update.

Is it the Velop system? Most of these kinds of companies have online chat help available these days, and they have their own forums that might be worth a try too.
Yes, a Linksys Router and five Velop nodes.

They are all on the latest version of the software, and they’re going down whether wired or using wifi to communicate.

Northernboy

12,642 posts

256 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
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dmsims said:
northernboy

"I’ve had the mesh units attached to the modem over Ethernet."

You should be: Modem-Router-Mastermesh-switch-othermesh

What make is your switch ?
It’s a Netgear GS116LP

RizzoTheRat

25,082 posts

191 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
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fking annoying when things that should work don't and and you can't figure out why isn't it.

Have you tried setting up the parent and just one child node and seeing it stays up? A fault on one of them could potentially kick the whole lot off.

Northernboy

12,642 posts

256 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
quotequote all
RizzoTheRat said:
fking annoying when things that should work don't and and you can't figure out why isn't it.

Have you tried setting up the parent and just one child node and seeing it stays up? A fault on one of them could potentially kick the whole lot off.
That’s a good idea, thanks, I’ll give it a try.

red_slr

17,122 posts

188 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
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Just found this thread, we are having wifi issues at the moment.

Whats the best solution for mesh?

I note the links from early on in this thread but that was 2 years ago.

I have 3 floors plus garage and garden that needs coverage.

3 nest cameras in various locations, smart tvs and ipad etc.

Northernboy

12,642 posts

256 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
quotequote all
red_slr said:
Just found this thread, we are having wifi issues at the moment.

Whats the best solution for mesh?

I note the links from early on in this thread but that was 2 years ago.

I have 3 floors plus garage and garden that needs coverage.

3 nest cameras in various locations, smart tvs and ipad etc.
You can have my Linksys Velop system for a good price if you’d like.

red_slr

17,122 posts

188 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
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Yeah would be interested let me google the spec on that.

red_slr

17,122 posts

188 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
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Which model is it pls?

Northernboy

12,642 posts

256 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
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red_slr said:
Which model is it pls?
Linksys WHW0303 Velop Tri-Band Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi System (AC6600 Wi-Fi Router/Wi-Fi Extender for Seamless Coverage, Parental Controls, 3-Pack, Covers Up to 6,000 sq ft, White)

£125, but you’d need to collect from round Bromley way, as I seldom leave the house.

red_slr

17,122 posts

188 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
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Will PM you

techguyone

3,137 posts

141 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
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red_slr said:
Just found this thread, we are having wifi issues at the moment.

Whats the best solution for mesh?

I note the links from early on in this thread but that was 2 years ago.

I have 3 floors plus garage and garden that needs coverage.

3 nest cameras in various locations, smart tvs and ipad etc.
Try something like the tp-link deco M5 triple pack for starters, see how that works out, if you need more get another 3 pack, if you get it of Amazon you can try and then return if it doesn't work out, so low risk.

red_slr

17,122 posts

188 months

Friday 19th February 2021
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Norhternboy did you get my PM ok? Cheers

garylythgoe

805 posts

221 months

Friday 19th February 2021
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garylythgoe said:
Help! I've spent 2 days solid reading the deepest forums and pages on the internet about solid network/wifi/mesh options.

Here's the setup.

BT FTTP 900mbps
Smart Hub 2
Just ran a speed test at the hub and its showing 925down 120up.

Live in a 3-storey house, and hub/ONT modem is on the ground floor.
Xbox/Work PC/Study is on the middle floor. Black wifi BT disc installed on middle floor.
Master bedroom with speaker/Sky Q/TV apps etc on the top floor.

The speed at the hub is great, but the distribution of it is shocking.
Xbox gaming is nigh on impossible (constant lag), I've tried wireless, wired in to the wifi disc, etc and can't get any improvements.
Edit: to add - I've got all the ports opened/DMZ/etc for the xbox.
Work Teams/Zoom calls are just painful.
General wifi use is fine, but its just phones and tablets.

I'm looking to achieve a robust connection around the house, and improve the quality of connection to the study where my work pc and xbox is.

So far I've looked at the following options:-
-Netgear Orbi RBK752 WiFi 6 (2pack) - Cost £447
-Netgear Orbi RBK852 WiFi 6 (2pack) - Cost £699
-Tenda MW12 (2pack) - £167
-Devolo Magic LAN 2400mbps powerline kit - £140
-Asus XT8 (2 pack) - Out of Stock
-Standalone wifi 6 routers etc

Can anyone help with any ideas/suggestions?
The Tenda MW12 is a tri band AC setup, but quite cost effective at £167. Reliable with the wireless backhaul, and discreet.
The Orbi stuff is £££, but future proofed, solid reviews. But large hardware, and some questionable forum comments about QoS/Gaming (prioritising netflix over gaming etc).
The Devolo option is back on powerline technology but looks to be much improved. However ground floor and middle floor are on separate ring mains.

I would love to cat6 every room, etc etc, but this is not the forever home and I don't think I 'need' to for what I'm looking for.

Edited by garylythgoe on Wednesday 17th February 14:36
Just to follow up, I opted to try the 'least intrusive' option, and one which was easily returnable on Amazon - the new Devolo powerline adapters.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07ZZDWVGN/ref...

These are the new G.hn standard.

Instantly worked and fired up the xbox for a test.
I was getting 510mbps to the Xbox on a different ring main, which is staggering.
I played last night with my pals, zero issues, zero latency issues, zero lag, etc.

I'm getting over 400mbps on my work PC, which is off the same adapter.

All in all, these are a game changer.

Northernboy

12,642 posts

256 months

Friday 19th February 2021
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I dipped my toe in the water with one Ubiquiti Lite access point, and after a painless setup, now have a good signal on the bottom floor.

It's iffy on the next floor up, which is a surprise, so I'll have a bit of a look round the web to decide whether to go for a Lite on each floor, or to go for a more powerful solution.

I really do wonder what they built this house out of.

megaphone

10,692 posts

250 months

Friday 19th February 2021
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Northernboy said:
I dipped my toe in the water with one Ubiquiti Lite access point, and after a painless setup, now have a good signal on the bottom floor.

It's iffy on the next floor up, which is a surprise, so I'll have a bit of a look round the web to decide whether to go for a Lite on each floor, or to go for a more powerful solution.

I really do wonder what they built this house out of.
Did you set -up with the controller or via the app in standalone?

You'll be better off with more lower powered APs than a few on higher power, sounds like one AP Lite on each floor will work for you.

Note the 5-pack will save you £.

dmsims

6,449 posts

266 months

Friday 19th February 2021
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northernboy

How have you setup the bands?

Are 2.4 and 5 on the same SSID ? If so try turning off the 5

Northernboy

12,642 posts

256 months

Friday 19th February 2021
quotequote all
megaphone said:
Did you set -up with the controller or via the app in standalone?

You'll be better off with more lower powered APs than a few on higher power, sounds like one AP Lite on each floor will work for you.

Note the 5-pack will save you £.
I was thinking of going for lots of high power ones, just to be sure, one per floor.

Any reason other than cost not to do that?

I set it up with the app on my iPhone

megaphone

10,692 posts

250 months

Friday 19th February 2021
quotequote all
Northernboy said:
megaphone said:
Did you set -up with the controller or via the app in standalone?

You'll be better off with more lower powered APs than a few on higher power, sounds like one AP Lite on each floor will work for you.

Note the 5-pack will save you £.
I was thinking of going for lots of high power ones, just to be sure, one per floor.

Any reason other than cost not to do that?

I set it up with the app on my iPhone
No if you have the budget them go for the better AP. However above still applies, better off with more lower powered APs, than a few on high power.

If installing multiple APs you really need to set them up with the Unifi Controller, this will make everything work together, you can set-up the SSIDs and frequencies etc. Unifi controller is a free download from UBNT, you can run it on a PC or Mac, I suggest you download it and adopt your AP and see how it all works, it's a bit of a learning curve, loads of hep on Youtube if you need it.

NorthDave

2,355 posts

231 months

Friday 19th February 2021
quotequote all
megaphone said:
No if you have the budget them go for the better AP.

If installing multiple APs you really need to set them up with the Unifi Controller, this will make everything work together, you can set-up the SSIDs and frequencies etc. Unifi controller is a free download from UBNT, you can run it on a PC or Mac, I suggest you download it and adopt your AP and see how it all works, it's a bit of a learning curve, loads of hep on Youtube if you need it.
If budget isn't an issue then go for a cloud controller gen 2. They aren't very expensive and will make life easier.

xeny

4,260 posts

77 months

Friday 19th February 2021
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Northernboy said:
I was thinking of going for lots of high power ones, just to be sure, one per floor.
Just remember to turn the power down if you're going to do that, and I'd second the recommendation to use the controller rather than the iPhone app.