Replacement Plusnet fibre router for improved WiFi
Discussion
Looking to change out our Plusnet fibre router with the end goal being-
-Improved WiFi signal.
-Capacity to use the USB port as network storage, for music through Sonos.
Regarding WiFi. General signal is Ok. Could be better in the bedroom. Speeds are fine, it just occasionally drops out. Plusnet are useless. There standard line is that they only guarantee speeds at the router. I have put a switch on the router and moved it from the back of the TV which has improved things.
I did try a Tenda mesh network but it was poop. The app was glitchy and no matter what I did I couldn’t get Sonos to work, we have Play 1’s in most rooms. My work laptop would also not connect. It went back.
So I’m looking at a new router. Something like a TP Link AC1200. The benefit appears to be I can use the USB for network storage. Which saves me buying a NAS. I don’t want to spend a lot on this.
How easy is it to set up the new router? Currently have a fixed IP with Plusnet.
-Improved WiFi signal.
-Capacity to use the USB port as network storage, for music through Sonos.
Regarding WiFi. General signal is Ok. Could be better in the bedroom. Speeds are fine, it just occasionally drops out. Plusnet are useless. There standard line is that they only guarantee speeds at the router. I have put a switch on the router and moved it from the back of the TV which has improved things.
I did try a Tenda mesh network but it was poop. The app was glitchy and no matter what I did I couldn’t get Sonos to work, we have Play 1’s in most rooms. My work laptop would also not connect. It went back.
So I’m looking at a new router. Something like a TP Link AC1200. The benefit appears to be I can use the USB for network storage. Which saves me buying a NAS. I don’t want to spend a lot on this.
How easy is it to set up the new router? Currently have a fixed IP with Plusnet.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01132GCP0/ref...
I've had this for the past 3 years, on Plusnet, with various devices connected in a large 4 bed house. Never have any complaints from anyone in the house about dropout or slow connection. Was a vast and instantly noticeable improvement from the Plusnet issued router.
I've had this for the past 3 years, on Plusnet, with various devices connected in a large 4 bed house. Never have any complaints from anyone in the house about dropout or slow connection. Was a vast and instantly noticeable improvement from the Plusnet issued router.
We ditched the liars that are PlusNet a few months ago, went to Sky.
With PlusNet the speed to the house dropped from the initial 37mbps d/l slowly down to 26. They insisted it was down to Openreach. The router was a hopeless piece of cheap rubbish, little range, too many bright lights. Finally, when they warned us about a price increase, we left.
Instantly the speed was back to 37 with Sky, and their router is rock solid, with good range.
So now that’s Vodafone, BT and PlusNet on our blacklist.
With PlusNet the speed to the house dropped from the initial 37mbps d/l slowly down to 26. They insisted it was down to Openreach. The router was a hopeless piece of cheap rubbish, little range, too many bright lights. Finally, when they warned us about a price increase, we left.
Instantly the speed was back to 37 with Sky, and their router is rock solid, with good range.
So now that’s Vodafone, BT and PlusNet on our blacklist.
Asus stability is fairly poor at the moment and in all honesty, have never been that good.
I'm not sure why others are having problems with them but Drayteks are a piece of p1ss to set up, but, they ain't cheap.
Even if you aren't that tech savvy, there are plenty of Youtube videos to guide you and have you up and running in less than 5 minutes.
I'm not sure why others are having problems with them but Drayteks are a piece of p1ss to set up, but, they ain't cheap.
Even if you aren't that tech savvy, there are plenty of Youtube videos to guide you and have you up and running in less than 5 minutes.
Simplest thing for most people is just to get the router closer to the middle of the house. Master socket is usually on the outside of the house, closest to where the cable comes in, and so many people leave the router there and moan that their WiFi is terrible. Buy a fancy new router and leave it in the same place and it'll still be bad. Run a decent quality extension to somewhere more central and it'll be much better.
The newer faster WiFi standards at higher frequencies aren't as good at getting through buildings either. If you don't need super fast speeds on wireless devices it can be worth trying disabling 5ghz so everything is on 2.4.
If the house is big and difficult (stone walls, etc) and you want quick, strong signal WiFi everywhere then there's really no substitute for running cable and proper access points to cover the house properly. Even the best single box solution won't provide perfect WiFi in every house. I like Unifi ones but there's plenty of others.
The newer faster WiFi standards at higher frequencies aren't as good at getting through buildings either. If you don't need super fast speeds on wireless devices it can be worth trying disabling 5ghz so everything is on 2.4.
If the house is big and difficult (stone walls, etc) and you want quick, strong signal WiFi everywhere then there's really no substitute for running cable and proper access points to cover the house properly. Even the best single box solution won't provide perfect WiFi in every house. I like Unifi ones but there's plenty of others.
I just carried on using the Plusnet device as a router. Switched off wifi on Plusnet and plugged in 3 BT mesh wifi discs to handle the wifi.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/BT-seamless-connection-ev...
With plusnet wifi I couldn't stream anything to the TV without constant buffering/drop outs.
Now (with one of the BT disc in the living room) I get perfect streaming.
ETA - I also use Sonos on the mesh network and have had no issues.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/BT-seamless-connection-ev...
With plusnet wifi I couldn't stream anything to the TV without constant buffering/drop outs.
Now (with one of the BT disc in the living room) I get perfect streaming.
ETA - I also use Sonos on the mesh network and have had no issues.
Edited by i4got on Friday 10th January 10:03
So an update. I forgot to mention I use a TP link WiFi extender (single band) to convert an IP camera to a network camera, and view through my Hikvision NVR. It’s a dog camera.
Most devices were logging onto the TP. Even my laptop when used in the same room as the router, lounge at the rear, would log onto the TP which is in the kitchen at the front of the house.
Downloaded the TP app and barred all devices from it. Reset router and connection and speed appears improved.
Most devices were logging onto the TP. Even my laptop when used in the same room as the router, lounge at the rear, would log onto the TP which is in the kitchen at the front of the house.
Downloaded the TP app and barred all devices from it. Reset router and connection and speed appears improved.
paultownsend said:
So an update. I forgot to mention I use a TP link WiFi extender (single band) to convert an IP camera to a network camera, and view through my Hikvision NVR. It’s a dog camera.
Most devices were logging onto the TP. Even my laptop when used in the same room as the router, lounge at the rear, would log onto the TP which is in the kitchen at the front of the house.
Downloaded the TP app and barred all devices from it. Reset router and connection and speed appears improved.
You have probably cracked itMost devices were logging onto the TP. Even my laptop when used in the same room as the router, lounge at the rear, would log onto the TP which is in the kitchen at the front of the house.
Downloaded the TP app and barred all devices from it. Reset router and connection and speed appears improved.
FWIW I use a Draytek as a wired router and I was surprised to find it gave better results on speetest than the router I was using before and that was over a wired connection.
I like the TP Links and they are easy to set up. Personally I found the 5GHz wireless performance to be good on middling distances but behind a netgear on short distances. I have friends who bought and use a TP Link as their main router and they have never had any issue. Its attached storage works well for them and is actually quite fast to copy files to.
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