Choose a Router

jjmaia

jjmaia

jjmaia

Associate
Joined
2 Aug 2016
Posts
11
Hi all,
I’m currently a Sky “fibre” customer, and their router wireless is slow, loses power on walls and only has 100mps ports. I want to buy one, but I have 2 questions: Buy a router and connect it to the sky router, or buy a VDSL router? And then, which one to buy?

There are 2 things that confuse me: How can their router loose signal on such thin walls, and the fact that the service is not true optic fibre.
This is why I have the 1st question: If I switch provider, will they have true fibre or all of the UK providers only have fibre at the doorstep, and then VDSL to the house? If this is like this, it’s probably best to buy a VDSL router?

My wired network setup is desktop and NAS (gigabit for these 2) and an android box + PS4. I want to open door for the NAS, so if I use the first setup (sky hub + router) will I have to open doors on both routers?

I would like your help on this question, and after that help choosing the router.

Thank you.
 
jjmaia said:
There are 2 things that confuse me: How can their router loose signal on such thin walls
Click to expand...

A potential answer, particularly in newer builds, is if the walls contain foil backed plasterboard or similar, putting a metal sheet in the way, even a thin one, has predictable consequences for wireless signals.

If this is the case then short of moving the wireless or putting in additional wireless points there's not a miracle cure for this...so don't expect a fancy router to necessarily solve the issue.
 
That'd need to be a posh new build to have foil-backed boards! :)


To the OP, i'd try and assess your true current WiFi situation. Get WiFi Analyzer or something and ensure you're on a clear'ish channel.
 
Thank you for your answers. The building is from 2006, and the wall is "fake", so I don't believe it has metal sheets. If I am on the same room as the router and 3 meter away I loose signal.

The wi-fi is the least of my problems, the sky hub doesn't have gigabit so i need a new router and need.

My first question is: should I buy a router, or a router with moden?
 
Losing signal 3 m away through air indicates a serious problem. You should get dozens of m of good signal through air.

Are there a lot of WiFi networks in the area? Using 2.4 Ghz presumably? Definitely worth investigating other channels.
 
I will check it, but as i've said, wi-fi is the smallest problem.
And a if the problem would be 2.4, the sky hub is 2.4, so there's nothing I could do.
 
Although wi-fi is not the main issue, doesn't mean is not an issue :p
Therefore, what would you recommend with a good wifi, and gigabig ports, up to 50£/60£?

Thank you.
 
Slow down a minute jjmaia, you're not listening.

First, wireless. Until you've worked out why you're only getting 3 m of range, don't buy a new access point. Even the most basic bundled unit should give you good service in the same room. All I can think of is terrible interference from the neighbours, in which case there's nothing you can buy that will be any better. So first, read ov_sjo's post again and check how many other wifi networks are in the area and what channels they're on.

Second, wired. If you want gigabit between your LAN devices, do what bremen1874 says and get a gigabit switch. Then the 100 Mbit link to the router will only be a problem if you have > 100 Mbit to the ISP. How fast is your internet connection?
 
I don't need more than 100mp between the sky hub and router since I only have 34mb and I have a laugh when I hear the BT commercial talking about the "super fast" 50 or 70mb fibre broadband.

There is no problem with the wireless, is just that hub is really bad. I said I loose signal, but only 1/2 bar. Every review I saw on the sky hub talks about a terrible wireless range,.
Before having the service active I used my phone ans shared wireless and had full bars at the same distance.
 
Sky hubs may not be famed for their wireless range, but they aren't that bad. If they were that bad then no one would be able to use them, and the majority of Sky's customers obviously do.

If it can't at least match a phone in personal hotspot mode then there's a problem with it or the environment.

The first step is to try different wireless channels. Manually set the channel to 1, 6 and 11 and see if there's a difference. Avoid the intermediate channels.

If you have a device that'll run one of the wireless analyser apps then use it to see what's going on in the area.
 
Great, then a gigabit switch will be perfect for your LAN.

Ah OK I misunderstood, thought it was dropping the connection completely. Don't trust the "bars" on your device for wifi strength, they hardly mean anything. Also reviews are great but this is one of those things where if you can't tell it's slow, then it doesn't matter. ;) For example, is downloading stuff over the wifi unacceptably slow? Or do you get dead spots in certain rooms? Then you might need to do something.

jjmaia said:
...and the fact that the service is not true optic fibre.
This is why I have the 1st question: If I switch provider, will they have true fibre or all of the UK providers only have fibre at the doorstep, and then VDSL to the house? If this is like this, it’s probably best to buy a VDSL router?
Click to expand...

I guess by true fibre optic you mean FTTP? It's very rare for homes. You're right, FTTC and VDSL(2) are the way to go, unless you switch to cable (Virgin).
 
Didn't knew what FTTP was, that's what I mean. Back in Portugal a fibre optic service means you have fibre inside your house.

I only have 3 networks (with mine), and in the same room I only loose one bar. But in the bedroom it slows down a good bit, but using my laptop as an hotspot on the same place has the hub i have slighty better speed in the bedroom.

Hence, I just need a better router with gigabit ports.

Cheers.
 
Why would you want to route twice?

If better quality wireless is all you require then buy an Access Point and plug it into the existing Sky Hub. You don't need to create another firewalled off network within the existing network from the Sky Hub.

Doesn't help that the ISPs are calling their routers a Hub nowadays to make them sound more fluffy and appealing to consumers.
 
I don't want to route twice. I have 2 options: either buy a router with moden, or just a router. Just a router seems to be the best option.

If I buy an AP I won't have gigabit ports.

I would like to have help choosing an wireless router (dual band) with gigabit ports, nothing else.

Call it hub, router with modem, whatever :p

Thank you.
 
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