Anyone found a WiFi extender with EasyMesh?

richieboy

richieboy

richieboy

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Hi,

I recently got FTTP installed and am looking to improve signal around the house to take advantage of the speeds. I noticed the router I have been supplied (which I am kind of stuck with a bit as ISP won't let me use anything else on a domestic connection) supports 'EasyMesh', which I was hoping to make use of as it would mean the existing router can stay as an AP, and I'd then need two more 'EasyMesh' enabled APs to get signal where it's needed. From a Google around I can't see any obviously available kit that supports EasyMesh, has anyone found/uses kit with it at all?

Obviously I could just disable WiFi on the router and get three mesh APs instead...but am also trying to keep ongoing power usage in mind and so the less devices that need to be on all the time the better! I've already got a modem to power separately now as well as router, where as obviously before with FTTC the modem was built in to the router.

Thanks.
 
Who's the ISP out of interest? I'd be surprised if you couldn't use your own router with the correct settings configured.
 
It's a local FTTP supplier that has it written in their ToS, from looking about a few users seem to have managed it by obtaining the user/pass from a putty session but I'm trying to avoid that if I can in case it's something they spot at some point in the future and threaten to disconnect me etc!
 
Do you really need 3 mesh APs? In most cases you're better off disabling the wifi on the router (as the router is rarely in a good "central" position), and fitting a single Access point (cabled) in the centre of the house on a first floor ceiling.

Obviously it's not a fits all solution, but unless you've got a mansion of a house, odd construction (thick stone walls), or other requirements then it will generally work for most people.
 
I am looking at other options Armageus- 2.4ghz just about reaches but I was hoping to supply 5ghz to the entire gaff. This is with the current router in prime position in the middle of the house.

I am also a tight git, so am trying to avoid powering any devices unnecessarily - which is why I was hoping to find two 'easy mesh' APs that can work either side of the existing router. It looks like TP Link have WiFi 6 products with EasyMesh (article from Dec 2021) but I don't seem to be able to buy them anywhere yet..
 
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Not sure what EasyMesh is but TP Link have a feature called OneMesh which I have found to be absolutely bullet proof. You could wire in an AP to an ethernet port and then stick the other "meshed" device wherever you want it.
 
As I understand it Easy Mesh is a standard from the WiFi alliance, similar to OneMesh or other proprietary solutions but can be used by everyone, so in theory you could buy any mesh device and it would work with another one (I think). Unfortunately it looks like it came quite late so not a lot of manufacturers have picked it up yet as they have their own...and why give people freedom when you can lock them down to your own proprietary devices!
 
Not sure if you gents have done the maths, but just having a 10w modem and 20w router is now equal to around £10 worth of electricity at around 50p per kWh...I really hope my maths is wrong, but if I add three mesh devices at about 20w each I'd then be paying more just to keep all those devices powered than I would for the FTTP service!
 
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Ask Trooli if they have a Wi-Fi mesh solution, it's really not acceptable to lock the router down and also offer you nothing to extend coverage if you need it.

The Technicolor mesh device is the OWA0131, see if Andrews & Arnold will sell you one off the shelf. I would advise against spending money on a mesh system that will only work with the Trooli router though, it seems short sighted.
 
richieboy said:
Not sure if you gents have done the maths, but just having a 10w modem and 20w router is now equal to around £10 worth of electricity at the new government cap of around 50p per kWh...I really hope my maths is wrong, but if I add three mesh devices at about 20w each I'd then be paying more just to keep all those devices powered than I would for the FTTP service!
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Yes, and no. 30W worth of appliances running 24/7/365 is about 270kW or £135 per year or a little more than £10 per month so if you meant you're only paying £10 per month for your FTTP then that's very cheap.

And that is absolutely worst case scenario. Typically they don't use their rated power.
 
WJA96 said:
Yes, and no. 30W worth of appliances running 24/7/365 is about 270kW or £135 per year or a little more than £10 per month so if you meant you're only paying £10 per month for your FTTP then that's very cheap.

And that is absolutely worst case scenario. Typically they don't use their rated power.
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Yeah I was adding three 20w mesh devices on also, so would take it from 30w to 90w, or about £30 a month. Crackers.

Fair point regarding what they use versus their rating... I really hope they don't use the full amount!
 
Caged said:
Ask Trooli if they have a Wi-Fi mesh solution, it's really not acceptable to lock the router down and also offer you nothing to extend coverage if you need it.

The Technicolor mesh device is the OWA0131, see if Andrews & Arnold will sell you one off the shelf. I would advise against spending money on a mesh system that will only work with the Trooli router though, it seems short sighted.
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I hadn't thought about your last sentence. This is a very good point...in which case, if we ignore my post title completely...are there any recommendations for 3 pack mesh systems and I'll disable the WiFi on the router? :D:D
 
richieboy said:
Yeah I was adding three 20w mesh devices on also, so would take it from 30w to 90w, or about £30 a month. Crackers.

Fair point regarding what they use versus their rating... I really hope they don't use the full amount!
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Are they really using 20w 24x7 or is that just what they are rated for?
 
I’ve just checked and my UniFi U6-Mesh units are pulling 6W from the PoE switch. U6-LR and U6-Pro are pulling 5W each, U6-Enterprise is pulling 14W and U6-IW Enterprise is pulling 22W but it has a Mikrotik LHGG hanging off it And that’s rated at 20W.

Putting the power meter across the distribution board that powers the network rack (including the servers and the NVR) shows a continuous draw of 470-485W so pretty pricey just to be able to post on OcUK and read the number plates of the cars driving up and down the road.

Its certainly worth thinking about the power consumption.
 
I've been looking in to three kit mesh systems, think I'm going to go for the TP link Deco x20 as it's currently at £180 and should do what I need. From reviews it seems that the satellite units all connect back to the primary unit, which would be crap if you were daisy chaining them, but my primary one would be connected to the router in the middle of the house, so hopefully both satellites would connect directly to that one.

I did look at ubquiti but I think I am too lazy for cabling, Poe injectors and the like!
 
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It’s 99.9% certain that a single cabled, high and centrally mounted access point would cover your whole house. And at 5W. But if you want to drop that sort of money on 30-60W of slower gear then knock yourself out.
 
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