Anyone recommend a mesh which shows per device usage (real time)?

NeilF · 19 Apr 2020 at 19:42

Seems like a fairly obvious feature to have, the ability to see what's connected to your mesh, and how much data it's using real time, or over a period.

I was looking to get a TP-Link Deco M4 or P9, but they don't appear to offer this

Anyone able to recommend a similar reasonable spec mesh that does offer this sort of feature?

NeilF · 19 Apr 2020 at 19:54

crinkleshoes said:
TP link are terrible anyway.

One Ruckus R310 may cover your entire house by itself... otherwise you can get dirt cheap R500 that will mesh

That's solely a wireless access point? So you won't see what your wired network is doing etc?

NeilF · 19 Apr 2020 at 20:15

crinkleshoes said:
No you won’t, you only asked to see what is connected to the mesh, not what is wired also.

Meraki would be your best bet there. You can get a cheap 8 port switch from eBay. But there is licensing involved after the trial expires.

That’s the best for what you’re asking.

I’m guessing you don’t have a home dev server or anything? There’s software that will do what you want for free.

Yeh, after anything and everything connected through the mesh. ie: I'd like to know if I'm slow because my son's (wired) XBox is downloading for example...

Meraki seems to be AP orientated too? And very corporate?

I'm sure Google Mesh offer per device stats (https://www.howtogeek.com/297012/how-to-view-your-networks-data-usage-on-google-wi-fi/ ), but they're expensive in comparison to alternatives. I'll look at Amplifi's cheaper options and see if they offer it...

NeilF · 19 Apr 2020 at 20:30

Amplifi Instant Mesh would possibly seem to be able to do it to? - See 4m30s - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6mTvhqFmts

But possibly only with current stats, not historical (eg: Over last 30 mins?)

NeilF · 19 Apr 2020 at 22:07

mark66 said:
We have a Tenda MW3 Mesh network and for the money I think it is great. It allows me to view real time usage via the app, as well as create parental control groups, so I can control the kids internet usage across all of their devices from my phone. We have a reasonably large extended 1930's semi and it covers the whole house with ease and I've only actually plugged two of the units in! I would recommend even at twice the price, I think its a bargain.

Thanks! Does it show historical usage stats at all out of interest?

NeilF · 19 Apr 2020 at 22:09

crinkleshoes said:
You don’t need any of their APs

Just one switch at the root of your network & you have live and historical stats for every device on network.

I had a quick look and you can get a new or nearly new one for about £100.

Then you can use your existing WiFi, unless it’s from the ISP router.

What do you have now?

If you need the meshed WiFi extension function, then that Google solution might be best for you.

Thanks I understand now...

Alas, yes, I have a sky router at the moment.

NeilF · 20 Apr 2020 at 10:00

crinkleshoes said:
In that case yeah, you’re better off with something like the google mesh for cost effectiveness

I'll see if Amplifi's cheaper options provide such a feature... ie: Their "Instant mesh"...

NeilF · 20 Apr 2020 at 11:19

^ Appears not, and I believe it will only show current usage for wireless connections. Nothing for wired? Seems odd!

NeilF · 20 Apr 2020 at 11:57

crinkleshoes said:
That’s normal... as I mentioned “Mesh” is a wireless solution, designed to extend range to places that are impossible or unreasonably expensive to reach with cable.

Many mesh solutions will, however, allow you to bridge the wireless back to wired. Often these bridged connections will be included in whatever connectivity statistics are available.

As for data, any historical data figures require a surprisingly large amount of data storage for such a device and would increase the price noticeably. Or it would be cloud based and then you’d need a subscription.

Seeing as most people don’t care about this kind of functionality, cost efficiency wins.

If your Sky router covers the whole house already with good enough WiFi signal. You have no need for a mesh solution. Or is there a really weak point in your home?

I have the new router and one of the new boosters, I experience little cut outs from time to time, and have to augment my garage with another wireless AP.

As regards showing stats for wired (& wireless) connections, surely many of these mesh units can also act as a router, and dishing out the network IP address and the like. For them to then only solely be interested in wireless stats, and not wired, seems odd?

If Google Wifi does this too - only showing its stats for wifi traffic, not wired - then

- https://www.howtogeek.com/297012/how-to-view-your-networks-data-usage-on-google-wi-fi/

NeilF · 20 Apr 2020 at 13:09

Having checked, the TP-Link Deco M4 shows all devices attached (wireless or wired) and their current data usage (along with what node they're attached too).

If the Google Wifi Mesh does likewise, along with the option to show usage over a number of time periods (eg: daily/monthly), that would be very nice!

NeilF · 20 Apr 2020 at 13:25

crinkleshoes said:
I would assume that the Google variant does, yes.

You can always buy, check & return under DSR if it doesn't have the functionality you want.

TP-Link are terrible & unreliable. I would be more likely to trust the Google hardware, although I'm unsure if they outsourced their OEM. A quick google (lol) suggests not.

The TP-LINK P9 seems a great idea, mixing mesh and powerline technology

I've asked on Amazon and a google forum about if the Google Wifi Mesh offers stats for wired and wiresless, realtime and over periods (eg: today).

NeilF · 20 Apr 2020 at 13:45

Seems the answer is the Google Wifi is as epic as it sounds in that department, with wired and wireless devices listed, showing their realtime data usage, or over periods of 1 day, 7 day, 30 day or 60 day!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6LgOxWAseo&t=4m5s

Just the darn price. I'll put a camelcamelcamel in to try and get the three pack on an offer...

There is the newer Nest variant of it, but that's just paying for stuff I don't want (eg: Google home assistant).

NeilF · 20 Apr 2020 at 14:20

Caged said:
It says on their own support page that it does

I didn't find that clear, as it states specifically "wifi" - "You can see how many personal devices are connected to your Wi-Fi network in the Google Home app or the Google Wifi app."

ie: It goes out of its way to omit wired devices?!

NeilF · 20 Apr 2020 at 15:06

crinkleshoes said:
Expand “With the google WiFi app”, it says exactly what @Caged quoted.

So yes, it gives data for wired devices also.

“Note: The app displays details for all devices connected via Wi-Fi or connected directly to your Wifi router or point with an Ethernet cable.”

Ah yes! Thanks!

NeilF · 21 Apr 2020 at 10:29

Janesy B said:
Amplifi does show live usage per device, overall and historical.

Thanks for those...

But:-
1) Does it show realtime data usage for wired devices? My friend says it only shows data for wireless items, and your screenshot seems to do the same?
2) The historical data is only for the network usage in general. ie: You can't see the usage for say an XBox over the post 24hrs?

^ The Google Wifi mesh can do that... and seems to be the only one that can!

I'd like to get the Amplifi unit, but the per device historical data earns big brownie points for me

NOTE: To add another model to the mix, the Linksys Velop seems to have no data at all along these lines!

NeilF · 22 Apr 2020 at 14:27

WJA96 said:
I'm not sure any of these systems really do what the OP is actually asking for. To accurately track and save (in real time) what a connection is using is a major processing feat. Unifi has DPI which records not only what the usage was but EXACTLY what was processed. And if you turn it on, it turns a very fast router into a fairly slow router. Untangle can also do something like DPI but it needs a very hefty quad-core+ CPU to do it.

As a nice feature for a mesh, I'd like to see all devices on the mesh (wireless and wired), and to see realtime data usage per device, and ideally also over given periods (eg: a device's data usage over a week or month long period).

Seems only the Google Wifi Mesh has this...

NeilF · 22 Apr 2020 at 14:56

Janesy B said:
It seems like the OP has found what they need anyway.

Shame one of the newer/cheaper alternatives doesn't offer the historical bandwidth feature. eg: The Amplifi units...

NeilF · 22 Apr 2020 at 16:22

Caged said:
The Amplifi twin pack is roughly £60 more than the Google Wi-Fi twin pack, you've spent quite a lot of time asking the question that you already know the answer to

I did maths A-Level sometime ago, but I'm still fairly sure £99 (for the Amplifi Instant Home Mesh) is significantly less than £229 (for the Google Wifi Mesh)...

Let alone the three pack I may well (ideally need) for my house...

NeilF · 22 Apr 2020 at 19:56

Caged said:
Hmm that £99 is an anomaly in terms of other prices, if it's legit then it's a bargain.

On offer at moment for £99 down from £199

NeilF · 22 Apr 2020 at 21:05

uvarvu said:
I can confirm that Google Nest WiFi does show live stats for wired and wireless devices. Currently the main hog is the Chromecast Ultra at around 50 mbs as my wife is using it for Stadia.

You've got the nest variant have you? And that of course has all the same usage stats over different periods that I like, along with better performance than the older Google Wi-Fi units.

What do you think of the nest one? I wouldn't use the automation!