Best wifi extender

evolad

evolad

evolad

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Hi guys.. I'm looking for a WiFi extender that will keep everything on the same network so I don't want another ssid. I'm with BT broadband. I've seen bts home mesh system but the reviews are hit and Miss plus a bit expensive. Any help would be great.
Thanks, Dave.
 
First question from me, can you run a network cable to anywhere close to where you want to improve wifi?

Second question. In the locations where you are looking to extend wifi are you going to be moving big files to/from there and/or high def media streaming or is it just for casual internet browsing.

Your choices are going to be:

- Repeater (not a great solution but the cheapest probably)
- An access point or something acting as one (best but needs a network cable run to a location near to it)
- powerline with built in access point (removes the need for the network cable but hit and miss. Some love, some hate)
- A wireless mesh system (BT Whole home was a reasonable solution until the most recent firmware which borked it. I have no experience of these but there are systems for <£100 and in principle it is a good solution even though the technology is still evolving)

Answers to my questions will help inform recommendations.
 
BigT said:
First question from me, can you run a network cable to anywhere close to where you want to improve wifi?

Yes it's possible to do so. If I purchased another bt home hub can I link them?

Second question. In the locations where you are looking to extend wifi are you going to be moving big files to/from there and/or high def media streaming or is it just for casual internet browsing.

Will be for streaming media. And browsing.

Your choices are going to be:

- Repeater (not a great solution but the cheapest probably)
- An access point or something acting as one (best but needs a network cable run to a location near to it)
- powerline with built in access point (removes the need for the network cable but hit and miss. Some love, some hate)
- A wireless mesh system (BT Whole home was a reasonable solution until the most recent firmware which borked it. I have no experience of these but there are systems for <£100 and in principle it is a good solution even though the technology is still evolving)

Answers to my questions will help inform recommendations.
Click to expand...
 
Would something like this do if wired?? NETGEAR WAC104

Edit... I see a lot of good stuff about UniFi AC LR AP?
 
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If you can spend the £80 on the UniFi AP then yes it is an excellent solution. Buy one, plug it into your home hub, turn off WiFi on the home hub and you may be surprised that without siting it anywhere else it may provide better and acceptable coverage. If it doesn’t then turn the WiFi back on on the home hub, run a network cable nearer the problem area from your home hub and plug the UAP there. Choose the same SSID and password for the WiFi on both the UAP and the home hub and you’ll have your problem solved.
 
Great.. so it could possibly do the whole house. Thanks for that! Its not a problem to use a cable so either way happy days!
 
Possibly. But if running the cable is no hassle then whatever the outcome you’ll be in a better place WiFi wise and with a much more robust solution for UHD media streaming than an extender.
 
Was an easy setup! Go it up and running. I tried with just the unifi but was just a bit lacking.... so the router wifi is on aswell. seems fine and switches between them smooth. Hopefully it will stay that way. Time will tell!
 
If the BT Hub and the AP have the same SSID aren't you getting Rogue Access Point warnings on the Unifi system?
 
IfI be more inclined to disable the BT such and get a second Unifi point.

We have about 370 of them in work, all other brands removed :)
 
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