Cheap mesh setup?

dtokez · 16 Sep 2019 at 20:52

Fed up with wifi deadspots, looking at some of the budget mesh setups, but wondering if they have the option to plug them into ethernet in the same way you would run standard wifi hotspots?

Wireless extenders connected wirelessly doesn't sit well with me lol. We have a small 3 bed detached. What units should I be looking at?

Avalon · 16 Sep 2019 at 20:58

Unless your construction is non standard or something else is off, a ‘small 3 bed detached’ should easily be covered by one centrally installed AP. The issue tends to be many people put routers providing Wi-fi in sub-optimal locations.

dtokez · 16 Sep 2019 at 22:19

Avalon said:
Unless your construction is non standard or something else is off, a ‘small 3 bed detached’ should easily be covered by one centrally installed AP. The issue tends to be many people put routers providing Wi-fi in sub-optimal locations.

That's a good point. I'm using a Plusnet router which is pants, and also would like coverage of the garden - currently, I'm using a TP Link wifi powerplug in the garage which doesn't really like an optimal setup.

Avalon · 17 Sep 2019 at 09:35

Are you willing/able to run a cable to a more central location and install a dedicated AP? If not, then a mesh set-up may be more suitable.

dtokez · 17 Sep 2019 at 10:28

Yeah I would rather use cables where possible to be honest. I did run loads of cat5e when I rewired. Maybe I should be looking at something powerful enough to cover the whole plot then?

The thing is at the moment with the router in the house and the powerline AP in the garage it's not seamless at all, I find my phone clinging onto the one with the worst signal lol

Zeebedy · 22 Sep 2019 at 17:36

I use the BT Wholehome discs, and they are great for me..I have the one upstairs using the wi-fi for my devices (phone, tv etc..) but connect to ethernet from the disc to my PC. I have great speeds and my router is in a downstairs cloack room. (BT put the Fibre modem and connection in there when the house was built).

robj20 · 22 Sep 2019 at 17:51

I was heading for a mesh setup but went with a Unifi AP and it more than covers the whole house.

sja360 · 22 Sep 2019 at 21:47

Is your plusnet router the old technicolor tg582n? I changed mine for a bt home hub 6 for £10-15 on ebay and its made a decent difference to the signal.

Drumroll · 22 Sep 2019 at 23:07

Tenda Wi-fi. Works great and allows 2 devices to connect to it using the RJ-45 ports.
Had to use them as after new flooring was installed, the silver foil from the underlay "killed" the signal to the top floor (3rd floor) and weakened the signal to the second floor.
Virgin media here.

Drumroll · 22 Sep 2019 at 23:09

I'm using the 3 modules version. Discrete.
Now the MW3, which cost me just under 100, can be found for under 80.

Avalon · 23 Sep 2019 at 00:25

Seemingly the people who extoll the virtues of mesh are often those who choose not to run a cable to a properly sited/installed AP and/or have a router in a less than optimal location to begin with. The people who run cables and install AP’s appropriately, wonder what all the fuss is about.

WJA96 · 23 Sep 2019 at 19:46

What’s the budget? In my experience, budget and seamless WLAN are pretty much exclusive.

The cheapest UniFi in-wall access point is about £70, and they mesh by default. So if you have a PoE Switch and available RJ45 ports you can swap out, it’s relatively inexpensive to add proper WLAN to a home network.