Home network advice please

MoodyB · 5 Jul 2018 at 11:27

Hey all,

I'm looking to tweak my current setup to make the most of it, without spending too much if possible.

Here's what I currently have :

Upstairs

VM Superhub3 in router mode - 1 port to PC & 1 port with Cat5e cable going downstairs

Downstairs

TP-Link Archer C5 (ac1200) set up as a wifi access point, using the Cat5e cable from upstairs.

TP-Link Ac1000 Powerline plug connected to one of the C5's lan ports.

Extension

TP-Link Archer C2 as a wifi access point, connected via the 2nd Ac1000 Powerline adapter.

I'm thinking on switching the SH3 into modem mode & getting a cheap Asus router, like the RT-AC53, for upstairs as I can use more recent firmware with it than the TP-Link routers can provide (2015 for the C5 & 2017 for the C2)

Any other suggestions or should I just go with the Asus router?

bremen1874 · 5 Jul 2018 at 11:42

What will 'more recent' firmware give you?

What problem are you trying to fix?

MoodyB · 5 Jul 2018 at 12:10

bremen1874 said:
What will 'more recent' firmware give you?

The Archer C5 has been randomly locking up / dropping connections over the past few months & I've finally decided to do something about it.

When looking at other more recent TP-Link routers I noticed some firmware updates mentioned fixes for wifi dropping out, Kracks fix, etc.

Things the C5 v1.2 will never get now considering its age.

What problem are you trying to fix?

Mainly the C5 problems above - I'll just use the C2 in place of it when I finally decide what to use for a router with the SH3.

Plus it's usually advised to run the SH3 in modem mode & use a different router that's a bit easier to work with.

Quartz · 5 Jul 2018 at 12:13

MoodyB said:
TP-Link Ac1000 Powerline plug connected to one of the C5's lan ports.

Try running an ethernet cable instead.

bremen1874 · 5 Jul 2018 at 12:19

Quartz said:
Try running an ethernet cable instead.

Replacing the Powerline connection with Ethernet wouldn't make any difference. According to the OP the router with the problem is already connected using a cable.

Quartz · 5 Jul 2018 at 12:25

bremen1874 said:
Replacing the Powerline connection with Ethernet wouldn't make any difference. According to the OP the router with the problem is already connected using a cable.

True, but I wasn't making the suggestion to fix that problem but to improve general performance.

bremen1874 · 5 Jul 2018 at 12:37

MoodyB said:
Mainly the C5 problems above - I'll just use the C2 in place of it when I finally decide what to use for a router with the SH3.

Plus it's usually advised to run the SH3 in modem mode & use a different router that's a bit easier to work with.

If you're going to add your own router I'd be looking for something more upmarket than the RT-AC53. On paper it's not even as good as the SH3 you'd be connecting it to.

I don't think it's generally advised to put the SH3 into modem mode. Unless you're doing it to address a specific issue it's just a waste of money.

MoodyB · 5 Jul 2018 at 13:38

Quartz said:
True, but I wasn't making the suggestion to fix that problem but to improve general performance.

Tbh the performance over the Ac1000 plug isn't that bad.
It's only 1-2mb/sec slower than standing next to the SH3 when on 2.4ghz wifi. It's more than enough for web browsing / youtube.
5G is noticeably slower though as you'd imagine.

bremen1874 said:
If you're going to add your own router I'd be looking for something more upmarket than the RT-AC53. On paper it's not even as good as the SH3 you'd be connecting it to.

I don't think it's generally advised to put the SH3 into modem mode. Unless you're doing it to address a specific issue it's just a waste of money.

Thanks. I'll just stick with what I have then & swap out the Archer C5 for the C2 and see how it goes.