How does Wifi booster work with Virgin Media

[octechno95]

My parents have just changed from BT broadband to Virgin Media. The internet speeds are great but the WiFi coverage and speeds are really bad. Having done a bit of searching, this seems to be a common issue as the Virgin Media Superhub 3.0 is notoriously bad. They're not wanting to spend a huge amount of money to fix this issue so I was looking at a WiFi range extender such as this one:

"Prescitech Coredy N300 Mini WiFi Range Extender Wireless Repeater Internet Signal Booster with 2 Ethernet Port/Smart LED Indicator for Boosting Wi-Fi Coverage (Updated Version)"

Can someone tell me how this works? Does this connect to the existing Virgin Media WiFi network and boost the signal? If this is the case, does it all appear as one WiFi network and devices will seamless switch between both devices depending on which device gives the strongest signal?

If they appear as two different WiFi networks, then I'm guessing I'll have to devices to both WiFi networks. But what if the device is still holding on to a WiFi network that is weaker but still usable than the other network which is stronger?

Or does the WiFi booster have to be connected to the Virgin Media hub via a wired network?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Avalon]

Before you go any further, consider that you would get a much better result by using a dedicated AP installed centrally, also the SH3 wifi isn't much different to a lot of other consumer grade routers, have you investigated what the issue is? eg a lot of other wifi networks overlapping, building construction, poor placement of router etc.

 

[octechno95]

Before you go any further, consider that you would get a much better result by using a dedicated AP installed centrally, also the SH3 wifi isn't much different to a lot of other consumer grade routers, have you investigated what the issue is? eg a lot of other wifi networks overlapping, building construction, poor placement of router etc.

I want to keep costs down as much as possible as this would only be a temporary solution (for a few months). The SH3 can't be moved easily and is currently in an ideal location once the temporary period passes. Just to give more context, there are multiple people living in the house and one of the person's living there finds lack of WiFi upstairs a problem but they are moving out in a few months. The other people in the house have no need to get WiFi upstairs and are more than content with the WiFi coverage area in the location where the SH3 is currently. Thus I thought a cheap (~£20) WiFi booster like the one I mentioned in the OP would be ideal and a relatively cheap fix.

If this is not a good solution, what else can I buy for around £25 or less that could help improve the situation? If it is not possible for that budget then that's fine but I need to at least explore options.

 

[BigT]

To answer your questions @octechno95 , I don't know that particular range extender but in all likelihood it will work like most others which is that:

• You should place it half way between the deadspot and your router
• It will use half it's bandwidth for connection back to the router so you will only see half WiFi speed to the device attaching to it
• You have the choice of either giving it it's own SSID or use the existing superhub SSID and password
• If you do the latter then all devices that connect to your superhub will also be able to seamlessly connect to the extender
• Whether they automatically move from the superhub to the extender and back seamlessly is down to the device connecting. More often than not it will cling on to the poor signal for dear life. This can be a good reason to use a different SSID and just get devices in the deadspot to know about and connect to the extender.

I've personally had problems with these devices and wouldn't recommend them but no doubt it'd probably be the cheapest way to get wifi further away and others have had positive experiences. In preference I'd follow @Avalon's advice first and next a mesh system, but no doubt these are more expensive options although a cable run centrally from the superhub and an old router you may have lying around that can be used just as an access point in said central location might be just as cheap if available to you.