How to maximise wifi strength and speeds?

Gordon Taylor · 25 May 2018 at 10:17

Hi follks,

First of all, sorry if this has been covered already, I had a look and couldn't find what I was looking for.

Currently I have EE fibre broadband, with BB2 router/modem. the router is recieving approx 37Mbps Down and about 4Mbps Up. However when I am in the living room connected to WiFi I only get 3.5Mbps down, I still get the 3.8-4Mbps Up though.

ALL the network usage we do is Wireless due to the fact that the only socket on the house is in the kitchen/dining room at the back of the house. (we live in a small terraced house) the living room is on through 1 brick wall. Even standing beside the router the wifi is only about 14Mbps.

In the living room I have a Netgear wireless bridge that receives the wifi and converts it to ethernet for the Xbox1.

What I want to achieve is the fastest, most stable WiFi I can for not loads of money. What I am considering is this..

I still have my Openreach modem from BT, I was wondering if I could pair that with one of these .

I would like to create something that is expandable, so that if I move house I can take the kit with me and expand it as needed.

Or is there a better way?

Your input would be much appreciated.

ChrisD. · 25 May 2018 at 10:22

If you are happy with your router then get a dedicated access point such as a Unifi Access Point. Then just disable Wifi on your current stuff and use that as it'll perform much better.

texasjohn · 25 May 2018 at 10:28

What about powerline adaptors to run a wired solution into your living room?

Martynt74 · 25 May 2018 at 10:42

If you connect to the router with a cable what speeds do you get?

Also why not just use the Xbox1 wifi? Seems a bit of a daft workaround to me.

Gordon Taylor · 25 May 2018 at 10:46

I have wondered about the powerline adaptors and am looking at those as an option also. I may do both. In our house everything is done online. All the tv we watch is streamed using the xbox. I think last months usage with EE was 294Gbs! so I want the network to be as good as I can get it, both wireless and wired. (does bug me that I get 37Mbs to the router but unless I have everything hard wired I can't realise that speed. The Unifi AP looks promising. I assume that will just plug into one of the gigabit ports on the back of the BB2 and effecively take over providing the wifi feature, if I have understood it correctly.

Gordon Taylor · 25 May 2018 at 10:48

tThe Xbox Wifi reception is too weak. The Wifi Bridge seems to receive a stronger signal hence why I use it.

Wired into the router I get close to the 37Mbps it says it is receiving. maybe 30-35Mbps

bledd · 25 May 2018 at 10:49

Run network cable(s) to unifi access point(s)

Minstadave · 25 May 2018 at 10:50

Options if can’t run cables:

Better router/access point.
WiFi mesh setup.
Powelines.

All are reasonable.

Gordon Taylor · 25 May 2018 at 10:51

OK, thats what I thought. Thanks I will do a little more research and see what I can come up with. The house I am in is crap and has no cavity behind the walls so running cables needs to be thought out so it doesn't look a mess.

Gordon Taylor · 25 May 2018 at 11:36

Just thinking I guess I could run a Cat 6 cable up the outside if the house into the loft, across, out the other side and down the wall and into the living room through the same hole the sky cables come in. Maybe. That would give me a nice network port in the living room.

Orcvader · 25 May 2018 at 11:45

Gordon Taylor said:
Just thinking I guess I could run a Cat 6 cable up the outside if the house into the loft, across, out the other side and down the wall and into the living room through the same hole the sky cables come in. Maybe. That would give me a nice network port in the living room.

Would be the best idea. You can also stick on a second router so it will give you extra ethernet ports as well as a second wireless point, boosting overall coverage, speed and latency.

Gordon Taylor · 25 May 2018 at 11:51

Thats what I was thinking. I have a spare router kicking about. Also looks like it would be the cheapest option.

Sparx · 25 May 2018 at 20:04

If your internet speeds are only 40/10 - it'd be much easier and simpler to go power lines instead.

You could also whack a switch to the power line plug in the living room, if you needed say 4-6 ports unless 1-2 will do.

Yes wiring would be ideal, but it's a lot of hassle if power lines can do the same job. Don't get me wrong, some houses wiring aren't made for it, but it's worth trying to save yourself a lot of hassle.