Question for options to extending WiFi in Old House

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One of my kids had a new installation of FTTC enabled, and getting 55mpbs down and 20mbps up to the Modem Router (Sky Q Hub). The only issue is this is situated at the front door. And the house being a rather old one (built early 1900s, as in actual 00's, not 1940 or anything like that. So over 100 years old), the WiFi signal has trouble getting to the 1st floor and garden at back.

Speed tests on first floor give around 1 to 0.1% of the connection speed via WiFi. So 1mpbs or less (0.5mbps or even less) in most circumstances. On the same floor, they get around 20mpbs up and down. Appears to be using 2.4Ghz and capped at n speeds, a 5Ghz Virgin device is giving 50 odd mbps over WiFi but looks like it's using a higher band, but can sort that out later.

So we're primarily looking at options to get the signal up to the first floor somehow, since their computer is on the first floor. Less than 6 meters away in a straight line, but goes through floor and walls and a bed too when that happens. Although they also have a television in the living room around 3-4 meters away that is connected to online devices that could do with some ethernet connections if possible too.

1. WiFi extender. This would seem to be the logical suggestion, but with the signal being so weak, I'm thinking all it'll do is broadcast that weak signal out again at 1mbps or less to any device connected that way, so still not ideal. Unsure if this is really the case, and sounds like it might only be of any good to the living room devices.

2. They'll be getting a Sky Box as well, think mini? Which apparently also has a WiFi Extender capability, but I think it'll fall under the same issue as above, so we'll likely need another alternative if others agree this to be the case.

3. Power Line. Now, I know this is nowhere near ideal, and has several flaws in the idea. One being that it's got poor bandwidth most of the time for the devices (depending on quality of line), but ince they're only after something to get 55mbps up from the modem to the first floor, I think this would be the best solution for them. Of course, with needing more than one device connected via ethernet (and certainly more via WiFi) on the first floor, they'll need a cheap WiFi Access Point/Switch if the Power Line device doesn't have a second socket. Assuming this is viable, can I assume the Living Room can also utilise this method?

4. Ethernet cabling up. Age of the house and not sure if a long term stay at the moment, prohibits this idea. Will push for it if they decide to stay there longer, as their electronic devices will surely grow.

So options 1 through 4, with me favouring 3 as the solution ahead at the moment. Anyone see any flaws in my thinking and can offer any better advice? Also, with whatever suggestion you provide, can you also provide suggested devices as well? Thanks all.
 
It doesn’t sound like they are particularly heavy users and unless they are pro gamers a full WiFi set up is probably appropriate. How about:

5. Buy 3 ubiquiti access points and route two extra cables around the outside of the house. one going up to to the loft space where you can the mount the AP on the ceiling of the 2nd floor.
Second going to the rear of the property. Use PoE injectors to power the APs.

All devices should be able to seamlessly roam between APs if configured correctly and you disable the built in WiFi on the router.

WiFi 6 is just around the corner too which would be a very easy upgrade by just replacing the APs when the time comes.
 
This is the sort of situation where Mesh would be a good solution I think. Especially if you might move, you can take it with you. No cables to run, just put the discrete units equally spaced throughout the house near power sockets and you should have the whole place covered. Depending on the solution the satellite units give you an Ethernet socket or two as well.
 
Mesh will be garbage if the 5ghz doesn’t even get 6 meters into the house. You’ll need nodes all over the place and they are pretty expensive.

Mesh is just posh WiFi extenders at the the end of the day.
 
WiFi extenders (or power lines) never worked for me in an old house and even where I could get a connection, the speeds would be cut in half.
Since switching to 2x amplifi hd routers I get full speed internet upstairs and zero connection issues any more.
I wish I hadn't wasted my time and money on the previous options
 
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Correct, primarily they aren't particularly heavy users; At most Netflix watching (now Sky TV too I guess), so not that intensive a requirement on the available bandwidth, but since the current WiFi is having so much trouble reaching the first floor, that's going to be a lot of buffering. But secondarily they do occasionally work from home, so that terrible connection will be heavily noticable.

As for going external, we have thought about it, but we don't want to go for that just yet, as I feel if that's going to be done (hardline connection involved), we could also consider going all the way and do a proper internal home network and wire the place up properly. Or at least compare costs/time between the two and compare best routes for cabling and see what's best. Will keep that in mind though. :)

As for Mesh and WiFi Extender approach, due to the difficulties in getting the signal around the house, I think they'll need near 3-5 devices to cover everything (1 by the Sky Q Hub aat the front doot, 1 in the Living Room close to the Garden so it is covered too, 1 at the top of the stairs in the hallway and hope it can cover the first floor. But I have a sneaky feeling from WiFi tests I did there before, that another 2 are needed to give the coverage we're looking for, with 1 for the garden, and 1 for the front of the first floor... :( ), and looking at total price wise, that seems like it might jump into triple digit territory. I might go for such a price and setup (if I didn't already have hardwire points with Cat6 to each room), but I think I'll have a hard time convincing them that'll be the best way forward for their place, and not be able to guarantee them it'll work either (getting the full connection). :(

With regards to the Powerline, yeah, I'm not entirely convinced either to be honest, what with the electrics there possibly being on separate ring circuits, and so might not be able to communicate across the floors that way anyway, but felt it was the "safest" solution (cheapest way and reusable gear) to test if it was possible out of all the solutions on offer (short of getting the drill out that is to do hard line points. :p ). Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. Will see how they like each of the ideas proposed. :)
 
You can get mesh WiFi that uses powerline as the back end rather than WiFi, could be a compromise option.

You could pick up a used set of basic ones off Facebook etc to see if they even connect before you drop a couple of ton on the system. Shift them on once the final solution is done and you shouldn’t even lose money on them.
 
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