Spec me a new router for better wifi

[champ222]

Hi All

I currently have virgin media and I've been using the superhub thing for years and it been largely fine. I've wired my whole house with cat 6, so I only really use the WiFi for phones/tablets and ring cameras.

I've often thought that maybe I'd be better off switching the virgin thing into modem only mode and getting a proper router.

Recently, the wifi has been awful upstairs. I've been switching the wifi off on my phone whilst I'm on the loo

I also have the house wired with Co-ax cable (seemed like a good idea at the time and I was running the cat 6 anyway) so i could move the cable router anywhere in the house then patch the cable feed through the patch panel to the new location. This might give me better coverage with it in a more central location, but it might just be better with a proper router.

Any suggestions? It doesn't need to be anything flash, reasonable speed is fine. I have a vpn that I use occasionally. When I use it I just use the app on the PC, I don't need everything to go through that.

Thanks

 

[spile]

Keep the router and get wired access point to use in black spot. If you have an unused router repurpose it as a wireless point.

 

[Armageus]

A new router (or even a dedicated access point) won't necessarily give you "better" wifi - they are all constrained by the same technology and transmit power limits.

There's a couple of things you can try with your existing router:
- Moving it centrally, so more of the signal ends up covering your house rather than elsewhere
- Checking and adjusting the Wifi channels depending on congestion with neighbours
- Separating out the 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz bands to separate SSIDs (or creating a new 2.4Ghz only SSID) - reason being that 2.4Ghz travels further and penetrates walls better, so if you don't specifically need full speed (which tbh on a phone you rarely do), then a 2.4Ghz only SSID may reduce issues with band switching/roaming and may be all you need.

If you do still need to go down the buy something route, then avoid "Mesh" products and get 1 or 2 access points and ensure they are Wired back to your router or switch. Ubiquiti Unifi is the "go to" but things like TPlink Omada are also fine.

 

[Avalon]

If you do still need to go down the buy something route, then avoid "Mesh" products and get 1 or 2 access points and ensure they are Wired back to your router or switch. Ubiquiti Unifi is the "go to" but things like TPlink Omada are also fine.

Context is important here, MESH in itself isn’t bad, MESH without a wired backhaul is a poor choice, and MESH using shared radio for client/backhaul is even worse, just as Unifi AP’s without a wired backhaul would be a poor choice.

 

[champ222]

Thanks guys

I was half expecting comments suggesting that the superhub was piece of .... and that eveything would be better with a new router. But it sounds like i just need to move it or get an access point.

I assume an access point would have a different SSID, and that phones etc "should" switch to whichever gives the best signal?

I'll try moving the router first, see if that helps.

Thanks guys

 

[the-evaluator]

I assume an access point would have a different SSID, and that phones etc "should" switch to whichever gives the best signal?

Ideally, no. The same SSID so devices and seamlessly roam between AP's. The problem with having different SSIDs is that devices have a tendency to hold onto a very weak signal on SSID 'A' rather than switch to a strong signal on SSID 'B' purely because SSID 'A' is still available.

Personally I'd disable the Wi-Fi on the SuperHub completely and get a pair of UniFi AP's and leave Wi-Fi to them. Flicking between AP's works perfectly, which isn't a given when you have a SuperHub and A. N. Other AP in play.

 

[the-evaluator]

I was half expecting comments suggesting that the superhub was piece of .... and that eveything would be better with a new router. But it sounds like i just need to move it or get an access point.

As a router it's absolutely fine. Most of the time when people go router shopping the routing part isn't the issue - it's the Wi-Fi.

 

[Firegod]

Thanks guys

I was half expecting comments suggesting that the superhub was piece of .... and that eveything would be better with a new router. But it sounds like i just need to move it or get an access point.

I assume an access point would have a different SSID, and that phones etc "should" switch to whichever gives the best signal?

I'll try moving the router first, see if that helps.

Thanks guys

The AP should be setup the same, so the whole network is one big seamless bubble, and you won't notice when you move about or are handed off. Yep depending on what the dBm threshold value is set to the AP will just hand you over when you start to move out of range.

 

[spile]

A new router (or even a dedicated access point) won't necessarily give you "better" wifi - they are all constrained by the same technology and transmit power limits.


-

Most issues are related to coverage so assuming access isn’t an issue close to the router then I’ll stand by my recommendation to use a wired backhaul access point/repurposed router before assuming that a new (potentially expensive) router will improve coverage.

 

[Deleted User 298457]

A new router (or even a dedicated access point) won't necessarily give you "better" wifi - they are all constrained by the same technology and transmit power limits.

This point comes up a lot here; and the big fallacy of it is that it makes the assumption that WiFi is just the "radio" side of things. There are sufficient garbage AIO routers (Virgin SH for example) that struggle to maintain stable decent connections that mean you can be all equal in the radio department, but the user experience is vastly compromised.

 

[Armageus]

Most issues are related to coverage so assuming access isn’t an issue close to the router then I’ll stand by my recommendation to use a wired backhault access point/repurposed router before assuming that a new (potentially expensive) router will improve coverage.

And just adding another router or indeed access point can introduce other issues (e.g. devices not correctly roaming between them, reduced throughput due to interference if they are on the same channel etc). Yes it probably is a coverage issue, but without using some like Unifi's Wifiman app and mapping signal strength, you don't know for sure.

Believe me, if it was as easy as "just chuck a few more access points" at a problem, theny life at work would be easy. (I have ~30 unifi APs at work covering our site, including a mixture of indoor, outdoor, warehouse, factory and other environments - and yet we still have a few dead spots that are challenging)

This point comes up a lot here; and the big fallacy of it is that it makes the assumption that WiFi is just the "radio" side of things. There are sufficient garbage AIO routers (Virgin SH for example) that struggle to maintain stable decent connections that mean you can be all equal in the radio department, but the user experience is vastly compromised.

I've not had the apparent misfortune of using a virgin router, and yes in some cases a new router may make all the difference (especially in the past when most consumer routers couldn't deal with lots of connections for example), but in some cases they may make no difference.

 

[beachBOYken]

Eero mesh?

Served me well for the past 2 years +. You say you have your house wired, mesh network wired backhaul. I have 2 x pro 6 , the newer 7 models look decent but cost a packet!

Virgin Media here as well, but soon to be FTTP 1gb service elsewhere.

I just love the simplicity of Eero, set and forget.

 

[Hellsmk2]

I'd get an AP if you have cat6 everywhere. I've had a few different systems over the years:

1. Amplifi HD- amazing. Two nodes in really poor positions covered the whole house flawlessly (400mbps, which is great for wifi5).

2. Tp-link Deco - dog turd. Had 3 wifi5 nodes that couldn't maintain a good connection. Speeds were turd. Also tried a wifi7 system. Same issue. Inconsistent rubbish.

3. Unifi U7 pro. Faultless. Have two nodes covering three floors, but in all honesty, one node would have done.

I'm biased, but I'd agree with the poster who recommended Unifi AP:s. Disable the router WiFi and place one centrally. Hopefully that will be enough.

 

[spile]

And just adding another router or indeed access point can introduce other issues (e.g. devices not correctly roaming between them, reduced throughput due to interference if they are on the same channel etc). Yes it probably is a coverage issue, but without using some like Unifi's Wifiman app and mapping signal strength, you don't know for sure.

I am not sure you and I saying a lot different. If the OP has found from using a coverage map that there are no overlapping channels with neighbours Wi-Fi and attenuation is due to walls etc then using a repurposed router is the most cost effective way to potentially resolve the issue.

 

[Armageus]

I am not sure you and I saying a lot different. If the OP has found from using a coverage map that there are no overlapping channels with neighbours Wi-Fi and attenuation is due to walls etc then using a repurposed router is the most cost effective way to potentially resolve the issue.

Digging out an old router and expecting devices to roam between that and the existing one is asking for trouble. Without any kind of assisted roaming or ability to tweak levels at least then you'll end up with devices stuck on low signal strengths

 

[Webster]

Eero mesh?

Served me well for the past 2 years +. You say you have your house wired, mesh network wired backhaul. I have 2 x pro 6 , the newer 7 models look decent but cost a packet!

Virgin Media here as well, but soon to be FTTP 1gb service elsewhere.

I just love the simplicity of Eero, set and forget.

The Eero stuff is amazing for the money, really is set and forget. Speeds are very good & consistent.

 

[Avalon]

I'd get an AP if you have cat6 everywhere. I've had a few different systems over the years:

1. Amplifi HD- amazing. Two nodes in really poor positions covered the whole house flawlessly (400mbps, which is great for wifi5).

2. Tp-link Deco - dog turd. Had 3 wifi5 nodes that couldn't maintain a good connection. Speeds were turd. Also tried a wifi7 system. Same issue. Inconsistent rubbish.

3. Unifi U7 pro. Faultless. Have two nodes covering three floors, but in all honesty, one node would have done.

I'm biased, but I'd agree with the poster who recommended Unifi AP:s. Disable the router WiFi and place one centrally. Hopefully that will be enough.

Oddly I run Deco’s (with wired backhaul) on a 3 storey town house and a separate Unifi set-up. The only negative with Deco when installed properly with a wired backhaul is the lack of control in terms of channel/width, and that they will drop to wireless backhaul and not come back to wired without a reboot. In fairness, I throw them at friends/family whenever asked, as in years of doing so, they produce less call backs than anything else I have used, still have a few AirCube AC’s in roof spaces for the PoE pass through, but generally Deco is what I recommend at this point.

 

[Hellsmk2]

Oddly I run Deco’s (with wired backhaul) on a 3 storey town house and a separate Unifi set-up. The only negative with Deco when installed properly with a wired backhaul is the lack of control in terms of channel/width, and that they will drop to wireless backhaul and not come back to wired without a reboot. In fairness, I throw them at friends/family whenever asked, as in years of doing so, they produce less call backs than anything else I have used, still have a few AirCube AC’s in roof spaces for the PoE pass through, but generally Deco is what I recommend at this point.

My problem with deco is how inconsistent they are. The range is dreadful - even a stud wall can cause a massive decline. And then there's the stability... Whatevers connected won't lose connectivity, but if you watch what is actually happening on something like wifiman, it's like watching a rollercoaster. Even with a wired backhaul I've seen some truly unforgivable performance.

For most people, and especially those without fibre, they won't notice this because browsing Reddit and watching a bit of YouTube on their phones isn't going to be affected. But that doesn't make it right in the slightest, especially when there are options out there for a similar cost that deliver on what they say.

I've deployed deco systems elsewhere too, and they are consistently poor. Even for a mesh system, they lack any sort of functionality. Pretty much all you can do if you have problems is turn them off and on or factory reset them. Truly the worst networking products I've ever been unfortunate enough to use/deploy.

 

[Deleted User 298457]

2. Tp-link Deco - dog turd. Had 3 wifi5 nodes that couldn't maintain a good connection. Speeds were turd. Also tried a wifi7 system. Same issue. Inconsistent rubbish.

100000%

I ripped out my Deco X55 setup as it was hot trash.

Edit: also, only config via app.

 

[GregI]

For me you either go 3 ways:

1: Eero. The simplicity is quite insane tbh and the only mesh system I know that has SQM. At £30 a pop can't complain (for the Wifi 5 version as generally more reliable and better SQM).

2: DIY. Although harder to setup and requires reading, I find a mesh (or even WDS) with OpenWRT is really good and you get full control over everything (even what channel you want the mesh on). Can get ridiculously cheap OpenWRT routers on Ebay and can build a Wifi 6 3 node setup with SQM for under £100.

3: Google Linksys SPNMX56 or the Tri band MX4200. On that popular place people are selling brand new 3 node setups for under £100 as they are ISP branded but you can put whatever retail firmware you want on them afaik. They are also slowly getting OpenWRT support.