Mesh Wi-Fi Recs for 2 Storey Home

Lbargain-smith on 24/05/2022 - 18:24

G'day,

As stated above, we're moving into a new house which is significantly larger than our prior one. I've been getting away with an EdgerouterX and LR-AP but now it's looking like I'll need a mesh setup.

I'd like to give WIFI 6 a go but it's not a deal breaker if it isn't included, that said though I'd like something with little telemetry and the ability to use my own DNS/DHCP as I use Pi-Hole for providing friendly domains (.local.lan) for internal services.

I've looked at the following:

  • TP-Link Deco range: Appear to have some issues with using custom DHCP and DNS.
  • Tenda Nova range: Concerns around lack of firmware updates and potential telemetry.
  • Eero range: Looks fairly good but appears to have some paid features that really should be included.

Any recommendations would be great, budget is around $300-500 for a 2-3 pack!

Computing Mesh Network

Comments

  • Shadowsfury on 24/05/2022 - 20:02
    +1

    Google Nest Wifi not on there? Does it not meet one of your requirements?

    I have that set up in my apartment (2 pack) and a 3 pack of the older Google Wifi in a 2 storey 5BR house - provides ample coverage even up to sidewalk and all of backyard.

  • millhouse on 24/05/2022 - 20:48
    +1

    I'm happy with the Google Wifi (first gen), with 3 points and one router (I won a spare point, so put it to use). No significant issues in a few years.

    I'm probably recommend the Netgear Nighthawk MK63 AX1800 4 Stream Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System (3 Pack). Retail is $549 but I've seen it on sale at JB reasonably often. Umart appear to have it for $459 at the moment. The current JB coupon would bring it to $495 if you're really keen to get it sorted quickly and (assumedly) nearby.

    • bargain-smith on 24/05/2022 - 22:39

      Having looked at the Nest Wifi it does look rather good and checks most of the boxes.

      Have you found any issues with dead zones or similar? Since the points can't take in a dedicated connection from an ethernet port I'm a little concerned with each point just repeating a poor signal.

      • millhouse on 24/05/2022 - 22:53
        +1

        Nope, and thats through double brick walls and a slab between floors.

        I do always recommend remembering that you don't want a mesh unit at the place you need wifi, you want it in a place to_provide it to the place you need wifi.

        To use a football field as an analagy, try a unit at each 50m line and the centre square, rather than at the goalposts.

        Hope that makes sense.

      • Shadowsfury on 25/05/2022 - 08:58
        +1

        No dead zones

        Pretty sure each point has one ethernet port on the bottom - or at least the older gen did as I used it for my desktop. Not sure on the newer nest wifi

  • Captain Hindsight on 25/05/2022 - 07:20
    +2

    I have nest 2 points + 1 older google wifi point since release and pretty happy in a house with 3 levels. Recently it had some problems and I had to factory reset. After that it had an error where it said I had no internet for a week but it still worked but meant I could add any remote points in the app. Essentially only base worked and I had no mesh. Google support had no answer, we’re passing onto engineers and I never heard back😥, but at least they have phone support.

    I purchased a tp link ax55 plus 1 booster wifi 6 one mesh system as a backup and then compared both signals with only 2 nest points on next to tp link points around my house. I really like the tp links and seem more customisable but at all points the nest had stronger signal.

    I paid $250 for the tp links so pretty competitive and was hoping wifi 6 would make a difference but signal was still better on nest to wifi 6 devices.

    In summary both great but nest seems to have better range.

  • uzz30 on 25/05/2022 - 09:01
    +1

    I have the Eero Mesh 3 Pack currently $389 at OfficeWorks and Amazon, although I paid much less than that. CamelCamelCamel says the historical low was $257

    https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/amazon-eer…

    The coverage is great and the setup was easy in a largish 2 storey home. The WiFi works out in the yard and driveway as well. There's no Wifi 6 with this system, but since I don't have FTTP NBN, it doesn't really matter.

    I don't need or miss the paid features. But if I was protecting kids from the wilds of the internet or mad about my network usage stats, they look very well done. More here
    https://eero.com/eero-secure

    I did need to contact support about a very weird bandwidth interference problem I had and I can say that their support is absolutely top notch. Competent, responsive, patient, 24 x 7 support with English as their first language and great communication skills.

    The devices receive regular updates, which I've put on set and forget mode, so I don't really notice them happening.

    I'm still using my old original modem / router configs for DHCP / DNS so I can't comment on Eero's config for these other than it was easy enough to set the Eero to Bridge mode and let the existing equipment take care of it.

    I'm using Google smart devices and there no apparent issues with the Eero WiFi

  • factor05 on 25/05/2022 - 12:10

    I have a FTTN connection and a NF18MESH supplied by Aussie Broadband. WIFI is average so bought a NS-01 to extend … it still does not quite reach the whole way around the house (also a large 2 storey home) … I am looking at going the NEST 2 points plus router … but I believe I cannot do this with the NF18MESH?

    I also have quite a lot of WIFI clients … and the NF18MESH tends to struggle … is that normal? Should I replace the modem with something else? And if so, what recommendations?

    • uzz30 on 25/05/2022 - 16:33
      +1

      Just one of the reasons I went for Eero. Smart devices mean a surprising number of clients. I think Google's has similar capability. The Wifi built into my modem/router just couldn't cut it.

      From their FAQ

      How many devices can one eero support?
      One eero can support up to 128 devices (you read that right). That’s one very connected home. However, if those devices are heavily using the Internet for activities like streaming video, you’ll probably see best results using up to 30 devices with each eero.

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