Tenda Nova MW3 Dual-Band Mesh Wifi System - Advice please

jollster101 on 28/04/2019 - 10:59

There is a current deal for the Tenda Nova MW3 Dual-Band Mesh Wifi System which I am thinking of jumping on but would like some advice from the masses before I do.

I current run an Asus AC68U router that has Merlin's firmware installed (like the extra features it provides). I live in a two storey house and the wifi coverage to the back of the house isn't great, especially when on the 5ghz band.

So I am wondering whether it is worth getting this Tenda 3 pack unit and whether it will run with no issues with my current AC68U. If it suits then is it just that I would plug the first Tenda unit into the ethernet port of the AC68U and then run it that way so I can still take advantage of the features of the Merlin firmware?

The other thing I should throw in to this is that I also have an old AC66U router that is fully functional. Would I be better to just plug that second router in somewhere upstairs and then run it as an extender?

Would I get the same speed or am I better to just go with option 1 I have mentioned?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Computing Mesh Network Tenda Wireless Router

Comments

  • Trung on 28/04/2019 - 11:55

    If you can run cable closer to your dead spot, use the old router as an extra access point.

    It's only worth buying more hardware if you want to cover more dead spots.

    • jollster101 on 28/04/2019 - 17:55

      I do already have ethernet run from downstairs to upstairs to a single room. That is coming from an 8 port switch that is then plugged in to my current AC68U.

      I will hook the 66U into this network point upstairs and give that a go in the first instance.

      Presumably the upstairs router would be configured to the same SSID'S as the main unit downstairs.

      • Trung on 29/04/2019 - 00:57

        Setting it up with the same SSID and password will give you a mesh-like setup. But if you face issues with some old devices not auto switching to the nearer access point, you might want to set a different SSID so that you can manually force them to switch.

  • bdl on 28/04/2019 - 12:55
    +1

    Run the MW3 in bridge mode, connected to your AC68U. Disable the AC68U's wifi and see how you go.

    Best to test the MW3 by itself, then test MW3 + AC68U. You may even want to add more MW3 mesh units (you can have up to 6 - https://tendacn.com/en/faq/3115.html) Try and avoid using wifi extenders as much as possible.

    The MW3 at around $100 is a cheap test to see if mesh will work for you.

  • p1 ama on 28/04/2019 - 13:13

    I live in a two storey house and the wifi coverage to the back of the house isn't great, especially when on the 5ghz band.

    That's a limitation of 5 GHz, higher frequency waves will not penetrate through walls as well as lower frequency waves. Either way, I really don't recommend WiFi extenders, they're just usually adding to the problem, though if all you're looking for is to be able to browse the web on your phone then it'll probably be okay.

    You're probably paying around $150+ for whatever solution you're trying, so I'd just pay someone to come and run an ethernet cable from wherever your current router is upstairs to somewhere you can put an access point (if you're not comfortable running the cable yourself). Then you can just put a WAP up there and you'll avoid much of the issues because you won't be piggybacking off the other network.

    Basically, the issue with WiFi (especially in a large household) is that the rated speed is a shared bandwidth, not individual, like Gigabit ethernet.

    • Clear on 28/04/2019 - 13:48
      +1

      It's a good thing the Tenda Nova isn't a WiFi extender then ;)

      • Lukian on 29/05/2019 - 15:17

        Technically, it is though?

        • Clear on 29/05/2019 - 15:21

          I was thinking repeater which is obviously different

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