We have a standard NetComm NF18ACV router that we got from Aussie broadband. We have recently extended our house from 2 to 3 bedroom single level house but notice we are getting poor wifi coverage in the new bedroom (separated only by an ensuite). This results in wifi calls dropping out and ping in video games spiking to 999ms when in the bedroom. So just wondering if we should upgrade the router to a wifi 6 one (such as the TP-Link ax20) or would we be better off with the TP-Link mesh network? Would a wifi 6 router have better coverage through walls over the NetComm?
New Router or Mesh Network?
Comments
Sorry, FTTN.
Not sure where exactly it comes in but the electrician redid the cabling and stuck the port in to our study, which is next to the master bedroom.
On FTTN you need to have a VDSL2 modem in the mix. In your case you can use the NF18ACV with Wi-Fi disabled. If the port is right at the front of the house, the house is long and has lots of walls going with mesh would be good. If the port is towards the middle a single router should do the job. In no particular order.
NetComm NF18ACV bridged to TP-Link Archer AX20.
NetComm NF18ACV bridged to TP-Link Deco.
TP-Link Deco X20-DSL by itself or in a mesh.
TP-Link Archer VR2800 by itself.
for a bargain the Telstra Smart Modem Gen 2 by itself.
Would a single Deco M5 plugged into the modem be sufficient?
@Twix: I bought a gen 1 Telstra modem for $10 but it seems my phone keeps getting booted off the network. Seems less stable than the NetComm
@klonky: It shouldn't be. Is the Telstra modem plugged into the wall socket or Telstra modem into the NetComm?
@Twix: Telstra in to the wall, I've removed the NetComm.
My other devices seem to stay connected to the internet but my phone gets kicked and keeps coming up with 'tap to login'@Twix: Says it already is. The up time is only since lost connection to it, so maybe it's losing sync
@Twix: Have done that and will see how it goes. Any idea how to force a firmware update? I'm on 17.2 but can see it's up to 20.3
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I gave up on it. It seems every 10min the modem light would turn blue and lose connection. I can't work out why so I've gone back to the NetComm
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I gave ABB a call and they said my line is dropping several times a day. They will run a stability profile for 24hrs and if it's still dropping will refer to NBN for a line fault
@klonky: Telstra modems auto update. The line looks like it's dropping out to Aussie BB since the Telstra modem can't hold a sync. I don't think it's a line fault. Keep the NetComm modem installed for now and go from there.
@Twix: Strangely when I plugged the NetComm back in it also started losing sync. I called ABB back and they said I had 10 drops in about 1hr so they have referred it to NBN as a line fault.
Disable Wifi. Add a Ubiquiti UAP-AC-LR. Like ~$140 at the moment.
You should be able to get away with just a wifi router, keeping the current router as a modem.
The $150 to $200 routers people suggest here should do the trick.
Isn't the NetComm a wifi router? Do you mean a repeater?
NF18ACV is VDSL2 modem and router with Wi-Fi 5.
Ok so why have a wifi router + modem as opposed to just having a modem router?
@klonky: As others have said, the NetComm NF18ACV wifi router modem you have has poor wifi.
Other wifi routers that other people suggest here will provide better wifi.
From the sounds of it, the modem part of your NetComm NF18ACV is not an issue here, so it would be a waste of money to replace the modem function with a $300 all in one modem that has better wifi.
To put it another way, a $150 all in one might have a $2 modem and a $2 wifi solution. A $150 wifi router might have a $4 wifi solution (these costs blow out when you add all the expenses to develop, make and sell these devices, but there should still be good profit on these).
@This Guy: Thanks. I actually thought routers and modems were the same thing which is why I was confused people were saying to have two devices. Lucky I asked before buying something!
I'm a big fan of mesh wifi. If you can grab a pack of TP-Link Deco M5 for less than $200 I'd highly recommend it.
i have recently ordered TP-Link Deco M5 to improve similar issue to OP and also to improve my wifi speed. Really looking forward to having the mesh wifi setup after reading all the reviews of it.
Hard to say if wifi 6 router will improve your situation.
Higher frequency band used by wifi 6 attenuates through wall worse than lower frequency band. Wifi 6 is good to overcome usage congestion, and provide higher transfer speed if you have good signal with router.
You also need your device to be wifi 6 compatible to take advantage of the features. Although replacing your stock modem router may have benefits on its own.
A range extender or mesh system would potentially improve your wifi calls dropouts, but may not provide acceptable ping for your games.
A wired connection to the room to plug your mesh system as backhaul would be best way to go, but probably most costly for you.
Any idea how bad the ping is? I currently get 50 ms gaming on my hotspot so anything better than that is good.
Anything is better than the NetComm NF18ACV. There is a batch that is known to have Wi-Fi problems. Where does the nbn connection come into the premises? At the front? Do you have FTTN, FTTB, FTTC, FTTP, HFC?