How to improve wifi signal around my home!

kiwimex on 05/07/2022 - 21:43
Last edited 06/07/2022 - 20:45

I currently have a Telstra Gen 2 smart modem at the front of my house in the office, but have weak wifi signal in the 2nd half of the house.

House is 25m long in a rectangle shape single story.

What would be my best option to increase the wifi signal around the entire home? I have been looking at the Tenda Nova MW6 AC1200 Whole-home Mesh WiFi system, 3pack for $150. I dont even know if this set up will work with my Telstra modem as im a bit of a newbie to all this.

Looking for suggestions….! but not wanting to take out a 2nd mortgage on the house!

TIA

Internet Wireless Range Extender

Comments

  • JimmyF on 05/07/2022 - 21:59
    -2

    https://www.telstra.com.au/internet/extras/wifi-booster

    Buy the mesh booster that works with your modem.

  • CauseNEffect on 05/07/2022 - 22:01

    Buy a 2 node wifi 6 mesh system. Netgear Orbis have fantastic coverage, speed and stability, lots of deals for them on here.

    • kiwimex on 06/07/2022 - 07:53

      I did look at those…but thought well it looks just like the modem…why didn't they incorporate the tech in the modem I already have.

    • kiwimex on 06/07/2022 - 08:08

      Did you mean like this set up! Netgear Orbi AX1800 Dual-Band Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System (2 pack)

      I do have access to decent discount at JB Hifi.

      • CauseNEffect on 06/07/2022 - 13:11
        -1

        https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/netgear-orbi-rbk852-ax600….

        Wait for the specials.. they seem to come up every month or so.. pricematch at officeworks.

        The extra $ spent will save you in the long term, the orbis are a huge improvement over the tendas and can handle quick nbn speeds..

        • CauseNEffect on 06/07/2022 - 13:18

          Here's a recent example.. https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/699489

        • kiwimex on 06/07/2022 - 20:34

          Bloody hell thats alot of coin to extend the internet around a 4bdrm home, and for the price to drop 50% on specials shows how awful the retail pricing is.

          • CauseNEffect on 07/07/2022 - 13:02

            @kiwimex: You get what you pay for. RRP is a rip agreed, however there are deals constantly on here.

            Given the importance of connectivity to the net these days, I'd up the budget to $500 600 and put in kit that will last for the next 5 years+ not just what's cheapest.

            I've used tendas before for years before upgrading to orbis.. Signal coverage is so much better its almost unbelievable and that is with one less node.

            Orbis are rock solid stable. My tendas needed rebooting a couple of times a month to sort dns issues..

            Speed.. Orbis are wifi 6. Like the newest smartphones.. blazingly fast. Also supports ultrafast nbn..

            Anyhow as they say you can lead a horse to water..

            Best of luck.

  • oscargamer on 05/07/2022 - 22:04

    Budget?

    • kiwimex on 06/07/2022 - 07:49

      $300-$400 but I do have access to decent discounts at JB hifi

  • MS Paint on 05/07/2022 - 22:59
    +7

    20m RJ45 ethernet cable (optional but better) and an old router. Cheap and easy.

    Guide

  • supersabroso on 05/07/2022 - 23:51
    +1

    I have the Google Nest wifi, it's first class in everything except 1080p desktop streaming to chromecast. It'll handle all 80 smart home devices and expand to the largest house you have.

  • [Deactivated] on 06/07/2022 - 11:38

    I have a large two storey house which had many Wi-Fi deadspots.
    I bought a Tenda Nova mw3 3-piece mesh system for less than $100 on sale. Problem solved!
    My mate bought the mw6 system and gets strong Wi-Fi in his single storey house plus in the basement of his detached brick garage.

    • CauseNEffect on 06/07/2022 - 13:14
      -1

      Tendas are OK and good cheap solution but Orbis are on another level. Orbis are more stable, far better signal coverage and have wired backhaul and wifi 6…

  • the Unforgiven on 06/07/2022 - 18:10
    +1

    Ring Helstra & tell them the story that their Telstra Gen 2 smart modem is not powerful enough & that they should give you Telstra Gen 3 smart modem to try as it has a btter WiFi coverage
    Draw a simple floor plan with measurements & where the modem is & upload to 'Imgur' or somewhere so we/I can get a better understanding. BTW, at what height off the ground is the modem mounted? The higher the better. If it is against a wall, that is no good. Is it near any appliances, that is also no good

    • kiwimex on 06/07/2022 - 20:44

      Have an image uploaded but not sure how to paste here

    • kiwimex on 06/07/2022 - 20:51

      I think this link should work

      https://ibb.co/wLDqFY4

      • the Unforgiven on 06/07/2022 - 21:17
        +1

        I had a look. If you hang on for a little while, I will find you a mesh system. What is the max money to spend?
        Since you don't know what you are doing, I will find a system that will be straight forward for you to set up. Tenda is kind of new, so it may be a bit fiddly to set up or if things go wrong, you would be up that creek

        • kiwimex on 06/07/2022 - 21:24

          Well don't want to spend too much (saw the tenda units on another post and thought well if i can get away with spending $150 happy daze) just want to make sure everyone gets decent internet at the far end of the house, I have Smart TV's in the rumpus room etc and the far bedroom, the rumpus room TV runs ok most of the time a little laggy sometimes tho. also outside the kitchen is our patio area and I have a Sonos speaker that struggles with signal alot of the time, I could upgrade to the new Telstra 3 modem as well. I also get staff pricing from JB hifi, so massive savings there.

  • vince088 on 06/07/2022 - 21:25
    +1

    i connected my telstra smart modem gen2 to tenda nova mw6(3 mesh points) and i have full wifi everywhere in the house

    • kiwimex on 06/07/2022 - 21:30

      do the tenda units have to be plugged into power outlets around the house and then they work wirelessly?

      • the Unforgiven on 06/07/2022 - 22:00
        +1

        Yes

      • vince088 on 06/07/2022 - 22:28
        +1

        Yes, on the tenda nova app you set them up as bridge mode so all they do is handle the wifi signals.

        On your telstra gen2 it still does the modem bit (disable its wifi settings)

        you can also direct connect your WAN connection straight to the tenda nova but i dont 100% trust it as i heard and read it sends packets to a certain country (spying purposes)

  • CauseNEffect on 07/07/2022 - 14:46

    Tendas are not tri band and have questionable security..

    I like them otherwise in simple cheap environments, particularly those with slow internet but cannot recommend them over better alternatives.. Netgear, Asus, Google and Amazon all over far better alternate solutions.

  • lgacb08 on 09/07/2022 - 16:11
    +1

    Your problem is location of the router, if you can relocate it to the middle of the house then no money spent on another device.

    • kiwimex on 12/07/2022 - 08:11

      Moving the router is not an option ATM as i have a direct feed from the router thru to my sons room for gaming! Also the only other phone outlet is in the kitchen and not where I would want to put the router.

      Looks like a need to run new cabling i guess.

      • the Unforgiven on 13/07/2022 - 19:32

        Sounds like you need a mesh system

  • gstfree on 21/07/2022 - 22:44

    Depends on how big your house is, buy 1-2 Ruckus WAP will resolve the problem. I have one R610 and it's full bar everywhere inside.

    • kiwimex on 23/07/2022 - 20:47

      At over $800 not a cheap option!

  • Minheim on 26/07/2022 - 08:32
    +1

    I have a telstra 2 modem at the rear of the house. A telstra booster situated in the mid of the house has given me total home coverage at high speed. I would go that route as it works perfectly and was quite cost effective.

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