Parent's House - Improve Internet Range with a Mesh System, Is It Worth Getting a Wi-Fi 6 Router or Is a Wi-Fi 5 Router Fine?

So, my folks have been having issues with internet range and their wifi stability. Their router and NBN modem are located right at the end of the house in the rumpus which is not ideal as it is double brick, they want a stronger wifi signal all the way at the front of the house where their lounge is located for their TV to stream content.

They are currently using a Powerline network adapter to get internet for the lounge area for the TV which i'd like to get rid of. It isn't the most stable and there will be buffering at times when viewing streams and vids, probably due to their electricals being more than 2 decades old. It is about say 18-20 metres away from the rumpus.

They are on a 50 down / 20 up plan with Aussie BB. Is it even worth considering getting a Wifi 6 or 6e routers even though their speeds are capped at these levels or is something like wifi 5 routers sufficient? Future proofing? I was thinking of the tri-band TP Link Deco X68 (2 or 3 pack) or the tri-band Netgear Orbi RBK752 AX4200 (2 pack). Or getting another cheaper 2nd hand Asus AC Router and using that as a node and AiMesh it with another Asus router which I am currently using (Asus AX82U) at my place.

Any thoughts on this would be great. Thanks!

Edit: budget $400-500, connected devices usually include 2 tvs, 3 phones, a PC, laptop, 2 tablets, inverter. House size is 24sq single storey.

Comments

  • +2

    I have found WiFi 6 to have much less drop outs and overall be more stable than my previous routers. But that's just my experience.

  • Budget?

    • $400-500 at this stage

      • +1

        3 x deco m9 plus

        Tri band

        I didn't realise what a difference back haul made, until I bought my m9's

        • Ye was looking into benefits of tri band vs dual band esp if their backhaul has to be wireless. They don't have any wired ethernet in the house for backhaul.

  • +1

    In wifi 6 vs wifi 5 router, it depends on the devices connected. If it is a wifi 4 tv, the router will work in wifi 4. If the tv only supports 2.4Ghz channel, forget about the upgrade

    Upgrading the router wont necessarily improve powerline performance or stability so im actually at a lost of your post haha

    • +1

      They want better Wi-Fi range by using a mesh system.

      • +1

        I’ve totalled missed the Mesh word in title hahaha

    • +1

      As @Twix said, OP need mesh system, Wifi 6 is good if connecting with Wifi 6 supported devices or, if OP has at least x2 more deviced connected to it.

  • +1

    If they have wifi 6 devices or will be getting them over the years ahead then wifi 6 makes sense.

    • wifi 7 is literally later this year

      why not wait for that….then wait for 8 … then …

  • +2

    If you get a good mesh system (like the TP-Link Deco series) then one of the mesh units will plug into the Ethernet socket of the modem & you shouldn't need to change the router.

  • They are on a 50 down / 20 up plan with Aussie BB

    unless you have a plan to upgrade to 1gbps line you wont need wifi 6 bandwidth. Also wifi 6 is quite expensive now.

  • I had a Google Mesh which I put a point upstairs because my Dlink was useless. Then got a free Telstra gen 3 modem and that signal as stronger than my mesh. There goes $300 sitting in my cupboard now 😅 could probably get one of those pretty cheapish from Marketplace

    • is that New Telstra Smart Modem 3?

      • Yeah, unless they had a newer one in the past 6 months

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