Recommendation for A Good Mesh Wi-Fi System or Wi-Fi Extender

BamOz on 08/08/2023 - 08:24
Last edited 08/08/2023 - 10:25 by 1 other user

Hi Peeps,
I have a NBN FTTP connection with TPG as service provider. I have a AC1200 dual band TPG supplied router.

My house has 2 levels with entertainment (TV, gaming console) on G floor and office setup on upper floor. My router is placed on the G floor and wifi works fine there but the signal is poor on the upper floor with 5G band not available. I have temporarily moved office setup downstairs.

Any recommendations for good WiFi extenders that will help with range or Mesh (like google mesh)? Please help with your suggestions, need to fix this soon.

Internet Wireless Range Extender Wireless Router

Comments

  • FoxJump on 08/08/2023 - 08:30
    +1

    i live in a 2 storey mix double-brick/brick veneer old home.
    Deco Xe75pro with 6Ghz backhaul gives me 500Mb/s upstairs on a wifi5 device.

    deco app tells me how much signal the satellite has and i moved it around until i found a spot that has full bars.

    previously with my deco x60 i would get about 100Mb/s upstairs.

    • BamOz on 08/08/2023 - 08:37

      Is that 1 pack decox75 or you have connected 2 of them ?

      Are these better than google mesh

      • FoxJump on 08/08/2023 - 16:27

        i have a 2x pack. One downstairs plugged to the NBN box, and one upstairs.

        idk google mesh.
        nb: those speeds i mentioned are local network speeds. So , from one computer downstairs plugged in via cable and another device upstairs in a bedroom adjacent to the deco upstairs.

  • Danstar on 08/08/2023 - 08:35
    +5

    Get an data point installed upstairs and connect a new router to it.

    • Ramrunner on 09/08/2023 - 14:38

      Or simply an Access Point - I recommend Ubiquiti

  • JeremyDealFiend on 08/08/2023 - 08:37
    +2

    Get a mesh Wifi 6 system, ideally get an electrian to wire your house with Ethernet, otherwise get a triband mesh system.

    https://dongknows.com/best-wi-fi-6-mesh-systems/

    https://dongknows.com/mesh-wi-fi-system-explained/

    • kfp187 on 08/08/2023 - 08:45
      +1

      Electrician's don't always have the cabling licence… just fyi. I'm sure they have the skill set to do it… but just something to be mindful of.

      • JeremyDealFiend on 08/08/2023 - 08:47

        Fair enough. If your budget isnt super tight and you plan to stay in your home I’d still recommend this.

        Ethernet ports each room, network panel, network switch.

        Then get wired backhaul.

        • kfp187 on 08/08/2023 - 08:56

          Agree but would be expensive. Also no wifi access points. Unless you are happy to plug everything in (granted everything has that ability)

          • JeremyDealFiend on 08/08/2023 - 08:59

            @kfp187: I was thinking more like my current setup everything with ports, PC, work laptop, TV, is connected to via ethernet port at the wall.

            Then I just got Asus XD6 via the JBHIFI deal this week. One node next to nbn box. One on the other side of the house, but the node using wired ethernet backhaul via wall port, rather than wireless 2.4Ghz/5Ghz single which could be flakey.

          • JeremyDealFiend on 08/08/2023 - 08:59

            @kfp187: But yep good point

  • vince088 on 08/08/2023 - 09:10
    +7

    mesh is the way to go.

    extender has 50% speed loss penalty as its repeating the signal and 2 different Wi-Fi SSID's that will conflict devices.

    even getting a cheap mesh system like tenda nova for 100 bucks is 100% better than using extenders/repeaters.

    Minimally for your 2 story house I would recommend at least a 2-pack mesh(1 for down stairs, 1 for upstairs)

    • jv on 08/08/2023 - 09:39
      -8

      extender has 50% speed loss penalty

      rubbish

      and 2 different Wi-Fi SSID's

      you can set it up to use the same SSID

      • vince088 on 08/08/2023 - 18:31
        +1

        lol google it.

        same name but you will see 2 SSID "John Wifi" twice on the list because its not actually the same connection

        • rogerm22 on 09/08/2023 - 11:58

          I was using a Wi-Fi extender until recently (I'm not using mesh Wi-Fi) and I would only see the SSID listed once.

      • Hirolol on 09/08/2023 - 08:04
        +2

        It’s true
        Repeater/extender has 50% loss

        Google it

        • jv on 09/08/2023 - 09:11
          -2

          I've done speed tests. The difference is hardly noticeable.

          Google it

          Don't believe everything you Google.

          • vince088 on 09/08/2023 - 11:17
            +1

            @jv: extenders are half duplex repeating the signal.

            • jv on 09/08/2023 - 12:00
              -1

              @vince088: Only an issue if you're sending/receiving at the same time…. So not a 50% loss.

    • gyrex on 09/08/2023 - 09:28

      How do you think mesh works? Mesh is just an extender/repeater network and you still lose half of the available bandwidth (not speed) on the backhaul with mesh unless you opt for much more expensive tri-band systems which use the 6GHz band to act as the backhaul. At that point you may as well do it properly and run ethernet.

      • vince088 on 09/08/2023 - 11:13
        +1

        lol too many keyboard warriors trying to defend a old technology, I'm just trying to help OP. I'm out!

        • gyrex on 09/08/2023 - 13:23
          -2

          Yes, your 'mesh' network is using an old technology in the form of repeaters/extenders - something I was building 20 years ago with long range (up to 5km) 802.11b/g wifi networks over the 2.4GHz band using yagi antennas. There's nothing new with 'mesh' wifi (it's just a name change) and it's not an optimal solution unless you either shell out for tri-band devices and use the 6GHz band for backhaul thereby leaving the full bandwidth available for the 2.4/5GHz bands or you ideally use ethernet for backhaul.

  • jv on 08/08/2023 - 09:38
    +1

    like google mesh

    yes i do

  • netjock on 08/08/2023 - 09:57

    MS paint diagram please?

    • gyrex on 09/08/2023 - 09:25
      +1

      This isn't a car crash.

      • netjock on 09/08/2023 - 14:51

        I like to see how the wifi waves crash into each other

  • BamOz on 08/08/2023 - 10:00

    Thanks. Most of the time I need to move with my laptop, so preference is wifi rather than ethernet.

    Leaning towards mesh. Any good recommendations for Mesh then ?

    • Twix on 08/08/2023 - 10:27

      How much do you want to spend? What speed are you paying for?

      • BamOz on 08/08/2023 - 10:36

        I am on a 50MBPS plan, 100-300$

        • Twix on 08/08/2023 - 10:48

          Plug in a Deco to the nbn NTD and put a Deco on the second level.

          TP-Link Deco M5 Wi-Fi 5 Dual Band Mesh System (2-Pack) $159 + Delivery ($0 C&C) @ Umart / MSY.
          TP-Link Deco X20 Wi-Fi 6 Dual Band Mesh System (2-Pack) $263 Delivered @ Harris Tech via Amazon AU. $223.55 Price Beat @ Officeworks.

  • oscargamer on 08/08/2023 - 10:37

    Something tri-band. Wifi 5 is fine.

    • BamOz on 08/08/2023 - 10:42

      TP link Deco vs Google mesh ? And any specific models pls

      • oscargamer on 08/08/2023 - 10:42
        +1

        I have the deco M9 plus. Just great.

        • BamOz on 08/08/2023 - 14:02

          Ok. Thanks

  • vince088 on 08/08/2023 - 18:33

    just saw this deal for Tenda Nova MW3

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/792582

    connect your ISP modem/router to these and disable its Wi-Fi, use Tenda Nova as the Wi-Fi broadcaster

  • BamOz on 09/08/2023 - 13:31

    Thanks for all you suggestions. I have decided to go with TP link deco based on recommendations and reviews.

    Could you folks please recomend a suitable model ? Confused with the variety available online. Also, will they be compatible with TPG NBN FTTP?

    Requirements

    Current plan - 50 Mbps
    House - 4bed dual storey, concrete slab
    Use - home office, netflix etc., NO gaming
    Wifi - WiFi6 maybe ?
    Budget - upto 300$ but flexible
    Deals - Like price beat at OW

    • Twix on 10/08/2023 - 10:58

      Refer to my previous TP-Link Deco model comment. TP-Link Deco is compatible with TPG and all ISPs.

      • BamOz on 10/08/2023 - 11:41
        +1

        X20 looks fine. Thanks a bunch

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