Poor Wi-Fi Signal in Upstairs WFH Space - Options?

anawth on 01/11/2023 - 10:10
Last edited 02/11/2023 - 07:29 by 1 other user

Hi, after some advice here.

I'm having issues with unreliable speeds and dropouts in my work from home space. I live in a rented 2 storey brick townhouse, probably built around 30 years ago. My Internet is connected to FTTN - as that's all that's available here (and will be like that for at least 18 months or so).I have an old TP-Link VR900 modem/router. It's unmoveable due to location of VDSL port thing, which I believe is needed for FTTN.

Signal strength upstairs in my work from home space is directly above the modem fluctuates quite a bit, but in general it seems about -70 to -80 which causes issues for Teams meetings, with the 5Ghz being a little better (but unstable). Not sure if relevant or worth considering, but I've got a bunch of home automation stuff that I'll be using Home Assistant to control.

Would I be better off:

  1. Investing in a new modem/router combo with Wi-Fi 6
  2. Investing in a Wi-Fi 6 router and killing the router functionality on the VR900
  3. Investing in a decent mesh setup?

I'm happy for any other advice too - or if anyone has any specific products that they'd recommend, I'm all ears. Budget, $300ish

Appreciate the help!

EDIT
Thanks for all the suggestions! I'm going to go with a few MW5s and see how we go. Appreciate all the advice

Internet Wi-Fi

Comments

  • djak on 01/11/2023 - 10:23
    +1

    Option 3, there are a lot of good kits around. If budget is of concern, i would choose a stable wifi5 mesh system that is resilient/robust over a newer standard which may cost more where your budget is tight. Even Wifi5 on 5ghz , 40mhz channels will give you 300/400Mbs throughout. This is on the caveat that you can improve your signal strength through the property by bringing the mesh access points closer to each other and in turn bringing the signal strength up, -80db is almost dead, -90db is considered disconnected. Im assuming running ethernet from downstairs to upstairs to connect one AP to another is not an option.

    If you have the money to stretch though, consider a 6e system will also give you access to 6ghz spectrum and alot more bandwidth from a future proofing perspective but this will blow way past $300 :P .

    Update: In terms of product, this is becomes a point of preference. So many different brands with different features. You have options.

    • anawth on 01/11/2023 - 11:07

      To be honest that budget was a fairly arbitrary figure and could stretch beyond that. Just would have to consider cost/benefit. Thanks for the response

      • netjock on 01/11/2023 - 11:31
        +1

        I picked up 3 pack Tenda MW5 on Gumtree for $65. I have my FTTC one end of the house and have a node down the hall. Covers both end of the house. The other end used to be patchy

  • sien on 01/11/2023 - 10:26
    +5

    You could try ethernet over power and then put wifi access points where you need them.

    I do that and it works really, really well. Also for WFH you may be able to directly plug into the ethernet.

    These work really well :

    https://www.amazon.com.au/TP-Link-TL-PA4010PKIT-Powerline-Et…

    • moar bargains on 01/11/2023 - 11:17
      +2

      Second this. I'd try this first.

      You can probably even find cheaper/second hand ones on FB Marketplace/Gumtree/Ebay if you want to test cheaply first. Or a friend who may have some you could try?

    • jumpypotato53 on 01/11/2023 - 11:24
      +1

      While this a cheaper and easier alternative, it won't perform nearly as good as running an ethernet cable upstairs. Assuming you're not an enthusiast in this area, you might not notice the difference though.

  • altomic on 01/11/2023 - 10:41

    have you tried updating the modem/router firmware?

  • Gdsamp on 01/11/2023 - 11:18
    +4

    run an ethernet cable up the stairs

    • boomramada on 01/11/2023 - 12:11

      That would be the most expensive but best option

      • Gdsamp on 01/11/2023 - 12:17

        ?

        30m of CAT6 ethernet cable is like 25$ on amazon

        • boomramada on 01/11/2023 - 13:59

          I was referring as doing a proper job through the wall etc.

          • Gdsamp on 01/11/2023 - 14:00
            +1

            @boomramada: oh ya

            Not feasible as OP is a tenant

          • Love a bargain on 01/11/2023 - 22:23

            @boomramada: If OP doesn't mind having visible cables in the house, this is probably the cheapest and best option.

  • GUYANDSON on 01/11/2023 - 11:22
    +2

    I'd use your existing router as the modem and go a cheaper 2 mesh setup with a ethernet backhaul for wifi. You can get coloured flat cat 5/6 cables which are easy to run and hide.

    I've messed around with ethernet over power in a few places and it is pretty finicky, will depend on how the place and how all the wiring is done. Electrically noisy appliances will effect things as well.

    • anawth on 01/11/2023 - 15:35

      I have a pair of these and I'm not sure if it's the quality of the wiring, the amount of appliances around it, or something else, but "pretty finicky" is spot on.

  • hawke2000 on 01/11/2023 - 11:58

    I will suggest you to use wifi extender. You need to buy wifi extender based on your current wifi router. However, you can use eero 6+ wifi mesh router and mesh extender. It works me perfectly fine. However, if you have home phone connection, you may need to use other extender like ZTE wifi extender.

  • urahara on 01/11/2023 - 13:00

    https://youtu.be/Kss3GBOj9F4?t=410
    Watch from 6.51 and do yourself or via somebody on Airtasker.

    • anawth on 01/11/2023 - 15:33

      Thanks for the reply, but you've grossly overestimated my technical ability and also the willingness to do this to a rental property haha

      • urahara on 01/11/2023 - 16:01

        Airtasker it is then. At the end of the day this would be the cheapest most effective option for you if you wanna make best use of your internet speed.

        Just take a cable from outside then if not inside the cable.Might look ugly but if you can cover it with something and live with it

        • djak on 01/11/2023 - 16:10
          +1

          I think your missing bits for the solution which will also add cost and time.

          1. Yes Airtasker for the installation, plus you will need to source and buy cabling and Ethernet wall plate to make it look descent as it is a rental property and cant be a backyard job.
          2. The first point is also dependent on approval from the landlord otherwise all bets are off.
          3. You then need another device/ap to provide signals upstairs.
  • vince088 on 01/11/2023 - 22:37
    +1

    wifi mesh, sorted.

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