Wi-Fi Network in a Brick Terrace - How to Improve Poor Signal?

jrowls on 22/01/2025 - 14:46
Last edited 22/01/2025 - 15:08 by 1 other user

Hi there, I know google exists but hoping to get some actual experience and insight on this issue.

We’re renting an inner west Sydney terrace and really struggling with our Wi-Fi signal. It’s only five or six metres from the bedroom but the angle and thick brick walls mean you can connect but the speed is so slow it’s unusable.

For the front office, we got one of those adapters that sends a signal down the power lines. That works quite well, but the bedroom is on a different circuit so it’s not an option.

Constraints:

I can’t move the router from its current position. I can’t shave the wall thickness or change the material. I don’t believe that a signal boosting ‘mesh’ system would work as anywhere it could be would already have a weak signal - what’s to boost?

Therefore, I’m not sure what we can actually do. I’m tech savvy but routers mean nothing to me. Is a more expensive router the solution here? Would a better router still work with the aforementioned extender thing? For reference, existing Wi-Fi router is a Netcomm xyz - whatever came with our internet service a few years back.

OzBargain home system nerds please assemble and provide advice!

Cheers
jrowls

Edit: here is a diagram showing what I’m talking about. There is nowhere closer to the bedroom to place a mesh node anywhere other than inside the bedroom where the signal strength is poor.

Internet Wi-Fi

Comments

Xyzzy on 22/01/2025 - 14:51

+1

Supposedly

Instead of trying to pass the WiFi signal through thick walls, WiFi mesh takes the easier route around the walls.

so maybe mesh would help?
I use a mesh system to go from my house through two brick walls to my garage. No complaints.
- jrowls on 22/01/2025 - 15:09
  
  I responded to the other comment before yours oops! Check that one for my reply.
  
  Can you explain how your system is set up? Where are the mesh nodes and router and what are the walls like?
  - nfr on 22/01/2025 - 15:21
    
    You just need a power point for the mesh node. With a long enough extension cord, you should be able to place it anywhere, no?
    - jrowls on 22/01/2025 - 16:44
      
      Of course! The issue is that there is simply nowhere to put it that isn’t equally/more obstructed than the existing router (or actually inside the room, therefore not fixing the existing weak signal… though my understanding of mesh may be incorrect going by another users comment).
      
      It could only be on the floor in a narrow hallway or butted up against a double brick wall.
      - nfr on 22/01/2025 - 18:37
        
        +1
        
        @jrowls: I live in a double brick house and I can get good wifi reception outside the house, so signal should not be that weak. I think the Netcomm is probably shitty and makes you too pessimistic about the capabilities of decent wifi routers.
Hybroid on 22/01/2025 - 14:53

eero mesh system strategically placed to cover the house is the answer.
- jrowls on 22/01/2025 - 15:03
  
  My concern with mesh systems is that i don’t understand how boosting an already weak signal can give you faster speeds!
  
  There’s nowhere closer than the existing router that I can put a mesh node other than inside the bedroom. If the internet is already lousy there, how can it make it faster?
  - Hybroid on 22/01/2025 - 16:02
    
    +4
    
    Signal bosters and mesh are different products.
    
    You disable the existing router and replace it with one eero module. That module then sends data to the other eero module in the halfway, that then sends data to the third eero module in the kitchen/garden/backroom/upstairs/whatever and together, they create a seamless single unified wireless connection in your home.
    
    It is not simply piggybacking off the already weak existing router signal. It replaces it entirely.
    - jrowls on 22/01/2025 - 17:50
      
      Is it not fundamentally the same issue though? If the signal between the module connected to nbn at the wall is and node 2 is weak, how can node 2 provide the same speed as a connection at the module?
RogerLoger on 22/01/2025 - 15:09

My system power three levels of the house working OK, so no experience here. However, I was considering a powerline adapter at one stage to ensure maximum signal strength at the TV. We have multiple different circuits on different levels, so it is not a viable option. You also need to be plugged in (maybe OK for TV or desktop machine, but not for wandering about with a laptop or phone). Powerline adapters have other negatives as well, so if you do decide to try it, do your research:
https://www.hns-berks.co.uk/blogs/power-line-adapters-pros-a…

Cost guidance: https://www.google.com/search?q=powerline+adapter&hl=en&udm=…
- jrowls on 22/01/2025 - 15:10
  
  Thanks mate - maybe my post was too long and rambling lol but already have a powerline adaptor serving the office. It works great! But the bedroom is on a separate circuit so like you it’s not a fix there. Very frustrating.
  - RogerLoger on 22/01/2025 - 15:23
    
    +1
    
    Mangling the carpenter's adage, maybe I should have read thrice and (not) answered once.
    - jrowls on 22/01/2025 - 15:29
      
      😂 it’s all good mate! Who can be bothered to read!?
netjock on 22/01/2025 - 15:32

You actually need to give us a floor plan, MS paint please.

You got a power point in your roof space? Put a mesh on the router. Then a mess in the roof just above your door frame and one down towards where you are getting the signal to.

As there is no obstruction in the roof space the mesh has straight line of sight and the wifi signal is projected down.
- jrowls on 22/01/2025 - 16:39
  
  I updated the post with a floor plan!
  
  The roof space idea is actually a pretty good shout - the only thing is it’s a separate roof space with the same brick wall issue (router in a rear addition, bedroom in front). I’m not sure it would be much more effective… I will look into it tho.
  - netjock on 22/01/2025 - 18:23
    
    You mean the brick wall goes all the way up to meet the roof line? If it doesn't or if there is a gap you might be able to put a mesh node up there then slip a CAT cable and link the one at the back.
tp0 on 22/01/2025 - 15:47

+1

One double brick wall should not make WiFi unusable. Replace your Netcomm rubbish with a Telstra Smart Modem Gen 2 from marketplace.
- jrowls on 22/01/2025 - 16:41
  
  I wouldn’t have thought so!
  
  I am happy to investigate simply replacing the router, but I am not sure what to look for in terms of spec differences etc. ie what makes a Telstra smart modem gen 2 a better performer than netcomm rubbish?
  - tp0 on 22/01/2025 - 17:02
    
    +1
    
    WiFi is a bit of dark art, and the "specs" don't really tell you how well something will perform however a used Smart Modem is a cheap troubleshooting option and has a good chance of fixing your issue.
    - jrowls on 22/01/2025 - 17:03
      
      Gotcha! Thanks for the tip mate. Definitely feels like a dark art.
- mskeggs on 22/01/2025 - 18:10
  
  Why would another cheap wifi ap work better? This isn't a dark art. Why would replacing one wifi source with another, that is licensed to have the same output power, improve coverage?
redforever on 22/01/2025 - 15:49

Have you tried temporarily placing the router closer to the bedroom door? Use a power extention cable and lan cable if you need to.

If it works, you can place a mesh node just outside the door if you can have power there.
- jrowls on 22/01/2025 - 16:40
  
  I haven’t trialled that, no - but as stated in the post, there isn’t anywhere with a clear(er) line of sight that I could actually put a mesh other than in the bedroom.
Deebo Baggins on 22/01/2025 - 16:27

+1

Edit: here is a diagram
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSLMLHNY4QQ
mskeggs on 22/01/2025 - 16:36

+1

For $100 you can get a 3 point mesh system that will fix your issues. You will need to move them around to see where works best, perhaps even run it off the office, but it is a simple fix, even if you don’t believe it will work!
NotCheap on 22/01/2025 - 16:46

Your old router is likely the problem. Try updating it to something better that you can also add mesh nodes onto if needed.

Do you know what WiFi signal its currently putting out? - could be something horrible like 802.11n which will be slow. If you're able to, change the WiFi channel too, the one you're using could be congested (other people close by using it) or could be using a frequency that doesnt work well in your home.

Else, try a new router, then add mesh nodes if needed. Get one with two bands (2.4ghz and 5ghz) running on the same SSID so your device can pick the 'best' signal from it. The ones with external antennas are usually better at sending signals further.

For context, i run a single Asus GT-AX11000 for my two storey large house and the signal makes it outside to the pool area.
svenson on 22/01/2025 - 17:00

we had a similar problem in a double brick terrace and ended up using our modem/router in bridge mode and using a Ubiquiti unifi ac pro for the wireless signal that seemed much more powerful and definitely improved signal strength through the house. We've moved and use a Ubiquiti Unifi Swiss Army Knife Ultra in wireless mesh mode to extend our coverage
thatonethere on 22/01/2025 - 17:01

If the floor is carpet you can ghetto a connected AP via flat network cable by burying it into the underlay
https://www.amazon.com.au/flat-ethernet-cable/s?k=flat+ether…
JimmyF on 22/01/2025 - 17:30

I’m tech savvy but routers mean nothing to me

So you're not tech savvy then?

I don’t believe that a signal boosting ‘mesh’ system would work as anywhere it could be would already have a weak signal - what’s to boost?

This is what you want.
- jrowls on 22/01/2025 - 17:46
  
  No need to be rude. The consumer wifi world is intentionally opaque - one of the other commenters even said it’s a dark art. I’m interested in and understand well most categories of tech, but this one is boring and confusing.
  - JimmyF on 22/01/2025 - 17:49
    
    +1
    
    Not rude, you claim to be tech savvy, then go on to say heaps of things that are wrong.
    
    A decent mesh setup would fix your issues, but you don't believe that would work. So ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
    - mskeggs on 22/01/2025 - 18:08
      
      How could a mesh system, invented to address op's issue, possibly work in this case?
      - JimmyF on 22/01/2025 - 18:23
        
        @mskeggs:
        
        How could a mesh system
        
        How could it not! Why won't you think it'll fix the issue?
        
        mskeggs on 22/01/2025 - 18:37
        
        -1
        
        @JimmyF: All a mesh will do is give multiple paths from the multiple access points reducing the interference the brick wall provides by giving multiple alternatives.
        While this will improve the signal greatly, OP has stated they don't think it will work, so not worth trying.
        I think OP will probably spend up on an new router that looks like a dead spider thinking it must be have a higher power signal.
        And when it doesn't improve things they will be certain there is just no fix, without needing to waste time trying a mesh.
        
        JimmyF on 22/01/2025 - 18:53
        
        @mskeggs:
        
        All a mesh will do is give multiple paths from the multiple access points reducing the interference the brick wall provides by giving multiple alternatives.
        
        They also reduce the distance between devices. Mesh router 1 talks to Mesh device 2 which talks to device A, rather than device A trying to talk over a longer distance to the router directly.
        
        Wifi is like two people talking, having one screaming really loudly means the other side can 'hear' them but if the device can't scream back as loudly its signal is lost. So people who think they need a really strong wifi access point/router to solve their coverage issue, seem to fail to understand how wifi really works.
        
        While this will improve the signal greatly, OP has stated they don't think it will work, so not worth trying.
        
        and the OP bases this view on?
        
        I think OP will probably spend up on an new router that looks like a dead spider thinking it must be have a higher power signal.
        
        How is that different to getting a mesh setup? A new mesh setup will replace the old router, it'll have a new higher power signal etc than the old router the OP has.
        
        mskeggs on 22/01/2025 - 19:05
        
        @JimmyF: Even more than that, the mesh systems listen for reflected signals arriving moments after the main signal and combine them to "magically" provide a stronger signal as unbelievable signal processing and incredibly accurate time sequencing is combined to make dramatically stronger signals designed for scenarios like OPs.
        But the OP doesn't believe a mesh system will work, so I guess they will pursue something else.
        
        JimmyF on 22/01/2025 - 19:51
        
        @mskeggs:
        
        But the OP doesn't believe a mesh system will work, so I guess they will pursue something else.
        
        Bet the OP believes the earth is flat as well, so better stay away from the edge then hey?
c64 on 22/01/2025 - 17:31

+1

drill lots of little holes through the brick walls to let all those little 5GHz signals through. they'll thank you for making their life easier

but it that sounds like too trouble, then run ethernet cables along the floor
Halfpea on 22/01/2025 - 18:41

+1

Although it seems you don't want to listen my fttp modem is at the back of a TV surrounded by walls and my house is very long.

I got a set of these https://amzn.asia/d/jcphwlP recently. We only moved in 2 weeks ago.

I get the full 1000mbps, well what is doable during peak times, all the way through the house with not a single problem. I have 38 devices of various kinds connected.

Just buy a mesh setup and if you need one one and a wifi 6 modem if you also need one.
Duggo3729 on 22/01/2025 - 19:37

+1

I have a long thin double brick home, router in the back room - no wifi at all in the front room. What you need is a mesh system like others have said.

I replaced my router with a Netgear Orbi 3 part mesh system. One working as router in the back room. One satellite plugged into a hallway power point in the middle of the house. One satellite in the front room.

Now I have excellent wifi throughout the house.

I’m not tech savvy but this fixed all my issues.

Wi-Fi Network in a Brick Terrace - How to Improve Poor Signal?

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