Mesh Router System Recommendations

idonteven on 15/03/2025 - 15:51
Last edited 15/03/2025 - 16:01 by 1 other user

I've been using the Netcomm nf18acv for 6 years now. Paired with a tenda nova mw3 3-pack mesh system for my 3 story house. Even when using mesh, the speed itself caps out at 45mbps (usually 20mbps) even though I'm on Exetel 100/20 HFC nbn. When I connect to the 5ghz network, I'll get full 100mbps speeds.

I've probably got about 15-20 devices connected to wifi in the house.

There are so many options and I keep hearing about wifi 6, wifi 7, etc. I'd just like something that will be a good value for money upgrade. I'd like to upgrade both the router and mesh network. Please recommend me something! Thank you!!!

Internet Mesh Network Wireless Router

Comments

  • trustnoone on 15/03/2025 - 16:08
    +2

    speed itself caps out at 45mbps (usually 20mbps) even though I'm on Exetel 100/20 HFC nbn

    If you wire straight into your device, what speed do you get? I think it would be good to know if the speed issue is after your device or before.

    • idonteven on 15/03/2025 - 16:10
      -1

      all my devices are wireless. when I run speedtests on my phone, I can get 100mbps if I connect to the 5ghz band. When I connect to the 2.4ghz band, I only get around 45mbps.

      • scrimshaw on 15/03/2025 - 16:13

        You need to know which specific device you're testing. If your phone is connected to the main VDSL modem of course it will have the best performance, as it's not being bottlenecked by your low-end Wifi-5 MW3 routers.

        You should always be using the 5ghz band anyway, the 2.4ghz band is prone to interference (it's more crowded spectrum) and it is always the slower option. you typically only use that band if you have no choice (e.g IOT devices, very old desktops and laptops with outdated NICs)

        you also need to perform the speed test while connected to your actual mesh network — try getting a laptop and connecting via cable to one of those nodes, then repeat the test. That will tell you if that node is the bottleneck.

        Since you have a pack of 3 routers, the node that is physically the furthest away usually is the slowest. Placement is important https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/location-matters-when-set…

        • idonteven on 15/03/2025 - 16:31

          Don’t have any wired devices unfortunately. I’d rather just upgrade my whole system since it’s so outdated.

      • freefall101 on 15/03/2025 - 16:45
        +1

        Wha happens when you connect everything to the 5ghz band? Does it solve your issue?

        • idonteven on 15/03/2025 - 16:50
          -1

          no because the 5ghz band is extremely short range and I've got a 3 storey place. I just connected it to see if I was able to achieve the advertised nbn speeds, I was which told me the bottleneck is my equipment.

          • freefall101 on 15/03/2025 - 17:09

            @idonteven: Wifi 6 uses 5ghz and 2.4ghz together to improve range, you might find you still have a few problems if you're getting awful 5ghz connections in some part of the house. That said, modern routers are better at vertical signals for multi-story these days, the eeros and TPLink decos are great for that.

            Three story shouldn't matter much because it's not a long distance, unless your current network is particularly poor at vertical due to antella placement or there's something blocking the signal between floors. The horizontal distance should matter more, so you should scatter the nodes horizontally as well as vertically.

            Wifi 7 (6ghz) is even worse for range, it just gives a lot faster speed. So really I'd go with more nodes that faster tech if I was you.

            • idonteven on 15/03/2025 - 17:14

              @freefall101: Well I’m planning to upgrade my mesh WiFi so it shouldn’t matter if I’m getting poor 5GHz coverage around the house right?

              • freefall101 on 15/03/2025 - 17:29

                @idonteven: A new mesh wifi system will still use 5GHz signals. You're still bound by the laws of physics here, newer ones can do better noise handling, pump out stronger signals and have larger antenna but if the signal is non-existent for 5GHz in a part of the house it's going to still be a poor signal with a new wifi network if it's being blocked by someone or simply at the extent of the range. I'm just saying it might fix your problem, but it might not.

                It's probably still worth upgrading to an eero or deco system though, you can replace the router and mesh network in one and just keep adding more nodes if it's problematic.

  • Xyzzy on 15/03/2025 - 16:31

    Is the wifi from your netcomm off?

    • idonteven on 15/03/2025 - 16:49

      no it's on

      • scrimshaw on 15/03/2025 - 17:29
        +1

        It should be switched off so that it doesn't compete with the mesh network. You probably have 2 SSIDs for 5ghz right now? You want to avoid that kind of situation.

        You might even have a double nat problem if you have not properly configured your modem router.

        • Xyzzy on 15/03/2025 - 20:08

          ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
          Wot he said.

          • idonteven on 15/03/2025 - 21:50

            @Xyzzy: Thanks. I’ll check this out. How do I turn off the WiFi? Do I just go into the router settings in browser?

  • Pootie Tang on 15/03/2025 - 17:15

    Two story house - double brick - put this in the middle of the house and fixed it. Also previous user of MW3/6

    This can be flashed with WRT if you have privacy concerns. I didn't and at $50 its been amazing. I think you can actually mesh them if you get two.

    https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006678092625.html

    • Pootie Tang on 15/03/2025 - 17:17

      Did have to run 2.4 GHz network in conjunction with 5 because of certain internet appliances (fans, vaccum etc).

      • kiitos on 16/03/2025 - 09:33

        So the single unit is enough coverage for your house?

        • Pootie Tang on 17/03/2025 - 22:39
          +1

          Correct. Double brick - 2 story about 220sqm

          Superior to a mesh for me

          Located it to the centre of the house

  • springtide01 on 15/03/2025 - 22:13

    Netgear SXK80 or Netgear RBK852, very powerful. Or if you don’t mind old wifi 5, then the SRK60.

  • vince088 on 16/03/2025 - 08:18

    You need to turn off ISP modem wifi (signals fighting each other)

    I turn my Telstra Smart Modem Gen3 wifi off to use Tenda Nova MW6 as the main wifi

    • idonteven on 16/03/2025 - 08:20

      Where do I turn it off?

      • vince088 on 16/03/2025 - 10:04

        Under your main router there should be the ip address to log into. Usually 192.168.0.1

        Goto wifi settings and turn off wifi signal

        • idonteven on 16/03/2025 - 10:11

          Yeah, I did that but it timed out and wouldn’t connect to the ip address. Very annoying.

          • vince088 on 16/03/2025 - 10:24

            @idonteven: Connect a ethernet cable from that isp modem to a laptop or computer

  • Dr Phil on 16/03/2025 - 08:36
    -2

    Can someone pls explain the benefit of a MESH router?
    Sorry Im not up with this technology yet

    • kiitos on 16/03/2025 - 09:31
      +2

      Rather than having a single unit try to cover the entire house, you have multiple units spread through the house each providing coverage for their area.

    • Butterchurner on 16/03/2025 - 09:35

      I've got my shed wired to my house with a long distance in between. Having a mesh system means staying on the same network and getting your optimal signal from the closest router, rather than getting stuck on a poor signal when there's a perfectly good router next to you.

    • vince088 on 16/03/2025 - 10:05
      +1

      Wifi mesh is the latest version of wifi extender.
      Wifi extender will half your speed by rebroadcasting the signal. Wifi mesh does not suffer from this.

  • Msfrugal on 16/03/2025 - 10:31
    +1

    TP-LINK AXE5400 Tri-Band Mesh Wi-Fi 6E System

    Good guys: $699
    GOODGUYS commercial $445

    I have large 2 storey home.
    Did heaps of research - this is fantastic!

    I have Telstra gen 3 modem - ive with MORE TELECOM

    P.s. I was eligible for GG commercial as an Origin energy customer.
    MORE telecom $64 a Month as CBA account holder

    NBN FTTP 250

    I have Google and Roborock vacuums (life changing!!) and eufy cameras that require 2.4ghz.
    I have 5ghz and 2.4ghz still separated on my telstra modem as they were all connected to that and signal reaches devices . You can split the Deco 2.4ghz and 5ghz i choose not to as working fine on the telstra split.
    And I have the the DECO network as 3rd option.
    The DECO is brilliant!

    I love that INSTANTLY the light goes red if there’s a drop - I had micro drops all the time at one stage.

    It’s perfect.
    HIGHLY recommend.
    Also as Telstra gen 3 modems not locked and use wifi6 you can probably pick one up on fb marketplace .

  • SlickMick on 16/03/2025 - 12:56

    I've used the last 2 generations of eero and find them excellent. (The first one is also the router too, so no doubling up on devices.)

    This is general info regarding any mesh system: you can just add more access points if anywhere has poor coverage - just make sure the distance between access points isn't too far. That said, we have a big house but only need 2 devices… I think I added a 3rd just to get ethernet in another room.

  • Hirolol on 16/03/2025 - 15:58
    +1

    why do you connect through the netcomm?
    you have the HFC NTD so no need to have that in the way.

    i would recommend TP Link Deco.
    deals pop up for them all the time here.

    get rid of the tenda and the netcomm and plug it directly into the HFC NTD (little black box) and you are good to go. (not sure why this wasn't suggested earlier.)
    i would say part of the problem would be the tenda as well, its very low end budget mesh. keep in mind you get what you pay for.

    • idonteven on 16/03/2025 - 16:15

      I just realised this, I didn’t know the mesh WiFi also acted as routers, I just assumed they were only satellite access points. Thanks. Am looking into the X20 deco now. Because my speeds are quite low (100/20), is anything more expensive than X20 just a waste of money?

      • Twix on 16/03/2025 - 16:24
        +1

        All mesh Wi-Fi bundles come with at least one built-in router. The tri-band TP-Link Deco X68 is a better choice.

        500/50 is going to replace the 100/20 speed tier in 6 months time.

        • idonteven on 16/03/2025 - 16:48
          +1

          Thanks for letting me know. I'll future proof and get that instead then.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join