I've looked at some of the older threads on this, and done a bit of web sleuthing to get some ideas, but things change so quickly, and I figure I'd start a topic on this.
I was debating getting a wireless extender to get a more reliable signal out in the garage, but my actual WiFi router is old, and it might make more sense to replace it. I've got an Asus RT-N66U in the house right now, and though it is still humming along, it is at least 5 years old. My house is also old- it has actual plaster walls, so the signal loses a bit more strength per wall than I think more modern houses get.
The details:
- Require wired connections for work VPN
- Using a business class ISP service
- I refuse to use Alexa or any other type of remote spyware.
- It's about 85 feet through two plaster walls and one masonite wall, with about a 6 foot drop from the current router to the garage.
- Old (but functional) Asus RT-N66U router
- A decent modern router (TP-Link Archer C2300) is about $120
- We've an ethernet cable that goes from the current router location into the far part of the house.
- I don't feel like crawling under the house and rerouting the cables, so relocating the router isn't a top choice.
- I can re-use the current wifi router since it is still operational.
My plan was to get a brand new router to use as the main router, then use the Asus router as an "extender" in the far part of the house by wiring it into the main router and possibly creating another wifi network there.
Thoughts? Should I just ditch the current router, get a new router and use a new Wifi Extender?
I'm sure others will jump in here with a more technical background but I just upgraded our router at home with an Asus RT-AX56U and I'm very happy with it. I was coming from a D-Link DIR-819 AC750 which always gave me recurring internet connection problems so this was a big upgrade. My iPhone 11 is the only Wifi 6 device I have but the speed of the connection to it is significantly faster than before. We've had the it for 3 weeks now and haven't had it cut out once on us, the old router would go about 24 hours before needing a reboot if we were lucky.
I like the idea of using your old router as an access point for the other end of the house.
Don't know much about technical stuff. But as most have followed my 12-15 page thread on house reno recently. We moved the TV (old house). Did some rewiring under house to move cable and router.
Then signal dropped on the rest of the house and backyard, due to new modem location (wanting TV on a hardwire blah blah).
After doing research spent $190 with a new google nest wifi and mesh extender. 1.5 weeks in, very very happy with it. Strong signal. I might add a third extender to cover all 11,000 sq feet of space of wirless I need.
Old router was netgear, 7 years old.
T.J.
MegaDork
5/5/20 2:03 p.m.
https://www.amazon.com/AmpliFi-Ubiquiti-Seamless-Wireless-Extenders/dp/B01L9O08PW
Ubiquiti Amplifi. I have the router and three mesh points. Does a great job for me. My only warning about it is that they made the interface very Apple-like, so it is easy to set up, but sometimes difficult to make it do things that are not something the typical user would do. I think they have a newer model now, but I don't know anything about it.
I run about 30 wifi devices and three hardwired devices on my network.
I've been eyeing for myself (trying to decide) between a 1 box solution and multi-box solution.
1 box: Synology RT2600ac
multi-box: some combination of ubiquiti boxes Or, I'm I'm feeling particularly adventurous a pfsense box
I updated the requirements a bit. I'm not looking to go fully wireless, and I'm not using a standard residential service (not that this matters much).
T.J. said:
https://www.amazon.com/AmpliFi-Ubiquiti-Seamless-Wireless-Extenders/dp/B01L9O08PW
Ubiquiti Amplifi. I have the router and three mesh points. Does a great job for me. My only warning about it is that they made the interface very Apple-like, so it is easy to set up, but sometimes difficult to make it do things that are not something the typical user would do. I think they have a newer model now, but I don't know anything about it.
I run about 30 wifi devices and three hardwired devices on my network.
This. This is the answer.
Best range of the mesh devices while still retaining more advanced network admin options
Another vote for a mesh system of some kind. I have the Netgear Orbi and it's been flawless for a year and a half.
Great input so far, thanks.
The0retical (Forum Supporter) said:
T.J. said:
https://www.amazon.com/AmpliFi-Ubiquiti-Seamless-Wireless-Extenders/dp/B01L9O08PW
Ubiquiti Amplifi. I have the router and three mesh points. Does a great job for me. My only warning about it is that they made the interface very Apple-like, so it is easy to set up, but sometimes difficult to make it do things that are not something the typical user would do. I think they have a newer model now, but I don't know anything about it.
I run about 30 wifi devices and three hardwired devices on my network.
This. This is the answer.
Best range of the mesh devices while still retaining more advanced network admin options
Another Amplifi user here.
I can sit on the patio and still pull 100mbs + download speed.
+1 on Ubiquiti. I use their business gear as it's something I work with on client sites as well.
Great stuff, fair pricing.
Just revisiting this thread as I've seen some performance issues with my WiFi now that remote schooling has started. Current internet is 100 mbps, but I could look into upgrading
I have approx 1400sq feet of 1950s raised ranch to cover, plus the garage and rear deck. The router is located midway along the back wall of the house. The router is next to a wall that the boiler on the other side, along with water pipes, drain pipes, a stacked washer and dryer and a fridge, and bathroom is directly above it. Probably not an ideal location, but convenient for running hardwired connections to the living room tv and the Xbox
My current router is a Netgear Nighthawk R8000, and it's coverage was adequate before school started but lacking now with the remote learning using bandwidth for video conferencing.
I'm looking to go to a mesh setup to improve coverage. I'm thinking a 3 piece setup like eero, Orbi AC2200, ubiquity amplify, or Google nest AC2200.
Is Amplify still the go to, or have some of the others caught up?
Key goals are coverage, speed, and reliability. Parental controls are a nice bonus.
In reply to No Time :
If running wires is an option, do that. If not, well, I'm a fan of Ubiquiti gear, but even then you're better off running a network cable to every access point.
semi-related situation/questions, at least in my tech-challenged mind:
i have a smart TV with an unused LAN port on the back. TV gets signal via WiFi from cable box/router (ARRIS Touchstone TG2472) or HDMI from Onkyo AV Receiver HT-R580. The Onkyo, circa 2010-ish, doesn't have a LAN connection.
- do newer AV receivers typically have LAN connections?
- if AV receiver is on LAN, does all signal to TV go through the HDMI and the TV would no longer need to be on WiFi? or does the TV also need a LAN wired connection to do smart TV stuff?
seemed like a good time to ask, as I'm currently trying to set up the eero device that our cable company (WOW!) sent in response to our request for a service upgrade. "set up in less than 10 minutes" started about 45 minutes ago.
In reply to AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) :
The TV will need some kind of network connection - wired or wireless - to try and be smart.
I was just telling myself the other day that I'm glad I haven't heard the kids complain about lagging for a while. Then I see this about all the mesh systems again and I wonder how much better I can have it.
