Mesh WiFi routers

[rollestonpark]

I have installed TP-Link's Omada wifi mesh system across the farm yard and house.
It's almost the same as the ubiquiti system in reality, but the hardware is often cheaper.

Works really well for me, but as with the ubiquti some network knowledge is helpful to get it setup right.
The TP link hardware can work in standalone (no controller needed) as well which is nice if you don't want to go with a controller from the start, but want the option later on.

 

[rollestonpark]

Still not a great fan of the Linksys system here.

Had a computer chap here recently and he was having issues connecting to it. I quizzed him and he rated the Ubiquiti system and said he'd had experience of Linksys doing funny things in the past. I can't quite understand why they use IP addresses as 10.173.1.xx as opposed to the standard 192.168.0.xx either.

you can use either address range for your application,
192.168.x.x is a /16 subnet or 192.168.0.x is a /24 subnet (253 addresses available)
The reason a company might use a 10.x.x.x subnet is this is a much bigger address space.
subnetting allows you to separate networks into different departments and manage the routing between them (allow for some and disallow for others)
A use example would be if you have 2 wifi SSIDs each on a different subnet, perhaps: Office on 192.168.0.x/24 , Guest on 192.168.1.x/24
Then when people come to site and want the wifi password you give them the 'Guest' password and they end up on 192.168.1.x and this network can't reach the office and thus your data kept safe from someone on the Guest network.

 

[Cowabunga]

I bought this a couple of months ago and it works fine from one end of a large bungalow to the other.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08QSK84JL/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

TP-Link AV1000 Gigabit Passthrough Powerline ac Wi-Fi Kit, Dual Band Speed Up to 1200 Mbps, Wi-Fi Extender/ Booster, Extra Power Socket, No Configuration Required (TL-WPA7617 KIT)​

I very easily changed the password on it to that of the router, which itself was changed from the original [as printed on its label] to something more personal.

I have a much older but similar Netgear system at home that was fine with Orange 4G wi-fi but is limited to less than 35mbps down and 28 up. My current FTTP system and main wi-fi fairly consistently gives me 300down and 48 uploads. So make sure that what you buy has the speed potential for the fastest service you are likely to get or need over the next few years. That should be a minimum of 500mbps download in my opinion.
This kind of system only works through the electricity supply and does take up two wall sockets, one of which should be very close to the main router and connected to it by data cable [supplied]. They apparently do not work if connected to an extension socket, so use that to power other equipment which may include your phone base station and main wi-fi router.

 

[steveR]

Thick walls here and we have just done some work on a room. As I could get the floorboards up I ran 3 data cables from my office where the router lives. 1 is into the tv, instant streaming rather than waiting for a iffy wifi connection is definitely the way to go.

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100%

Had got a knackered ethernet switch that was causing mne all sorts of problems as the wifi across the house is shite. Too many wifi adapters have always caused as many problems as they solve!

Now using a 5ghz WAP on the roof for the yard (and upstairs) and 2.5ghz adapter downstairs fed by the ethernet LAN. Happiness, expecially as I now have the Chromecast hardwired in as well...

 

[Boysground]

100%

Had got a knackered ethernet switch that was causing mne all sorts of problems as the wifi across the house is shite. Too many wifi adapters have always caused as many problems as they solve!

Now using a 5ghz WAP on the roof for the yard (and upstairs) and 2.5ghz adapter downstairs fed by the ethernet LAN. Happiness, expecially as I now have the Chromecast hardwired in as well...

What sort of area does your yard wifi cover?

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[Netherfield]

When we finally manged to get FTTC I had an ex BT chap come to move the master socket to same place as the Router, while he was at it he also put some ethernet cables round the back and side of the house, one goes in behind the TV, the other under the stairs where the first of a BT mesh disc is located, works quite well in this heavy stone wall built place.
Then we had a power cut, expected everything to come back, but no, took me a while to figure it was an ethernet switch, luckily had a spare and been fine since.

 

[Steevo]

I bought this a couple of months ago and it works fine from one end of a large bungalow to the other.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08QSK84JL/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

TP-Link AV1000 Gigabit Passthrough Powerline ac Wi-Fi Kit, Dual Band Speed Up to 1200 Mbps, Wi-Fi Extender/ Booster, Extra Power Socket, No Configuration Required (TL-WPA7617 KIT)​

I very easily changed the password on it to that of the router, which itself was changed from the original [as printed on its label] to something more personal.

I have a much older but similar Netgear system at home that was fine with Orange 4G wi-fi but is limited to less than 35mbps down and 28 up. My current FTTP system and main wi-fi fairly consistently gives me 300down and 48 uploads. So make sure that what you buy has the speed potential for the fastest service you are likely to get or need over the next few years. That should be a minimum of 500mbps download in my opinion.
This kind of system only works through the electricity supply and does take up two wall sockets, one of which should be very close to the main router and connected to it by data cable [supplied]. They apparently do not work if connected to an extension socket, so use that to power other equipment which may include your phone base station and main wi-fi router.

No issues at all running them through an extension lead power board here.

 

[Steevo]

When we finally manged to get FTTC I had an ex BT chap come to move the master socket to same place as the Router, while he was at it he also put some ethernet cables round the back and side of the house, one goes in behind the TV, the other under the stairs where the first of a BT mesh disc is located, works quite well in this heavy stone wall built place.
Then we had a power cut, expected everything to come back, but no, took me a while to figure it was an ethernet switch, luckily had a spare and been fine since.

I run all kit like that on APC UPS systems so that if there is a power cut, things aren't too badly affected and usually it will keep it powered until the power comes back on.

 

[neilo]

I ended up buying a couple more Asus mesh routers (secondhand), the same as the other two, then have the original router with the WiFi turned off working as a modem and just passing the signal to the mesh system.

Still dropping out occasionally, but that's the router & BB signal I think. The WiFi is fine and will hopefully be fed from the FTTP box in a couple of weeks.

 

[Cowabunga]

No issues at all running them through an extension lead power board here.

Possibly not but it does warn not to do so in the instruction sheet. I presumed it was due to some multi-socket bricks being fitted with surge protection but I have no actual knowledge as to whether that is the case or not. I just recently read the instruction sheet and report as seen.

 

[Steevo]

Possibly not but it does warn not to do so in the instruction sheet. I presumed it was due to some multi-socket bricks being fitted with surge protection but I have no actual knowledge as to whether that is the case or not. I just recently read the instruction sheet and report as seen.

Works fine on surge protection here too.

 

[steveR]

What sort of area does your yard wifi cover?

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Did a "test" last Summer, my Motorola picked up a connection from 300m away, which to be honest amazed me...

Antenna is well positioned on the top of the house, with a PoE feed from the router in the Office of about 30m.

Quite chuffed really! Sit in the garden and watch the Rugby