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Best option for home wifi extension?



I have a NETGEAR EX3800 WiFi extender that worked well for a couple of years but is now increasingly unreliable and I repeatedly have to switch it off and back on again. This is the second one I’ve had of these and the first one did the same thing. I’m thinking about getting a mesh network instead. Ignoring cost differences, which would you recommend? Another WiFi extender, a powerline adaptor or the mesh network?
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Best Answers
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Ajax Member Posts: 35
I've used a combination of Gigabit powerline extenders and cat5 cabling where I can and put some Cisco AP's on the end. I've used the Cisco WAP121's but I'm sure there are some updated versions available now. I don't have any trouble speed wise and rarely require reboots. We have 6 streaming devices around the house and often we have a few on at a time with no buffering. I've got 3 AP's around my house and get decent signal throughout.
I tried the Netgear extenders once (WN3000RP) and found as you have. Regular downtime and reboots required.3 -
Lee_Bo Member Posts: 273
I tried several additions and extensions to my Asus router, but in the end I just decided to pay the money and get a true mesh network, so I went with the Ubiquiti Amplifi system. Was a little more than I was looking to spend but I have been very satisfied so far.
https://www.amazon.com/AmpliFi-Ubiquiti-Seamless-Wireless-Extenders/dp/B01L9O08PW
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domenico Administrator Posts: 3
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The_dave Member Posts: 2
I find ubiquiti unifi to be absolutely fantastic - and works well for a combination of wired access points, and meshed if wires cannot be run. The management platform is great - even for simple usage, but has some reasonably advanced features if needed.
Uniquiti also do a stand-alone platform for meshing at home (amplifi), which is also really impressive, and very extensible if required.
Often there can be a certain amount of trial and error (and educated guesswork) when it comes to extending WiFi - I know it well, but consistently had one “dead” room until I put another AP in.
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Romulus Member, Beta Tester Posts: 35
Things I have tried :- Cheap extenders
- Cheap routers as extenders
- Cheap mesh
My current solution (the cheap mesh) consists of an Asus RT-AC86U for my main router and two Asus AC-1900 re-flashed to upgrade them to RT-AC68U routers. These form an Asus mesh and has been working very well for me. The mesh gives the devices the nudge they need to hop from one node to the other. I have happily streamed video whilst roaming between the access points.
The AC-1900's cost a mere $50 each but require a fairly complex upgrade procedure to make them mesh capable (only for the technically brave). But Asus has a bunch of models that are mesh capable that don't need that hassle. Whilst I wouldn't say it has been entirely plain sailing my mesh seems pretty reliable and doesn't need reboots too often (say once every month or two). And it's not like it ever folds completely, I just seem to get the odd device having trouble and reboot to resolve.
Whilst I am sure there are much better mesh solutions out there, they seem to cost an arm and a leg and many don't seem to have much in the way of advanced configuration options. The Asus solution gives me a lot of control over my network. About the only thing missing is a guest Wifi network. Maybe they will add that someday.6 -
CryptoMinky Member Posts: 11
After many tries I have concluded that "cheap mesh and cheap extenders are a waste of good money". I would add that one should consider the following elements when designing or improving an extended Wi-Fi system: distance, wall construction, optimal configuration of components, optimal placement of devices (not to close to other RF generating devices), new advances in router technology and finally - electronic equipment fatigue.5
Answers
Mesh networking, extenders, powerline etc. are not quite as stable and reliable long term as the tried and tested methods above. They're ok for the small stuff but as houses become more and more technologically diverse they just can't keep up with the latency and bandwidth required.
Personally, I prefer mesh routers.
ie Google Wifi (see link at the bottom)
That solved my range issue when I was in the similar situation.
https://store.google.com/product/google_wifi
Never had good luck with extender tech.... that said iv used routers as extenders in the past vs dedicated extender devices and that can be pretty reliable.... but remember every hop can (but not necessarily) halve your throughput.... Reason I said can not will... there are some devices such as Orbi/Velop/using a router as an extender, that can dedicate a channel to the connection and your throughput does not get affected as much.. Still may be some overhead but its negligible
I also have a wired network in the rooms I've put the mesh points in, so that probably contributes to the satisfaction with the Instant line.
Matt
-Warden Anastasia Luccio, Captain
The main issue I have is that I lose signal at the front of my flat. It's split-level and is long, so the Wi-Fi signal drops somewhere in the middle and is quite weak upstairs. The NETGEAR extender has been perfectly adequate until recently, so I'm just looking for a more reliable replacement. Preferably something that is easy to install too, otherwise my next post will be about that!