Mesh WiFi - any experts on here

rockits

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9,167
PS - I've googled what a PoE switch is, and I don't have one... What I've currently got in terms of a switch is a Netgear Prosafe 8Port Gigabit switch (GS108 v3)....

In most cases my hardwired access point is next to a power socket, so is there any benefit in upgrading to a PoE switch? I’ve also just checked the cables, and they are Cat5e, rather than Cat 6
LOL....a PoE switch offers no benefit to you really other than ease/flexibility of mounting. In many office/site locations they are on ceilings with data run by not necessarily qualified non-electricians. Basically doesn't need a power socket nearby. Reduces cost of installation in essence especially in larger scale environments.

The current switch is fine and the CAT5e cabling is all fine as will run upto Gigabit speeds fine. You want need CAT6 ever I would suggest. Unless you start dipping into 10Gbps stuff!

Sometimes the managed/L2/L3 switches can often causes issues where less intelligent/dumb switches are ignorantly & blissfully unaware. I have seen issues with IPTV problems with managed switch an BT IPTV channels......ask me how I know :D
 

spkennyuk

Member
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5,931
If you want to check and see what wifi channels are being used in and around your premises. Download an app called net analyser.

Its easy to use. Just select wifi and it will show you all the channel numbers being used on 2.4g signal. Button 2nd from right at the top switches to the 5g signal page.

Look for your hub on each page and see if its broadcasting on the same chanel as something else. If it is change the chanel to one that isnt being used. You change the channel in your hub settings.

Worth checking as it may identify an issue now to speed you up short term pending an fibre upgrade.
 

Wanderer

Member
Messages
5,791
If you want to check and see what wifi channels are being used in and around your premises. Download an app called net analyser.

Its easy to use. Just select wifi and it will show you all the channel numbers being used on 2.4g signal. Button 2nd from right at the top switches to the 5g signal page.

Look for your hub on each page and see if its broadcasting on the same chanel as something else. If it is change the chanel to one that isnt being used. You change the channel in your hub settings.

Worth checking as it may identify an issue now to speed you up short term pending an fibre upgrade.
You nicked my idea and done it back to me!
 

JonW

Member
Messages
3,259
If you want to check and see what wifi channels are being used in and around your premises. Download an app called net analyser.

Its easy to use. Just select wifi and it will show you all the channel numbers being used on 2.4g signal. Button 2nd from right at the top switches to the 5g signal page.

Look for your hub on each page and see if its broadcasting on the same chanel as something else. If it is change the chanel to one that isnt being used. You change the channel in your hub settings.

Worth checking as it may identify an issue now to speed you up short term pending an fibre upgrade.
Just downloaded the free version but it doesnt seem to have a WiFi option - I wonder if that is only in the £3.99 Pro version?
 

spkennyuk

Member
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5,931
Just downloaded the free version but it doesnt seem to have a WiFi option - I wonder if that is only in the £3.99 Pro version?

You need to turn on your phone location services before you run the scan. You can turn it off again afterwards.

Two screen shots below. Yellow arrow is where you select wifi. Red arrow is to switch from 2.4g to 5g.

68850



68849
 

BillyBob

Member
Messages
107
hi, this is really interesting....

Currently we don’t have Sky Q, and I had thought about going this route, but its apparently very hard to talk to Sky at the moment due to COVID, so I decided against it...

Once the lockdown is over I think I will need to pay someone who knows what they are doing to come and sort out our whole WiFi/TV/home entertainment set up, but for now I just need something really easy to set up.

Our house was refurbished / rebuilt about 5 hrs ago, and we have Cat6 cables wired to all three floors, so I’m hoping that if I stick one of the Mesh things on each floor, and connect each one with an Ethernet cable, that it will help, and at least make the best of what we have.

I will however also take a look at the R800... I like the idea of reserving all the fast signal for me, and letting the wife and kids have the slower one!

Lots of people seem to fixate on Wi-Fi - when the more straightforward solution is staring them in the face. Connect directly to your internet connection using an Ethernet cable - you've already said you have a cable to each floor. This will then eliminate any issues related to Wi-Fi connectivity, and just leave you with the challenge of your actual internet connectivity - which you've already said you can't do anything about at the moment.
 

spkennyuk

Member
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5,931
Lots of people seem to fixate on Wi-Fi - when the more straightforward solution is staring them in the face. Connect directly to your internet connection using an Ethernet cable - you've already said you have a cable to each floor. This will then eliminate any issues related to Wi-Fi connectivity, and just leave you with the challenge of your actual internet connectivity - which you've already said you can't do anything about at the moment.

Thats true but not quite so easy when its a phone or tablet for example.
 

zagatoes30

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20,759
I hard wired the TVs to the router which made a big difference to WiFi performance taking the big bandwidth items off it.
 

JonW

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Messages
3,259
Lots of people seem to fixate on Wi-Fi - when the more straightforward solution is staring them in the face. Connect directly to your internet connection using an Ethernet cable - you've already said you have a cable to each floor. This will then eliminate any issues related to Wi-Fi connectivity, and just leave you with the challenge of your actual internet connectivity - which you've already said you can't do anything about at the moment.

Fair point - the TV’s are connected by Ethernet cables, and I’ve got some adapters coming to enable my laptop and the Macs to be hardwired... clearly harder for Ipad, etc
 

rockits

Member
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9,167
All my stuff at home, in the office and also at customer sites mainly is wired if it doesn't move. If a laptop that can move it is docked and wired when on a desk. Wired is much better for speed bit also importantly for security. Also maybe your health. Why leads me on to a new.thread I will start later.....

However there is always devices that move and need some wifi. Just minimise it when you can.
 

JonW

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3,259
Thanks for all the replies - and a special thanks to Dean (Rockits) for the off-line advice...

I’ve done my usual thing of throwing some money at the problem, and now have a fully functioning 5 disc mesh wifi system that seems to cover the whole house and both patios with full strength WiFi coverage. I’m super impressed with the ease of set-up, and am slowly getting to grips with some of the features such as being able to set QoS priorities, parental controls, and different priorities for different devices.

Interestingly, even with the TV’s hardwired to the Ethernet, I’ve still got 20+ devices connected to the wi-fi...

I’ve also received a new upgraded hub from Sky, and tomorrow my broadband should be upgraded to Sky Superfast (FTTC) which I’m hoping will switch my donwload speeds from between 13-18Mbps to between 60-70Mbps. Even better it should take my upload speed for 2-3Mbps to something around 16-18Mbps....

The goal is that this will enable me to work outside on the patio - just in time for the weather to turn **** and start raining!
 

Felonious Crud

Administrator
Staff member
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I bought a BT whole home set of discs thing a couple of years ago and it's excellent. We now have 70Mb down in every room. Even the patio right at the back gets good-enough speeds. Right now I'm on the patio nearest the house now and get (hang on)...

65 down and 18 up. I'm very pleased with it. Outside working from home is very achievable. Only the birdsong gives the game away.
 

JonW

Member
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3,259
I bought a BT whole home set of discs thing a couple of years ago and it's excellent. We now have 70Mb down in every room. Even the patio right at the back gets good-enough speeds. Right now I'm on the patio nearest the house now and get (hang on)...

65 down and 18 up. I'm very pleased with it. Outside working from home is very achievable. Only the birdsong gives the game away.

sounds good Adam, you have what I’m hoping to achieve...
 

JonW

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3,259
Nice work Jon

What kit did you go for in the end?

hi Dean - I went with the TP-link Deco ones in the end as I wanted to have the option of linking them all in to home automation stuff such as Smart bulbs, fridges, thermostats, underfloor heating, etc... and all the reviews said the setup via the app was a breeze, which it was!
 

rockits

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9,167
Nice work....sounds good. Will be interesting to see the speeds when you get the FTTC live.

How much was a 5 pack if you don't mind me asking?
 

JonW

Member
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3,259
So, two days in with the new FTTC broadband, and at the hub I’m currently getting 62mbps download, and 18-19Mbps upload.

If I then do a speed test on the mesh, I’m averaging 53-57mbps down, and 18 up... This is a vast improvement from where I was, but I may experiment with setting each mesh disk as an Access Point rather than being in router mode and see if that gets me closer to the 60mbps anywhere in the house...

I can see my wifi speed becoming a new obsession!