Need guidance on long range wifi

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rae888

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Sep 15, 2013
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I currently have comcast router that allows for 3 phone lines. I am only using 2. Somewhere I heard it would be best to use a separate router dedicated for my internet connection so I have splitter that connects an Arris surfboard, to the comcast phone/internet modem. I have my office computer hardwired to that router. That router also connects through an ethernet line in basement to an accept point router(Linksys) which is located in middle of house. I then have a range extender plugged in upstairs that boost my signal for phone and smart t.v..

We use two printers, 3 smart t.v. s .(Usually only 1 at a time.) We stream netflix Hulu, etc. The main t.v. in our front room is where main comcast HD DVR device is connected . That is the only one of the 3 smart TVs that don't give problems. The other two t.vs. have problems re-loading when trying to stream, and they are slow to start the streaming services. So I am ready to invest in setting up a better wifi system.

I went to BestBuy in hopes of learning how to do this and guy showed me an Orbi and Eeros mesh systems. He leaned towards the Eeros systems. I've seen good and bad reviews on both. So was hoping someone could suggest who & what would be best for me. I've seen expensive routers but seems like the latest thing now are these hub mesh systems.. I need signal to go upstairs. I guess I have about 4,000 square feet and several walls to go through.
 
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N
You keep your existing router, these are dedicated access points. If you don't have a computer at home that you keep running, you also need a cloud key.

Again, this sort of setup will require some research and skill with networking, but it's really not that difficult.

Here is a blog article that talks about these compared to others. https://blog.jseaber.com/2017/09/12/google-wifi-for-home-unifi-for-business/

I spent years in my old house with crappy wifi.....I had the best wifi routers, tried dd-wrt, tried relocating them.....having an access point in the middle of the room on a ceiling is the way to go. I have not had a single issue with this system, been running for two years, haven't touched a thing.

Buy the items from...
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njxc500

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If you're willing to put in some effort, a Ubiquiti UAP-AC-Lite would cover your home. I have 2500 SF on the main level, and I installed two of them, couldn't be happier. I have coverage that extends outside as well. They also have a long range version. Look into it, definitely more complicated than a mesh, but when you read reviews of the mesh, many of them reference these ubiquiti units, they set the bar pretty high.
 
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rae888

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Sep 15, 2013
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What do I need? A router and access point or just an access point?
 
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njxc500

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Apr 30, 2008
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You keep your existing router, these are dedicated access points. If you don't have a computer at home that you keep running, you also need a cloud key.

Again, this sort of setup will require some research and skill with networking, but it's really not that difficult.

Here is a blog article that talks about these compared to others. https://blog.jseaber.com/2017/09/12/google-wifi-for-home-unifi-for-business/

I spent years in my old house with crappy wifi.....I had the best wifi routers, tried dd-wrt, tried relocating them.....having an access point in the middle of the room on a ceiling is the way to go. I have not had a single issue with this system, been running for two years, haven't touched a thing.

Buy the items from Baltic Networks.

https://www.balticnetworks.com/ubiquiti-unifi-802-11ac-lite-indoor-2-4-5ghz-ap.html

https://www.balticnetworks.com/ubiquiti-unifi-controller-hybrid-cloud-key.html

For around $150....what a deal....maybe put in two....$225 total, plus your time to figure it out, maybe some time pulling wire. Good Luck.
 
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JoeMomma

JoeMomma

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Nov 17, 2010
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Have you used a WiFi analyzer app?
When I used it I found that the default channel was crowded by my neighbors.
Once I changed to a less used frequency my signal got more stable.
I was even able to turn down the power so I wasn't blasting my WiFi far and wide.

O7FbTp3.jpg

channel 9
 
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vmfantom

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Nov 28, 2017
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If you don't already have Cat5e/Cat6 Ethernet cabling in your walls, having to run it is a major inconvenience. The UniFi APs that people on this forum love don't generally review well compared to eero. Orbi has the best backhaul throughput of any meshed range extender set, but doesn't appear to yet support Fast Roaming between the extenders. But not knowing which materials are used in the construction of your home, whether this will really propagate the signal well enough to avoid packet loss is not knowable before you make a purchase.

Something else to consider would be Actiontec's wifi extenders that use MoCA between cable outlets and pass through your cable modem and TV signals with a second coax port. These appear to clone WPS settings from the main router, which is convenient, and definitely much simpler than buying Ethernet cabling and tearing up your walls to install wired PoE APs. Plus you wouldn't be dependent on wifi-over-wifi links between extenders to make it work, since the MoCA extenders are wired.
 
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