Need Longer Wi-Fi Range, Best Options?

Rochie on 05/01/2018 - 13:56

So I have just moved to a new house, the office is located opposite side of the house from the nbn FTTP box. Currently have Stock standard modem/router from ISP. It doesn't quite reach the whole house. What is the best option to extend the range with losing out on reliability/speed? The nbn box in is the garage.

Do I upgrade to a solid long range modem/router?
Purchase a decent wifi range extender?
Run a longer ethernet cable from nbn box to place the current modem/router more centralised in the house?
Any other suggestions?

Computing

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 05/01/2018 - 14:01

    Xiaomi wifi extender 2

    • Rochie on 05/01/2018 - 14:05

      This?

      Worth going up for the pro model?

      • Shuey on 05/01/2018 - 16:39

        I would recommend the Pro model. Got a few Wifi Extender 2 (the small ones) cos they were cheap, but I placed the Pro one in the middle of the house and it works a treat

      • PVA on 05/01/2018 - 22:57
        +1

        I bought the first one months ago when it was around $6.
        Downstairs playroom had intermittent signal from our router that's sitting upstairs. Plugged one of these in the playroom and now all fine, PlayStation ant tv is fine, Netflix working great.
        Well worth $6 but I bet there are better options like the Google Mesh routers, have a few of them around the house and you are all covered and a lot faster than the xiaomi. A lot more dollars though.

  • [Deactivated] on 05/01/2018 - 14:01

    Cheap 2

  • OldSchoolHarry on 05/01/2018 - 14:16
    +3

    Just get an Access Point such as Ubiquiti Unifi AC Pro and plug it into ISP modem (and disable WiFi on ISP router). There are cheaper access points available but this path is definitely better than using range extenders and cheaper than getting a high-end modem/router.

    • Rochie on 05/01/2018 - 14:48

      Will that increase thw wifi range though? Won't it still run off the modems antennas?

      • OldSchoolHarry on 05/01/2018 - 15:10

        Yes, it will increase range because it uses its own built-in antennae. (actual improvement in range depends on how good or bad your existing router is)

    • fairleys on 05/01/2018 - 16:38

      Plus one for the Unifi AC Pro. I found it not only gave me more range, but seems to be better at drowning out the other WiFi networks around me. My old router kept jumping to different channels to try and avoid interference with other networks, but since I've got the AC Pro I've not had any issues.

      They are a little more difficult to set up than your traditional router though. But there is plenty on line to help step you through it.

  • dcuksuop on 05/01/2018 - 14:29
    +3

    I would run long ethernet cable or use powerline extender.

    • bdl on 05/01/2018 - 15:28

      +1

  • [Deactivated] on 05/01/2018 - 14:29
    +1

    I use TP-Link extenders over the electrical wiring system. The TP remote unit where I work has both wifi and an ethernet socket. Internet download speeds using the remote unit are virtually the same as when plugged directly into the modem. Both TP units, the one connected to the modem and the remote one, need to be on the same electrical circuit.
    I tried an Asus range extender which I found to be useless. Major reduction in download speed and couldn't locate the extender where I wanted to use its ethernet port.

  • pantsparty on 05/01/2018 - 14:48

    Run an ethernet cable through the roof? This would be very cost efficient compared to buying more fancy electronics - use a guide like this if you don't know where to start:

    https://lifehacker.com/how-to-wire-your-house-with-cat5-or-c…

    • Wakety-Wack on 16/01/2018 - 19:18

      +1

      Ethernet to roof with a switch up there, then ethernet to a router/access point on either end of the house.

      Make the SSID and passwords the same and devices should join the closest when they drop out of the other.

      You can also run ethernet to things you want hard wired like tv's, gaming consoles, NAS, security cameras ect…

      Would be the best way to future proof your network.

    • alvian on 17/01/2018 - 07:04

      Stop at step 2 because it is illegal to wire your home in Australia if you are not a registered ACMA cabler, or under the supervision of one. See these articles for starters.

  • macklington on 05/01/2018 - 17:31

    If you could cheaply centralise the NBN device's position, that'd be my recommendation. Most sheds are reflective tin cans that do nothing good for a WiFi signal. Once out of there, most routers with inbuilt APs will have more than enough coverage for your normal house. Cat-6 has a 100m limitation, so if the distance between the new and original location is less than that, you'll experience no degradation on the quality of your connection, at the cheapest possible cost.

    The next best alternative after that is the wired option through the house wiring. The only limitation to this with larger premises is that the two parts of the house may be running on separate circuits, which unfortunately would prevent using this kind of technology (to my knowledge, at least).

    The last option is the use of repeaters. The nature of WiFi and the way the devices handle the signal means that every hop they take through another device will significantly kill throughput… so, they work, but they 're not great.

  • Silver-Arrowz on 05/01/2018 - 18:30

    Why not look at a wireless mesh system? Eg http://www.tp-link.com.au/home-networking/deco/

    Multiple access points that know how to hand over devices when you move from one location to another (ie device connected to the closest access point).

    I'm not recommending TP-Link… just an example.

    • alvian on 06/01/2018 - 05:46

      Wi-Fi roaming is determined by the client. Are there new access points that initiate client handoff? Please tell which brand and model.

      • AlienC on 09/01/2018 - 11:23

        Just get a secondary router.. Ethernet wire it to the new location set it up in bridge mode or new access point mode. Make ssid and information of all routers and original modem router the same.. wala you now have extra coverage with only one meshed WiFi network.. very easy and works simply.

        Your device automatically connects to the nearest ssid which if you make all your routers the same password security name and all it should be completely seamless through out the house.

        Repeat steps as needed.

        I have the original modem router connected to the "box" and a netgear nighthawk x6 r8000 router connected to the original modem like this. Works like a charm.

        • alvian on 09/01/2018 - 13:00

          And the decision to roam between access points in your WLAN is made by the WiFi client, which isn't what Silver-Arrowz was saying. S/he said the access points know how to hand off clients in the WLAN, which would be a new technology if true.

          Also, what you described is a classic multiple AP WLAN. It isn't a mesh WiFi network.

  • o53djz7qTPY4der on 05/01/2018 - 18:32

    I use powerline adapters and they are great but as someone else said you have to be conscious of seperate circuits.

  • Rochie on 05/01/2018 - 22:50

    If I have a modem/router, can I buy a standalone router and route the wifi from the modem/router through the router? The connection is FTTP so the modem/router requires the wan port to run if that helps.

  • OrderInWrongWordsThe on 05/01/2018 - 23:55

    I'm a bit old school about my networking and still prefer Ethernet over any wireless solution. I moved my router into the middle of my apartment by using long Ethernet cables, an old coat hanger and a drill.

    I just punched holes through wardrobes to get in and out of rooms and then ran a flat cable under the carpet to get across a corridor. Allowed me to wire up a 70s apartment with gigabit Ethernet so that I can still get good transfer speeds to my server and no lag issues for games online.

    As part of my job I had to assess some AC wireless routers performance in my apartment and I used my Ethernet system as a sort of benchmark to show what the ceiling is. The wifi was…. underwhelming.

  • Korban Dallas on 06/01/2018 - 01:22

    ALFA NICs with over 2000mW with an R36 Extender and you are good for a few kilometres :) or make a cantenna

  • alvian on 06/01/2018 - 05:35

    Extend your Wi-Fi network with an old router and Ethernet cable: https://www.wikihow.com/Connect-One-Router-to-Another-to-Exp…

    Same idea as using an access point but saves you money if you already have an old router.

    Keep Wi-Fi radio on on both routers to give better coverage throughout the house. Reduce radio signal strength on both routers if possible for better roaming and reliability. Yes, it seems counter intuitive but this is the correct way to implement multiple radios on a Wi-Fi network. Please don't fall into the trap of "drowning out your neighbours" because it doesn't work well. Here's an explanation (a Wi-Fi radio channel is a single collision domain): https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/03/802-e…

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