Need a Wi-Fi Bridge, (Not Extend Wi-Fi! Just Really Damn Good AC Bridge)

hamwhisperer on 27/09/2019 - 22:50
Last edited 28/09/2019 - 09:07

Anyone got one they can recommend.

NOTE: I'm a nerd, I had 10GB fibre before,…………. so I'm used to a ridiculously clean, reliable, low latency connection.

I don't care if my connection is only 10MBytes/s but I want it to be a SOLID 10MB/s with low as heck latency.

I have an up to date Fritzbox 7490 and we're talking about a distance of 6 to 8 metres through a paper thin wall

How can I join my NAS / Servers / Desktop to my Television / Pi / PS4 in another room?
(again, I don't care about extending wifi at all, I want every ounce of the Bridge processor / wifi chip, dedicated to staying connected to the AC router)

Prefer cheap, price is an issue, but none of these $350 units…… I'm hoping something in the $150 at most range can do this.

Thanks team.

NOTE: I'm a nerd, I get it, cable wins, I CAN NOT IN ANY WAY run ethernet, sorry. God help me I wish I could so much, but it is NOT an option here.

Computing Wireless Range Extender

Comments

  • Sunny84 on 27/09/2019 - 23:00

    Ethernet other power line an option?

      • Sunny84 on 27/09/2019 - 23:08

        Whats wrong with your new place that's causing bad Wi-Fi through paper thin walls and PoE to not work?

        • hamwhisperer on 27/09/2019 - 23:18

          PoE I don't know, cabling issues? I basically bought the best PoE out there, but it's worthless (different circuit I guess?)

          Wireless I haven't tried yet, that's what I need to do.

          Join : Network1
          Television, PS4, Switch (ethernet), Raspberry Pi, PS3)

          To:
          Big fat powerful NAS, ESXi Server, FreeNAS Server, Desktop PC, Desktop PC.

          Just want 80 to 200Mbit sustained and _RELIABLE AS HELL!! :(

  • Diji1 on 27/09/2019 - 23:05
    -1

    I suppose you already know that ethernet cable is best and the cheapest.

    • hamwhisperer on 27/09/2019 - 23:06
      -1

      I thought the "I had 10GB fibre before" made it clear.

      I get it, wifi is garbage, I HATE it but I have 0 choice at this place :/

  • garetz on 27/09/2019 - 23:51

    asus Ac68U is a pretty good wireless router for reliability that can be used as a bridge.

    • hamwhisperer on 28/09/2019 - 07:02

      Is it AC and known for reliability? Should I look to use one that can run DD wrt ?

      Ok well I just looked up and DD wrt is well dead, open wrt seems the way to go now.

  • lukebeau on 28/09/2019 - 06:36
    +4

    I find it funny how you are so anal about consistency and high performance yet are unwilling to spend the amount of cash to get it done properly.

    • hamwhisperer on 28/09/2019 - 07:01
      -4

      What part of being a renter don't you get?

      • lukebeau on 28/09/2019 - 08:43
        +1

        “ Prefer cheap, price is an issue, but none of these $350 units.”

        This has nothing to do with renting. If you want something done right you need to up your budget.

        • hamwhisperer on 28/09/2019 - 08:47

          I can't lay a cable.

          • lukebeau on 28/09/2019 - 08:59

            @hamwhisperer: You can use wireless mesh networks that don’t require cabling in between.

            • hamwhisperer on 28/09/2019 - 09:03

              @lukebeau: But isn't a wireless mesh, also giving me a bigger wifi network (which I simply don't need)?

              I got the impression from reading a bridge is a dedicated, more stable and slightly faster connection between 2 locations?

              The only thing I don't know, is if I buy an AC router, put it in to bridge mode and make it a client of the primary router / AP, will that 'turn off' (?) the existing wifi in my house for the rest of the devices like laptop / ipad / etc?

              Here's a pic:
              https://i.imgur.com/yvXkVvS.png

  • SBOB on 28/09/2019 - 08:17
    +1

    why not just get a better wifi AP or mesh network.
    Something like an ubiquiti AP Lite will be under that budget and give very good wifi coverage and performance

    Assuming your TV/PS4/Pi all have wifi, a bridge doesnt really add any benefit

  • thatonethere on 28/09/2019 - 08:56

    I'd just run a cable on the floor. Can tuck it into the edge of the skirting board. Can pick it up when you get a rental inspection so you don't look like a crack house.

    • hamwhisperer on 28/09/2019 - 09:04

      It's not possible, I've done that before - we have "wife acceptance factor" at play here - and a house layoug that makes this even more difficult than it sounds - it's a particularly terrible layout unfortunately.

      • thatonethere on 28/09/2019 - 10:13

        If you are game and there is carpet all the way you could pull up the carpet on one side, box cut a narrow channel for the cable into the underlay then tack it back down…

  • BobD on 28/09/2019 - 09:18

    This will get you the speed but it will blow your budget. To get what you want you will have to spend more.
    https://www.scorptec.com.au/product/Networking-Wireless/Rout…
    Also available at your friendly Hardly Normal store.
    It was reviewed very favourably in APC Magazine Sep 2019 issue 471 on page 30.

    • hamwhisperer on 28/09/2019 - 09:24

      Oh wow! I saw that price and made loud gasping noises for real.

      Is there an equivelant product which claims to be 'the bees knees' for reliability that is 'only' Wifi5 (AC) - I don't need AX, it's the reliability I crave.

  • pinchies on 28/09/2019 - 11:21

    I use a netgear R6200 to repeat a R7000. I don't recommend it for speed, I would rate it 7/10, and it does all kinds of strange things with virtual mac addresses etc. Hope that helps you avoid it at least! I'd rather route ethernet under doors and along hallways than use it if I could. I also have PoE which works well, except the 2-3 times a month where the connection randomly disconnects and I have to power cycle the unit.

    Ethernet > all other options.

  • whooah1979 on 28/09/2019 - 11:24

    we're talking about a distance of 6 to 8 metres through a paper thin wall

    We use a tp link for connect a workstation through four wall at ~12 m. Reliable? Yes. Fast? Reasonable.

  • omguleh on 28/09/2019 - 12:07

    This isn't going to help but the wifi on my 7490 sucks too. I tried the cheap extenders and mesh systems but all have issues one way or another.

    Ended up getting a Amplifi HD mesh system and no issues at all, 100% uptime and stable.

    If you don't want mesh then get the standalone HD box and be worry free.

  • kaos on 29/09/2019 - 11:02

    let me start by saying I din't have a lot of sympathy for the demand that a solution be cheap, guaranteed work and have utterly fantastic performance.

    But if you want advice, here we go-

    1. work out why EOP won't work. That appears to be the best option for your requirements- don't just tell us it doesn't work, spend some time to figure out why- often these things can be made to work acceptably
    2. I got an ethernet cable run through my (rented) house with an acceptable WAF by buying conduit from Bunnings and running the cable through that. People are so used to seeing conduit it is almost invisible
    3. If your wife still complains, turn off her internet access until she agrees
    4. If you want a proper wifi point-to-point connection that will bridge and not route across your network, use Ubiquiti gear. It is cheap and works really well. Bear in mind it isn't actually in your budget though, because cheap is relative

    Every time you use mesh and wifi extenders, god kills a kitten. Don't do it- for the kittens sake

  • rookie317 on 02/10/2019 - 00:57

    I don't know much about Fritz Box but with a quick google it doesn't seem quite recent thus there is no way it can give a satisfied WiFi connection to your study room.
    The only way to achieve what you want looks to be a pair of AX routers, this is simply the best WiFi connection you can get at the moment. This was posted earlier but with lower price on Amazon.
    Another way to do it cheaper would be to get one AX router and this little WiFi card for your PC. I have no idea how good that card is but it seems risky imo and a bit limited but i'm assuming only your PC really requires low latency connection.
    If I were you I'd just go for the Asus AX pack. Since they talk to each other using a dedicated backhaul connection, you can even relieve your Fritz Box too.
    EDIT: Sorry didn't notice the price was in USD. I agree 600+ is way out of budget. AX Wifi is just expensive atm, your best bet would be to find a pair of AC routers with dedicated backhaul connection imo.

  • hamwhisperer on 07/10/2019 - 12:47

    Update:

    Despite my wife protesting and me protesting and much angst and frustration with EoP devices being crap (well, crap in our new place) I have indeed, gone the impossible route and laid a cable. I specifically bought a light coloured one so it doesn't blend into the house.

    I'm pretty annoyed I had to do this, because about 10 to 15MB/s sustained, would've been totally fine for my needs, as long as it was RELIABLE.

    EoP totally is worthless in my apt and (I hear) it's worthless in many new apts.

    So I specifically got a coloured ethernet cable now, with a pricey cable hiding rubber routing thing for the kitchen floor and it's kind of not too obvious and horrible.
    It's also totally reliable, dead fast (duh, who could've guessed)
    I'm almost disapointed though, because EoP shouldn't be this darn difficult / frustrating.

    Thanks all for trying to help

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