Wi-Fi Mesh (plus Telstra rant)

kiwimex on 05/09/2022 - 15:01

After a disaster dealing with Telstra I am chasing the best bang for your buck in wifi mesh/range extenders. probably only need two max. My budget is up around the $500 mark as I do have access to staff pricing through retailers.

After recommendations on my last post I ordered the Telstra Smart Wi-fi Booster, the booster arrived fast in two days, unfortunately that was the end of anything good to say about them. After hours of repeated attempts to get it to pair with my Gen 2 modem and discussion with Telstra support they sent me a 2nd unit. Which after the same amount of time wasted it too will not connect and their support department are clueless to say the least. Following the included instructions to the letter did not help…then customer support suggested trying different instructions they supplied over chat….they didn't work either.

I spent a bit of time searching online and surprisingly there is basically no troubleshooting help to be found.

They asked me to take the boosters into a store to have them looked at so they could find the issue. I advised that wasn't happening sry.

So last night I cancelled my order then the cheeky buggers wanted to charge me a cancellation fee $286.00 to which I laughed and said good luck with that. (subsequently they have wavered the fee lol) I have asked them to send a courier bag otherwise the boosters will go in the bin.

Internet

Comments

  • askbargain on 05/09/2022 - 15:34

    Why are you budgeting $500? Is there a specific need? Do you have ethernet backhaul wiring?

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/722789

    Even $250 should be enough for your needs.

    • askbargain on 05/09/2022 - 16:03

      Now $200

      https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/722994

      You can spend the $300 wiring your house with ethernet.

    • kiwimex on 05/09/2022 - 18:31

      my modem location is at one end of the house, the bedrooms and lounge areas are basically at the other end, including our outdoor area, I want to have good signal for all areas. We have 6 internet hoggers in the house and they all struggle with signal.

    • kiwimex on 05/09/2022 - 18:35

      just figured i could get a better product at that price point. a $500 retail item costs me about $300 with discount.

  • redforever on 05/09/2022 - 16:28

    Did they send you a gen 3 booster? Is it a white one or a black one?

    Maybe ask if they can upgrade you to a gen 3 smart modem.

    • kiwimex on 05/09/2022 - 18:25

      Yes gen 3 with wi-fi 6 black ones….a have two of them now.

  • vince088 on 05/09/2022 - 16:29
    +1

    Bang for buck is prob the Tenda Novas
    I have them, and have set up a few for family and friends.
    Easy and does the job

  • JimmyF on 05/09/2022 - 19:59
    +1

    I ordered the Telstra Smart Wi-fi Booster, the booster arrived fast in two days, unfortunately that was the end of anything good to say about them. After hours of repeated attempts to get it to pair with my Gen 2 modem

    Ask for a Gen 3 modem to go with the gen 3 boosters…

    I have these, they just 'work', so not sure what issues you are having.

    • kiwimex on 05/09/2022 - 20:31

      I asked them about the gen 3 modem
      And they did it was not required as my gen 2 was compatible. After the pairing process where you use the Ethernet cable to pair the bootee at the end it asks you to disconnect the cable and wait for the light to turn blue again! Well that never happened it just goes red.

      • JimmyF on 05/09/2022 - 20:49
        +1

        They take a min or two to sync. But sounds like an issue with the modem then.

        Have you tried to factory reset your modem and then repair?

        Which telstra smart modem gen 2 do you have? There are two types, do you have the vent holes on the side or the one that is solid?

        • kiwimex on 05/09/2022 - 22:36

          vent holes on the side, its not all that old. We did a reset on the modem with the first booster, and that screwed up multiple devices on my salt water aquarium….so i refused to do a 2nd reset of the modem. Basically had to tell them to stop telling me to do the same processes I just did with the first booster. Tech support was clueless TBH went over the same process for hours.

          • 87percent on 06/09/2022 - 07:31

            @kiwimex: Ask Telstra to send a Platinum Tech to your house and get it sorted

            • kiwimex on 06/09/2022 - 12:10
              -1

              @87percent: To be honest…I don't have the confidence they will solve the issue.

              • 87percent on 06/09/2022 - 13:12
                -1

                @kiwimex: its literally their job.. but up to you

                • kiwimex on 06/09/2022 - 18:04

                  @87percent: Well you would think the same about online / over phone tech support wouldn't you….and that has been nothing but underwhelming.

                  • 87percent on 06/09/2022 - 18:15
                    -1

                    @kiwimex: Platinum tech comes to your house to get it working. Whatever, I give up… I rescind my offer of assistance

                    • kiwimex on 06/09/2022 - 18:31
                      -1

                      @87percent: I know what a technician does! Yes I gave up on telstra too. Did you not read in my post?…..I cancelled my order! Not interested in dealing with them any longer.

  • kfp187 on 08/09/2022 - 14:39

    So first things first. The Telstra Gen 3 Modems are very buggy. Sounds like you need a booster. You could look at getting the white Gen 2 Telstra modem and booster (a lot of their issues have been ironed out). Or Keep the Gen 3 as a modem and get say the TP Link M9 Mesk kit as your wifi. Just make sure the Mesh Kit is tri band otherwise it'll drop speed sharing your wifi 5Ghz with the other units. PM me if you have any other issues.
    My advice. Keep the modems and change providers.

    • kiwimex on 08/09/2022 - 20:14

      I have the Telstra Gen 2 modem…its the Boosters that are Gen 3. I had a tech friend pop over and he got them going after multiple resets of the modem etc. The Telstra Gen 3 boosters turned out to be rubbish….barely improving the wifi signal throughout the house. So they will go in the bin.

      Probably looking at getting this pair. Netgear Orbi AX4200 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6 Mesh System (2 Pack)

  • kfp187 on 08/09/2022 - 22:20

    Yeah the gen 3 boosters are hit and miss with the gen 2s. If you can get the white ones get them. Come up on marketplace all the time and don’t need a Main mesh unit attached to your modem. Up your you on the unit you get but tri band is good start with a mesh unit :)

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