Best provider for a home with many devices

fatgav

Hi all

Moving house soon, and potentially moving broadband providers in the process.

I’ll be getting some additional smart devices, and we already have a few, so I could be looking at 25-30 devices on the WiFi by the time we move (tv, console, phones, laptop, iPads, bulbs, smart speakers...)

I’m familiar with what broadband is like in the area I’m moving to and all the providers are offering up to 100mbs (I think it’s fibre to the cabinet rather than to the home). But I’m just wondering if one provider’s router is better than others for many devices? Or should I just go for the cheapest option and invest in my own router? If so, any advice there would be appreciated

Thanks

degsie

A good option would be to invest in a wifi mesh system to take the wifi load from the provided router and ensure solid coverage throughout your home.

Ger Roe

I have been using Pure Telecom for several years now, good value for money and good tech service.

I upgraded to my own router, for the same reason as you.... lots of devices and networking going on around the house. Pure were very helpful in setting it up - provided all the required login details for me to use on their network.

I am FTTC and the actual cabinet is within spitting distance of my house so I get the full speed service.

This is just my experience, but I review the broadband situation every year and haven't changed from Pure yet.

(Router is a TP Link Archer VR900)

CoBo55

Go with the best deal available and get your own router.

alan4cult

Digiweb will give you a Fritzbox. I'm running up to 27 devices on it at peak.
You can go mesh if you want 5ghz band more easily available across the house

TheDriver

I'd go with keeping stock router and using your own mesh WiFi system eg deco or equivalent.

babelfish1990

fatgav wrote: »

Or should I just go for the cheapest option and invest in my own router? If so, any advice there would be appreciated

Thanks

I wouldn't recommend replacing your ISP router. Your ISP customer care won't be able to manage a replacement router. Your ISP router performs a number of functions including security firewall, modem, router and WiFi hub. If you keep their router your ISP will be able to manage these functions, and will also keep your router patched with the latest security patches.

Add mesh Access Points to provide seamless coverage throughout your home. Some ISPs offer Mesh Access points that work in tandem with your main router. Eir offer "Smart WiFi hubs" which are additional mesh devices that work with their F3000 router. If you choose an ISP that doesn't offer Mesh, then add your own mesh and disable WiFi in your ISP router.(TPlink Deco, Tends Nova, etc..

L1011

babelfish1990 wrote: »

If you keep their router your ISP will be able to manage these functions, and will also keep your router patched with the latest security patches.

Could. Generally won't.

fatgav

Thanks everyone for your replies. The mesh option looks the most sensible by the looks of it. Any advice/good tutorials on same??

babelfish1990

fatgav wrote: »

Thanks everyone for your replies. The mesh option looks the most sensible by the looks of it. Any advice/good tutorials on same??

• Most homes require 2 or 3 mesh devices to cover them
• You can add as many as you require
• If your ISP has a mesh capable router, that counts as one
• If you have the option of Cat-6 wiring use it to connect APs to router
• If you need extra ports for your wiring, add a cheap Ethernet Switch
• If you don't have wiring, position APs in daisy chain so WiFi hops from one to next
• Don't try to mix WiFi from different suppliers access points - you won't get seamless handovers between zones
• If you are not using your ISP Mesh system and instead opting for a different model, switch WiFi off in ISP router
• Configure Mesh system in "Access Point Mode". Don't use router mode
  
  Mesh systems are very easy to configure - they usually come with apps to assist with this. Don't be intimidated by them - it's much easier than setting up alternative routers. ISP provided Mesh systems are even easier to set up - for example Eir's system just uses WPS button to pair APs with the Router.
  
  
  
  

fatgav

babelfish1990 wrote: »

• Most homes require 2 or 3 mesh devices to cover them
• You can add as many as you require
• If your ISP has a mesh capable router, that counts as one
• If you have the option of Cat-6 wiring use it to connect APs to router
• If you need extra ports for your wiring, add a cheap Ethernet Switch
• If you don't have wiring, position APs in daisy chain so WiFi hops from one to next
• Don't try to mix WiFi from different suppliers access points - you won't get seamless handovers between zones
• If you are not using your ISP Mesh system and instead opting for a different model, switch WiFi off in ISP router
• Configure Mesh system in "Access Point Mode". Don't use router mode
  
  Mesh systems are very easy to configure - they usually come with apps to assist with this. Don't be intimidated by them - it's much easier than setting up alternative routers. ISP provided Mesh systems are even easier to set up - for example Eir's system just uses WPS button to pair APs with the Router.
  
  
  
  

Thanks Babelfish. Very comprehensive. Just to be clear, I take it most ISP’s routers will enable a mesh system? And the additional mesh points will allow me add more devices than the normal limits??

alec76

fatgav wrote: »

I take it most ISP’s routers will enable a mesh system? And the additional mesh points will allow me add more devices than the normal limits??

Fritzboxes ( Digiweb,Airwire) and Eir’s F3000 are only routers with mesh capabilities AFAIK.

ED E

fatgav wrote: »

Thanks Babelfish. Very comprehensive. Just to be clear, I take it most ISP’s routers will enable a mesh system? And the additional mesh points will allow me add more devices than the normal limits??

You dont need a mesh to have a rake of IoT devices. What many do is just have a secondary 2.4Ghz network on a sh1tty old router (as an AP) to keep all them on their own WLAN. For smart switches and Nests/Echos thats PLENTY. Things like Chromecasts/AppleTV put them on your main router. Sorted.

Only bother with the mesh if the building requires it (dormer/bungalow, old thick wall construction, large, apartment block).

babelfish1990

fatgav wrote: »

Thanks Babelfish. Very comprehensive. Just to be clear, I take it most ISP’s routers will enable a mesh system? And the additional mesh points will allow me add more devices than the normal limits??

Eir F3000 and Fritzbox are the the only ISP routers that I am aware of which support Mesh systems directly - so most Irish ISPs do not currently offer Mesh capability. If your ISP does not offer Mesh in their router, you can add your own mesh devices, and disable WiFi in the ISP router, but you will need (N+1) Mesh Access points vs N if you go with an ISP that supports Mesh in their router.

The rationale for adding Mesh should not just be about supporting large numbers of IOT devices on 2.4GHz. You should also aim to ensure high quality 5GHz WiFi in each room where you have a TV, unless you have Ethernet wiring to your TVs. Most TVs are moving towards WiFi/Ethernet connectivity - and if you do not have wiring, this demands good quality 5GHz WiFi. A final reason for using Mesh is to ensure seamless handover when mobile devices move from one zone to another. This means that your devices must support the 802.11R Fast Roaming standard. This will not happen if you take old routers out of a drawer and convert them to ad-hoc access points. Mobile devices are programmed to cling onto weak WiFi to avoid breaking sessions. Mesh systems steer mobile devices onto the strongest Access Point without breaking the sessions using 802.11R Fast Roaming.

CoBo55

ED E wrote: »

You dont need a mesh to have a rake of IoT devices. What many do is just have a secondary 2.4Ghz network on a sh1tty old router (as an AP) to keep all them on their own WLAN. For smart switches and Nests/Echos thats PLENTY. Things like Chromecasts/AppleTV put them on your main router. Sorted.

Only bother with the mesh if the building requires it (dormer/bungalow, old thick wall construction, large, apartment block).

I agree 100%, mesh systems are overkill for many houses, a decent quality router would cover many homes with ease.

shanec1928

CoBo55 wrote: »

I agree 100%, mesh systems are overkill for many houses, a decent quality router would cover many homes with ease.

Mesh systems seem to be the vogue thing on the forum every second or third post is about one. No matter what a mesh system is the solution.

Personally wouldn’t have one. Like you said a good router will more than likely provide good coverage or run one or two Ethernet runs for wire aps

degsie

shanec1928 wrote: »

Mesh systems seem to be the vogue thing on the forum every second or third post is about one. No matter what a mesh system is the solution.

Personally wouldn’t have one. Like you said a good router will more than likely provide good coverage or run one or two Ethernet runs for wire aps

I used to think that also until I invested in a mesh system, it was a revelation as it solved annoying weak wifi spots INCLUDING the very bottom of the garden

CoBo55

degsie wrote: »

I used to think that also until I invested in a mesh system, it was a revelation as it solved annoying weak wifi spots INCLUDING the very bottom of the garden

Can't say I've tried the very bottom of the garden... Hardly a deal breaker to move closer if it drops.