Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

Wifi mesh systems

1…1314161819…58

Comments

  • #452
    Double C
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,348 ✭✭✭Double C


    I setup the Deco P9 in my house about a month ago and it's giving great coverage all over the house and in the garage and garden as well. I've noticed a few things though, like images on done deal/adverts, my Gmail inbox, new podcasts, my Twitter feed etc all take ages to load. If I turn the WiFi off it all loads using mobile data straight away. Has anyone else encountered this? It's very annoying!


  • #453
    JohnK
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,780 ✭✭✭JohnK


    Double C wrote: »
    I've noticed a few things though, like images on done deal/adverts, my Gmail inbox, new podcasts, my Twitter feed etc all take ages to load. If I turn the WiFi off it all loads using mobile data straight away. Has anyone else encountered this? It's very annoying!
    Are you with Virgin by any chance? I've a new Nest router and oddly enough I've noticed something similar.


  • #454
    beauf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,648 ✭✭✭✭beauf


    If your on Virgin might be best in bridge mode.


  • #455
    Double C
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,348 ✭✭✭Double C


    JohnK wrote: »
    Are you with Virgin by any chance? I've a new Nest router and oddly enough I've noticed something similar.

    No I've Siro through Digiweb. I've the WiFi turned off on the Fritz box


  • #456
    Clareman
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Regional Midwest Moderators Posts: 24,053 Mod ✭✭✭✭Clareman


    Double C wrote: »
    I setup the Deco P9 in my house about a month ago and it's giving great coverage all over the house and in the garage and garden as well. I've noticed a few things though, like images on done deal/adverts, my Gmail inbox, new podcasts, my Twitter feed etc all take ages to load. If I turn the WiFi off it all loads using mobile data straight away. Has anyone else encountered this? It's very annoying!

    I've SIRO with a Fritzbox with the Nest Wifi and I did notice a DNS conflict from time to time so I've all teh devices set to the same DNS and don't have that issue anymore


  • Advertisement
  • #457
    bk
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 23,623 Mod ✭✭✭✭bk


    Clareman wrote: »
    Fair bit of marketing guff going on here

    https://9to5google.com/2020/06/16/google-nest-wifi-update/

    That is actually very interesting and beneficial! The bit about the home automation communication now working locally on Google Home devices, rather then needing to go out to the cloud.


  • #458
    Clareman
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Regional Midwest Moderators Posts: 24,053 Mod ✭✭✭✭Clareman


    bk wrote: »
    That is actually very interesting and beneficial! The bit about the home automation communication now working locally on Google Home devices, rather then needing to go out to the cloud.

    That bit is beneficial alright, that wasn't in the the original release notes


  • #459
    caddy16
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 734 ✭✭✭caddy16


    Hi folks, I've a TP-Link Deco M5 up & running well in the house.

    When house was being built CAT6 was brought to the telecom's box but not needed as fibre line was brought directly into house. I was thinking of extending this CAT6 out to garage and putting an external extender to cover garage & garden.

    Would the below be the best option or is there a way I can incorporate something into my existing mesh network?

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wireless-Waterproof-Installation-Controller-EAP110-Outdoor/dp/B01N4EGN6H/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=outside+wifi+booster&qid=1592812306&sr=8-3


  • #460
    Gooey Looey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,297 ✭✭✭Gooey Looey


    caddy16 wrote: »
    Hi folks, I've a TP-Link Deco M5 up & running well in the house.

    When house was being built CAT6 was brought to the telecom's box but not needed as fibre line was brought directly into house. I was thinking of extending this CAT6 out to garage and putting an external extender to cover garage & garden.

    Would the below be the best option or is there a way I can incorporate something into my existing mesh network?

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wireless-Waterproof-Installation-Controller-EAP110-Outdoor/dp/B01N4EGN6H/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=outside+wifi+booster&qid=1592812306&sr=8-3

    If you already have mesh it would be mad to add an access point unless that access point also can be set to do mesh. Can it? I'm not sure


  • #461
    oppiuy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,012 ✭✭✭oppiuy


    For the Huawei q2 2 which is better the base and 2 satelittes of the 3 pack


  • Advertisement
  • #462
    GinSoaked
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,049 ✭✭✭GinSoaked


    Gooey Looey wrote: »
    If you already have mesh it would be mad to add an access point unless that access point also can be set to do mesh. Can it? I'm not sure

    Your mad to use a so called mesh when you can hard wire AP's. If it has the same SSID(s) and access levels as the "mesh" any mobile client device will roam because its the client device that ultimately decides which AP it connects to.


  • #463
    degsie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,761 ✭✭✭degsie


    GinSoaked wrote: »
    Your mad to use a so called mesh when you can hard wire AP's. If it has the same SSID(s) and access levels as the "mesh" any mobile client device will roam because its the client device that ultimately decides which AP it connects to.

    Not 100% accurate, some devices will aggressively hang on for life to the same AP even though there is closer AP in the vicinity. Mesh systems do the heavy listing by handing off between mesh devices seamlessly.


  • #464
    Gooey Looey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,297 ✭✭✭Gooey Looey


    GinSoaked wrote: »
    Your mad to use a so called mesh when you can hard wire AP's. If it has the same SSID(s) and access levels as the "mesh" any mobile client device will roam because its the client device that ultimately decides which AP it connects to.

    Yes normally agreed, but they already have a mesh setup in the house. Would be daft to add an AP to it when they can extend the existing mesh


  • #465
    caddy16
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 734 ✭✭✭caddy16


    Gooey Looey wrote: »
    Yes normally agreed, but they already have a mesh setup in the house. Would be daft to add an AP to it when they can extend the existing mesh


    Thanks. How do I extend existing mesh outdoors?

    Limited IT knowledge here so advice appreciated.


  • #466
    GerardKeating
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,906 ✭✭✭GerardKeating


    oppiuy wrote: »
    For the Huawei q2 2 which is better the base and 2 satelittes of the 3 pack

    I have the 3 pack and am quite happy with it.

    One advantace of the "3 pack" is that the units have the option for wired connection, either over the powerline or wired ethernet.


  • #467
    Gooey Looey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,297 ✭✭✭Gooey Looey


    caddy16 wrote: »
    Thanks. How do I extend existing mesh outdoors?

    Limited IT knowledge here so advice appreciated.

    If you can't run a cable buy another unit or two to extend it. I know nothing about TP link devices so can't advice which one. They should be sold singly, or there may be an AP that's compatible to set in mesh mode. Someone else will have to advise


  • #468
    oppiuy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,012 ✭✭✭oppiuy


    Thanks, i've pulled the trigger on that and hopefully all goes well. Its a new house so will have nothing to compare it 2. Currently using a Three B525 router in an old cottage until we move. Its working good for the TV wifi and working from home. We have no mobile signal in the house but ok broadband which is strange.

    In the new house , the router will be in the Attic and when tested so far we have wifi on the second floor but that's it.The new system should give wifi all round. I've also gone and order the Poynting 4G-XPOL-A0001 attenna. Ill use this inside the attic and see how we go as i don't really want to be wall mounting stuff outside( the wife would kill me) I let ye know how it all goes and if the Antennae makes any real difference to overall speeds


  • #469
    GinSoaked
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,049 ✭✭✭GinSoaked


    degsie wrote: »
    Not 100% accurate, some devices will aggressively hang on for life to the same AP even though there is closer AP in the vicinity. Mesh systems do the heavy listing by handing off between mesh devices seamlessly.

    As I said how long goes it take to turn the WiFi on a mobile device on and off?

    I've tested a setup with 5 TP-Link EAP 220's and the roaming is fine you can wander around on facetime and not even notice the handover. I have had devices aggressively lock on to one AP and guess what fixed the problem - rebooting the connecting device or toggling the WiFi on and off. Once restarted the device roamed again - device problem not an AP problem.

    I have been searching the web for more information on the magical or should I say mythical handing off between mesh devices and so far haven't found it.


  • #470
    grogi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,618 ✭✭✭grogi


    GinSoaked wrote: »
    As I said how long goes it take to turn the WiFi on a mobile device on and off?

    I've tested a setup with 5 TP-Link EAP 220's and the roaming is fine you can wander around on facetime and not even notice the handover. I have had devices aggressively lock on to one AP and guess what fixed the problem - rebooting the connecting device or toggling the WiFi on and off. Once restarted the device roamed again - device problem not an AP problem.

    I have been searching the web for more information on the magical or should I say mythical handing off between mesh devices and so far haven't found it.

    Well, that's not really fair... EAP is not entirely consumer grade AP and can be centrally managed from a controller. I would be very surprised if it doesn't coordinate roaming, at least with dropping clients with very low RSSI.. That's an attempt to grab some of that 'enterprise but not there yet' market Ubiquity is famous for.


  • #471
    GinSoaked
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,049 ✭✭✭GinSoaked


    grogi wrote: »
    Well, that's not really fair... EAP is not entirely consumer grade AP and can be centrally managed from a controller. I would be very surprised if it doesn't coordinate roaming, at least with dropping clients with very low RSSI.. That's an attempt to grab some of that 'enterprise but not there yet' market Ubiquity is famous for.

    Its part of the same group of products that prompted Gooey Looey's comment "it would be mad to add an access point" so perfectly fair.

    I didn't bother with the controller software in that setup as the AP's were added at different times. The controller software doesn't handle any form of "handover protocol" that I know of. The only really active the thing the AP's do is pick their own channels to reduce interference. While roaming is seamless I can't find any technical reference that states there is any special system other than same SSID's and access security on each AP.

    Having used a lot of both TP-Link and Ubiquiti products I'd go as far as to say the TP-Link are a direct copy of the Ubiquiti.


  • Advertisement
  • #472
    Gooey Looey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,297 ✭✭✭Gooey Looey


    GinSoaked wrote: »
    As I said how long goes it take to turn the WiFi on a mobile device on and off?

    I've tested a setup with 5 TP-Link EAP 220's and the roaming is fine you can wander around on facetime and not even notice the handover. I have had devices aggressively lock on to one AP and guess what fixed the problem - rebooting the connecting device or toggling the WiFi on and off. Once restarted the device roamed again - device problem not an AP problem.

    I have been searching the web for more information on the magical or should I say mythical handing off between mesh devices and so far haven't found it.

    The difference is with mesh the mesh nodes all appear with the same Mac address so in effect there is no roaming, your client device will always be connected to the nearest and strongest node. There is no drop and reconnect by the client device like on an Ap. It's seamless roaming. APs will never be completely seamless and some clients are poorly coded and make poor roaming decisions.


  • #473
    degsie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,761 ✭✭✭degsie


    GinSoaked wrote: »
    As I said how long goes it take to turn the WiFi on a mobile device on and off?

    Is this a serious solution to roaming issues? Who wants to have the hassle for a mobile device force a re-negotiation if it won't relinquish the connection to a weak wifi signal.


  • #474
    grogi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,618 ✭✭✭grogi


    Gooey Looey wrote: »
    The difference is with mesh the mesh nodes all appear with the same Mac address so in effect there is no roaming

    Lol... BSSID is different.


  • #475
    GinSoaked
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,049 ✭✭✭GinSoaked


    degsie wrote: »
    Is this a serious solution to roaming issues? Who wants to have the hassle for a mobile device force a re-negotiation if it won't relinquish the connection to a weak wifi signal.

    Perfectly serious because the number of times it actually happens in minimal.

    I've seen it happen so won't deny it but there is normally an underlying issue either device or user related. I've seen laptops that haven't been rebooted in days stick to one network, probably a windows/driver related and tablets that have so many apps running they don't have enough resources for hardly anything to work, user related. The last time I looked at the problem for someone the reason there was no roaming (my phone only connects in the office and not in the kitchen) was because one of the AP's was fried.


  • #476
    Gooey Looey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,297 ✭✭✭Gooey Looey


    grogi wrote: »
    Lol... BSSID is different.

    I'm confused, why would you use mesh with different SSID?


  • #477
    grogi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,618 ✭✭✭grogi


    Gooey Looey wrote: »
    I'm confused, why would you use mesh with different SSID?

    You're confused because BSSID is not SSID... BSSID is a unique identifier of the AP, even if they are part of the same WLAN.


  • #478
    oppiuy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,012 ✭✭✭oppiuy


    So the Huawei 3 pack arrived today. I tested in the old cottage we are currently living in. Considering the cabling is ancient i cant belive the difference so far.. before today, we prob average 7mbs in the best area but since thse went in its 23 average in throughout the cottage. Thwy are connected via powerline and the main unit is using an extenstion lead first.. will test out the neq house later. Cat6 cables not readu to go but should gwt a good indication from powerline


  • #479
    garo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,875 ✭✭✭garo


    Read the whole thread and looking for some advice. Four bed detached with concrete outer walls and timber inside. Virgin 500Mbps coming into the room in the front of the house. Got 480 on the laptop in that room and 220 in the bedroom above. I currently use an old Zyxel PLA powerline adapter to the attic where I have a couple of servers and to the alarm system (under the stairs). On the computers in the attic I get 30Mbps because the adapters are old and the electric circuits in the house are a mess. One corner in the kitchen is also a blackhole.

    Got a new laptop for WFH and wifi in the attic is abysmal. As soon as I step out of the attic I get 110Mbps on the laptop but on my desk I get 1-2 Mbps using the 5GHz network. Funnily enough I get a consistent 10-20Mbps both in the kitchen and on my attic desk with 2.4GHz but with 5GHz I keep dropping the connection. The huge difference in and out the attic door makes me think some insulation or foil in the attic floor is causing problems. Or maybe its just the ****ty Virgin Hub wifi AP.

    Running cat6 up to the attic is possible as it is an almost straight line up. But it requires drilling and cutting the drywall and while I could do the job it will probably take a lot of time and cursing. So I will likely hire someone to do it but that still doesn't solve the 5GHz band issue in the kitchen. I may end up doing this eventually but I need a solution in the interim.

    So my options are:
    1) Get two extenders one for the plug point just outside the attic and another for the kitchen. TPLink: https://www.amazon.co.uk/TL-WA850RE-Universal-Extender-Broadband-Ethernet/dp/B07ZWBBPQN
    2) Get the Netgear Orbi RBK13 https://www.amazon.co.uk/NETGEAR-Whole-Wi-Fi-Network-System/dp/B07YQGS2W8/ Sattelites don't have an ethernet plug.
    3) Get the Huawei Q2 Pro.
    4) Get a proper Wifi router in the hope that fixed connections drops and other issues: Say like the NETGEAR Nighthawk X4S Smart Wifi Router (R7800) or TPLLink Archer (used to be vey popular here a few years ago)

    Not looking to shell out for a tri-band system as I only need to do video calls in the attic and will eventually run cat6 to the attic.

    Any suggestions?


  • #480
    Clareman
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Regional Midwest Moderators Posts: 24,053 Mod ✭✭✭✭Clareman


    Sounds to me like mesh is the way to go, 1 main and 3 spots I'd say, main unit downstairs by the router, another 1 upstairs, 1 in the kitchen and then 1 in the attic. I'd imagine 1 of the mesh with build in LAN would suit you best if you have servers in the attic, save you converting them to wifi, maybe a small hub in the attic off it.


  • Advertisement
  • #481
    Shefwedfan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,955 ✭✭✭✭Shefwedfan


    So to update where I am, had the huawei Q2 which was working. It worked great with 3 units but once I started to connect all 6 it seemed to have some difficulty. I had issue with units dropping off the app. Then the app would not open if I was in that hotspot.

    I think the issue was I had too many of the main units and it would have worked better with the smaller satellites. When I disconnected all the units and left 3’ it was far more stable. It even worked in the office which ran off a 30m extension to top of garden

    As usual as people have seen on this thread was the usual, ether sell or return. I couldn’t be bothered so in returned on Friday

    I have replaced already, as my old TP-link plug system worked for 3 years previous I decided to go back to TP-link. I bought the Deco P9 3 main units and have installed. I also bought the Deco E3 add on units. So far the P9 have only arrived so will be interesting to see how stable with the multiple units are connected

    The Huawei Q2 kit was good, I think the app needs some work compared to Linksys for one. Now the TP-Link app is not incredible either

    For the price and if just buying 3 units then huawei. Let’s see how the TP-link works out, if not I might be divorced:-)


Advertisement