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Wifi mesh systems

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Comments

  • #542
    JimmyVik
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,367 ✭✭✭JimmyVik


    ThunbergsAreGo wrote: »
    Yeah have just heard as the Sky Q is a mesh itself there can be problems with it


    What I did with the Tenda was just wire one into one of the network sockets on the eir router.
    Then turn off eir wifi altogether and let the tenda mesh nodes take care of the wifi. Works a treat. Full speed everywhere in the house. Even down to the end of the garden and in the garage.


  • #543
    ThunbergsAreGo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,399 ✭✭✭✭ThunbergsAreGo


    JimmyVik wrote: »
    What I did with the Tenda was just wire one into one of the network sockets on the eir router.
    Then turn off eir wifi altogether and let the tenda mesh nodes take care of the wifi. Works a treat. Full speed everywhere in the house. Even down to the end of the garden and in the garage.

    Yeah tempted to go with the Tenda M3 - cheap as chips and a good entry point.


  • #544
    degsie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,761 ✭✭✭degsie


    https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B0851D6MXY

    TP-Link Deco S4(3-pack) - £110


  • #545
    garo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,875 ✭✭✭garo


    What’s the difference between the S4 and M4 and E4?


  • #546
    Shefwedfan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,955 ✭✭✭✭Shefwedfan


    garo wrote: »
    What’s the difference between the S4 and M4 and E4?


    Not sure if this will work but TP-Link you can compare


    https://www.tp-link.com/uk/compare/?typeId=5700&productIds=35621%2C35616%2C38653


    THe E4 seems to be the base model, the S4 and M4 seems to have more about them but nto a whole pile based on TP-Link comparison


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  • #547
    matzen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 294 ✭✭matzen


    ThunbergsAreGo wrote: »
    Yeah have just heard as the Sky Q is a mesh itself there can be problems with it


    Using Google WiFi Mesh with Sky Q and no issues.


  • #548
    Shefwedfan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,955 ✭✭✭✭Shefwedfan


    Right so feedback on the TP-Link System. SO I got the 3 x P9 Deco and I also got the TP-Link E3(2pack) https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07QRCD2X7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    So setup again fairly simple, you do have to set up each unit at a time. Not like Huawei which you set up and then the rest set themselves up. Fairly easy to set up, plus I set up all the P9 and then a few days later the E3 set arrived. App is better, a small bit, to the Huawei, just a little easier to see but not close to Linksys at all. No option to reboot the entire network which I like to do to clean it out. You can reboot each unit at a time but that takes ages

    Everything is running perfect apart from the M3W which seems to have awfull issues picking up the network. I had it sitting beside a box once and it had red light on, need to spend some time on it and if not then will have to return and juts buy two of the E4/M4/S4 units.

    All in seems to be a failry robust system. Especially if you are replacing older powerline TP-600 which is what I was orignally doing when I started all this messing.

    To be honest at this stage its a throw up between the Linksys Tri-Band and the TP-link with Powerline but if I really think about it the Linksys is the one I would go back to, the cost is the limiting factor for me as I would need close to 6 units


  • #549
    iba
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,642 ✭✭✭iba


    JimmyVik wrote: »
    No. Ours is with Eir.
    Its a very easy setup.
    But there are smart light bulbs coming out next month that are also mesh network pints. I think thats a great idea. They look to be cheap too.

    I think the bulbs are Tuya ones. Paul Hibbert did a YT vid on them about two weeks ago.


  • #550
    Shefwedfan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,955 ✭✭✭✭Shefwedfan


    Shefwedfan wrote: »
    Right so feedback on the TP-Link System. SO I got the 3 x P9 Deco and I also got the TP-Link E3(2pack) https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07QRCD2X7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    So setup again fairly simple, you do have to set up each unit at a time. Not like Huawei which you set up and then the rest set themselves up. Fairly easy to set up, plus I set up all the P9 and then a few days later the E3 set arrived. App is better, a small bit, to the Huawei, just a little easier to see but not close to Linksys at all. No option to reboot the entire network which I like to do to clean it out. You can reboot each unit at a time but that takes ages

    Everything is running perfect apart from the M3W which seems to have awfull issues picking up the network. I had it sitting beside a box once and it had red light on, need to spend some time on it and if not then will have to return and juts buy two of the E4/M4/S4 units.

    All in seems to be a failry robust system. Especially if you are replacing older powerline TP-600 which is what I was orignally doing when I started all this messing.

    To be honest at this stage its a throw up between the Linksys Tri-Band and the TP-link with Powerline but if I really think about it the Linksys is the one I would go back to, the cost is the limiting factor for me as I would need close to 6 units


    To update, I have moved the M3W further away from the other units, the distance whcih I would have thought would make it less stable has had the opposite affect and now no issues.


  • #551
    Aquos76
    Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 9,096 Mod ✭✭✭✭Aquos76


    My current set-up, 360mb with Virgin Media, wifi set to 2.4 and 5ghz, cat6 cable running from read of hub 3.0 up to an 8way giagbit switch in attic, from there I have ethernet cables run to all 4 bedrooms, study and sunroom. One of the bedrooms has a f2000 modem set up as an AP and it works fine, however I am sick of the Virgin hub constantly dropping the WiFi. Wifi isnt great in half the house and non existent in the sunroom. I am looking at the TP Link Deco M4 3 pack so hardwiring all 3 wont be an issue, The first one will be wired from the hub and 2 and 3 will be wired from the switch in the attic.

    Am I missing something or should they all work seamlessly due to the fact that they will all be hardwired from the switch, or do they have to be daisy chained for the ethernet backhaul to work correctly?


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  • #552
    degsie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,761 ✭✭✭degsie


    Aquos76 wrote: »

    Am I missing something or should they all work seamlessly due to the fact that they will all be hardwired from the switch, or do they have to be daisy chained for the ethernet backhaul to work correctly?


    https://www.tp-link.com/uk/support/faq/1794/


  • #553
    Aquos76
    Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 9,096 Mod ✭✭✭✭Aquos76


    degsie wrote: »
    https://www.tp-link.com/uk/support/faq/1794/

    Excellent, thanks for that. I see someone mentioned the TP Link Deco S4 earlier in the thread, has anyone managed to find any differences between the S4 and the M4. Anything Im finding seems to indicate their specs are the very same, other than that the S4 are not at tall as the M4. The S4 are also cheaper than the M4's


  • #554
    nc6000
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,424 ✭✭✭nc6000


    The S4 can use third party firmware.

    https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/2423/


  • #555
    tommycahir
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,591 ✭✭✭tommycahir


    garo wrote: »
    I'd be happy to get some advice on this. I have wood floors and a fireplace in the middle of where the cable-run would be. How do I run the cable without destroying the aesthetics and pissing off the SO?

    How about popping off the skirting board and running the cable in the space between the floor and board? Around fireplace there is usually a similar space but covered with 1/4 inch round edge beading which can also be popped off and retailed (or using no more nails)
    Regards
    Tommy


  • #556
    Tabby McTat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 266 ✭✭Tabby McTat


    Looking for some advice here.

    Currently have the Vodafone Gigabox router for their ADSL service. As is well documented here, the service is sh*te! Speeds are fine, regularly get 70-75mb on speed test but the connection with devices drops on a regular basis. Like multiple times every day.

    I'm in a new build, 2 stories and an attic and have power line extenders to get WiFi around the house. All my devices connect via WiFi and it's the usual, a few phones and TV connected over internet.

    I have been trying to improve things with VF technical support but as yet it's no better.

    Would it be a good idea to get a Linksys Ac2200 router to replace what I have. The way I see it I could then upgrade this to include a few mesh units. Would this be the best one?

    Would that be compatible with powerline extender. Thinking of moving to Virgin when the 12 month contract is up. But I presume the standard router with them is rubbish also.


  • #557
    GinSoaked
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,049 ✭✭✭GinSoaked


    nc6000 wrote: »
    The S4 can use third party firmware.

    https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/2423/

    Which third party hardware?


  • #558
    degsie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,761 ✭✭✭degsie


    GinSoaked wrote: »
    Which third party hardware?

    ???:confused:


  • #559
    GinSoaked
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,049 ✭✭✭GinSoaked


    degsie wrote: »
    ???:confused:

    Sorry firmware.


  • #560
    degsie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,761 ✭✭✭degsie


    GinSoaked wrote: »
    Sorry firmware.

    DD-WRT and OpenWRT in the works, apparently.


  • #561
    Aquos76
    Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 9,096 Mod ✭✭✭✭Aquos76


    So, would the S4 be a better purchase than the M4 so?


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  • #562
    garo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,875 ✭✭✭garo


    barrac wrote: »
    Looking for some advice here.

    Currently have the Vodafone Gigabox router for their ADSL service. As is well documented here, the service is sh*te! Speeds are fine, regularly get 70-75mb on speed test but the connection with devices drops on a regular basis. Like multiple times every day.

    I'm in a new build, 2 stories and an attic and have power line extenders to get WiFi around the house. All my devices connect via WiFi and it's the usual, a few phones and TV connected over internet.

    I have been trying to improve things with VF technical support but as yet it's no better.

    Would it be a good idea to get a Linksys Ac2200 router to replace what I have. The way I see it I could then upgrade this to include a few mesh units. Would this be the best one?

    Would that be compatible with powerline extender. Thinking of moving to Virgin when the 12 month contract is up. But I presume the standard router with them is rubbish also.

    Do you really need a mesh system if the powerline extenders are doing the job? I have the Virgin hub and it is ok. It’s Wi-Fi reaches the attic on 2.4 GHz but the 5 GHz band has issues. In the same room as the router I get 480 Mbps over Wi-Fi. Switch to Virgin then see if powerline extenders do a good enough job and if not think of the LinkSys.


  • #563
    Tabby McTat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 266 ✭✭Tabby McTat


    garo wrote: »
    Do you really need a mesh system if the powerline extenders are doing the job? I have the Virgin hub and it is ok. It’s Wi-Fi reaches the attic on 2.4 GHz but the 5 GHz band has issues. In the same room as the router I get 480 Mbps over Wi-Fi. Switch to Virgin then see if powerline extenders do a good enough job and if not think of the LinkSys.

    Thanks for coming back. The issue with my current Vodafone router is that the connection drops throughout the day. I have 5 months left until I'm out of contract so still a while to wait.

    I'm wondering will a new router sort this do you think? Also I know mesh is probably overkill but I'd rather have something that was future proof. Especially if work from home is here to stay and all.


  • #564
    Clareman
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Regional Midwest Moderators Posts: 24,053 Mod ✭✭✭✭Clareman


    barrac wrote: »
    Thanks for coming back. The issue with my current Vodafone router is that the connection drops throughout the day. I have 5 months left until I'm out of contract so still a while to wait.

    I'm wondering will a new router sort this do you think? Also I know mesh is probably overkill but I'd rather have something that was future proof. Especially if work from home is here to stay and all.

    The free routers are worth the price you pay for them in my opinion, the own brand ones especially so.

    I've a Google Mesh system that connects to my free router, I've WiFi through Google and everything wired through the ISP router, works a dream and if i change ISP I just have to plug out the old 1 and in the new 1.

    In my opinion this is probably the worst time to be getting a future proof mesh system as WiFi 6 is just launching so WiFi 6 systems are expensive and WiFi 5 systems are going to be old soon. If you have to get something I'd say make sure it's Wi-Fi 6 and go from there, I'm actually very annoyed that I didn't wait


  • #565
    Clareman
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Regional Midwest Moderators Posts: 24,053 Mod ✭✭✭✭Clareman


    Clareman wrote: »
    The free routers are worth the price you pay for them in my opinion, the own brand ones especially so.

    I've a Google Mesh system that connects to my free router, I've WiFi through Google and everything wired through the ISP router, works a dream and if i change ISP I just have to plug out the old 1 and in the new 1.

    In my opinion this is probably the worst time to be getting a future proof mesh system as WiFi 6 is just launching so WiFi 6 systems are expensive and WiFi 5 systems are going to be old soon. If you have to get something I'd say make sure it's Wi-Fi 6 and go from there, I'm actually very annoyed that I didn't wait

    I've a lot of opinions there, sorry


  • #566
    Tabby McTat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 266 ✭✭Tabby McTat


    Clareman wrote: »
    I've a lot of opinions there, sorry

    Opinions are good!!

    I don't know anything about WiFi 6 v WiFi 5?


  • #567
    Clareman
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Regional Midwest Moderators Posts: 24,053 Mod ✭✭✭✭Clareman


    barrac wrote: »
    Opinions are good!!

    I don't know anything about WiFi 6 v WiFi 5?

    At a high level its the same change as going from 2. 4ghz to 5GHz, could you imagine trying to use a 2.4 connection now?? Functionality wise its grand but once you use the faster connection you'll find it hard to use the old 1,chances are you don't have any WiFi 6 devices at the moment but in a year or so you'll have more and more. Personally I've a few Wi-Fi 6 devices which are 5g as well, I'm fine on 4g and 5GHz at the moment but I know the geek in me will be annoyed soon.

    If your post didn't say future proof I wouldn't have mentioned it and would have recommended the Google Wifi but you did say it so it's worth considering


  • #568
    Tabby McTat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 266 ✭✭Tabby McTat


    Clareman wrote: »
    At a high level its the same change as going from 2. 4ghz to 5GHz, could you imagine trying to use a 2.4 connection now?? Functionality wise its grand but once you use the faster connection you'll find it hard to use the old 1,chances are you don't have any WiFi 6 devices at the moment but in a year or so you'll have more and more. Personally I've a few Wi-Fi 6 devices which are 5g as well, I'm fine on 4g and 5GHz at the moment but I know the geek in me will be annoyed soon.

    If your post didn't say future proof I wouldn't have mentioned it and would have recommended the Google Wifi but you did say it so it's worth considering

    That's exactly the type of knowledge that boards is great for!!

    Are there particular routers to look out for them?


  • #569
    Clareman
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Regional Midwest Moderators Posts: 24,053 Mod ✭✭✭✭Clareman


    barrac wrote: »
    That's exactly the type of knowledge that boards is great for!!

    Are there particular routers to look out for them?

    I haven't looked into them too much myself to be honest, I came into a few bob earlier on in the year and went mad on a Google eco-system for the house, everything works very well together and easily at the moment so I don't need the extra speed, I've a 5G phone and have never connected it to a 5G network for example so speed isn't that much of an issue for me at the moment. BUT, I'll be getting the Note 20 and S7 Tablet next month so I'll probably invest in a wifi-6 router, connect that to the ISP router (or replace the ISP router with it) and setup a hidden SSID for that network and just connect my toys to it and leave everything else as it is.

    I just checked my Google WiFi app and I've 42 devices connected to my home network at the moment, I'm sure a free own brand router could handle that many devices but I'd say it'd struggle.


  • #570
    Shefwedfan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,955 ✭✭✭✭Shefwedfan


    Clareman wrote: »
    At a high level its the same change as going from 2. 4ghz to 5GHz, could you imagine trying to use a 2.4 connection now?? Functionality wise its grand but once you use the faster connection you'll find it hard to use the old 1,chances are you don't have any WiFi 6 devices at the moment but in a year or so you'll have more and more. Personally I've a few Wi-Fi 6 devices which are 5g as well, I'm fine on 4g and 5GHz at the moment but I know the geek in me will be annoyed soon.

    If your post didn't say future proof I wouldn't have mentioned it and would have recommended the Google Wifi but you did say it so it's worth considering

    All my smart plugs etc still run on 2.4Ghz, I don’t see Wi-Fi 6 been really a requirement for another 2-3 years.

    I have to-link devices up till 6 months ago and only swapped for a mesh, not really to give a massive jump in performance


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  • #571
    Clareman
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Regional Midwest Moderators Posts: 24,053 Mod ✭✭✭✭Clareman


    Shefwedfan wrote: »
    All my smart plugs etc still run on 2.4Ghz, I don’t see Wi-Fi 6 been really a requirement for another 2-3 years.

    I have to-link devices up till 6 months ago and only swapped for a mesh, not really to give a massive jump in performance

    I don't think I've noticed an improvement in performance but I have noticed a massive improvement in coverage and constant connections for stuff like cameras, before the mesh things would just drop off. I also can't see 2.4ghz disappearing any time soon either, I have a few devices that still rely on it.


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