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Wifi mesh systems

  • 23-04-2020 5:03pm
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 1,879 ✭✭✭


    Any recommendations for a good WiFi mesh system.

    I have an extender but I want a better more reliable system


«13456759

Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 524 ✭✭✭richardjjd


    I’m not techie, but went with a 3 unit Linksys Velop system just before Christmas and it’s done exactly want we wanted. One of the units has to be connected by Ethernet, the other two are wireless and it’s had a dramatic improvement on coverage.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,879 ✭✭✭kala85


    richardjjd wrote: »
    I’m not techie, but went with a 3 unit Linksys Velop system just before Christmas and it’s done exactly want we wanted. One of the units has to be connected by Ethernet, the other two are wireless and it’s had a dramatic improvement on coverage.

    Thanks,

    I find the extender hit and miss.

    With the mesh system can you walk from one end of the house to the other without it dropping and staying on the same ssid.

    Also is there an app to set up a guest network and to see what devices are in the network


  • Registered Users Posts: 524 ✭✭✭richardjjd


    Yes ... we’ve a single ssid and uninterrupted coverage (2 storey and attic). Guest network and app management -including device prioritisation - both available.


  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 6,161 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sheep Shagger


    Google/Nest is pricey but is the dogs...


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,879 ✭✭✭kala85


    Google/Nest is pricey but is the dogs...

    Is it really that good? How do you know?

    Would rather not have the microphones from Google around the home.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 1,879 ✭✭✭kala85


    richardjjd wrote: »
    Yes ... we’ve a single ssid and uninterrupted coverage (2 storey and attic). Guest network and app management -including device prioritisation - both available.

    How many nodes have you? And where is a good place to get them.

    Did you have any increase in WiFi speed.?


  • Registered Users Posts: 16,815 ✭✭✭✭Sleeper12


    Google wi-fi sorted out all my virgin router problems. Not cheap but I have a stress free life now


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,958 ✭✭✭✭Shefwedfan


    Ok

    Done a lot of messing around on these. So first I got the Linksys Velop Dual Band. WHW0103. They actually performed fairly well. I have a bungalow, all block walls and very spread out. I do everything on internet, tv etc. I was impressed but I just felt it lacked options etc. One box at end of house seemed to struggle and seemed to lose connection

    So sold them and next I got the BT Whole Home system. This is faster than the Linksys so I thought it might be better. To be honest I felt the Linksys was a better solution. Anyways used them and again no real complaints. Similar issue with box at end of house. Maybe a little better., Anyway sold them :-)

    So then I bought the Linksys Velp Tri-Band. Now I went this way for the Linksys aware which sends you an "alert" if someone is moving in th ehouse when you are away. The "alert" is fairly crap as it doesn't alert you and just come up on phone. They are supposed to be investing more. Performance is good and no issues with not connecting around the house,. Would really recommend......but :-)

    I am actually going to either return or sell. I got them at good value in first place off Amazon so might go another option

    My current options are:
    TP-Link Deco D9
    Huawei Q2 Pro

    Why you might ask? well I have old TP-Link plugs which created seperate little wifi for each one, good and worked but pain when I do IP calls which I do alot. So thats why I moved to mesh

    The TP-Link and Huawei system as well as having a mesh wifi they have a back connection which goes via the electric wires. Now the Linksys tri-band has the seperate connection for intercommunication but it is over wifi. Plus as my house is big I have a large sun room and other rooms which would be good to piut a cheaper mini device into. Especialluy the sun room so I can cover the garden.

    I am probably over thinking it :-) but I am always like this with techie stuff


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,879 ✭✭✭kala85


    Shefwedfan wrote: »
    Ok

    Done a lot of messing around on these. So first I got the Linksys Velop Dual Band. WHW0103. They actually performed fairly well. I have a bungalow, all block walls and very spread out. I do everything on internet, tv etc. I was impressed but I just felt it lacked options etc. One box at end of house seemed to struggle and seemed to lose connection

    So sold them and next I got the BT Whole Home system. This is faster than the Linksys so I thought it might be better. To be honest I felt the Linksys was a better solution. Anyways used them and again no real complaints. Similar issue with box at end of house. Maybe a little better., Anyway sold them :-)

    So then I bought the Linksys Velp Tri-Band. Now I went this way for the Linksys aware which sends you an "alert" if someone is moving in th ehouse when you are away. The "alert" is fairly crap as it doesn't alert you and just come up on phone. They are supposed to be investing more. Performance is good and no issues with not connecting around the house,. Would really recommend......but :-)

    I am actually going to either return or sell. I got them at good value in first place off Amazon so might go another option

    My current options are:
    TP-Link Deco D9
    Huawei Q2 Pro

    Why you might ask? well I have old TP-Link plugs which created seperate little wifi for each one, good and worked but pain when I do IP calls which I do alot. So thats why I moved to mesh

    The TP-Link and Huawei system as well as having a mesh wifi they have a back connection which goes via the electric wires. Now the Linksys tri-band has the seperate connection for intercommunication but it is over wifi. Plus as my house is big I have a large sun room and other rooms which would be good to piut a cheaper mini device into. Especialluy the sun room so I can cover the garden.

    I am probably over thinking it :-) but I am always like this with techie stuff

    Thanks great informative post. Have you any information or opinion on the Google mesh or nest mesh


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,958 ✭✭✭✭Shefwedfan


    kala85 wrote: »
    Thanks great informative post. Have you any information or opinion on the Google mesh or nest mesh


    My mate had it, he liked it but it is overpriced and slow compared to the competition.


    I suppose if you have loads of google stuff it might make sense but I dont. I use all amazon.


    Even if I had google I still think I wouldn't buy, personally opinion. They just seem to be similar to the cheap Tenda stuff but with a google badge on it.

    They are dual band, so that means the communication between the nodes and the communication from your devices are all fighting for the same antennas etc....for the same money as google you will get tri-band which will give you a seperate wifi network, which is hidden for the internode communication.....all of these devices are certified with google/amazon etc so I dont see advantage of paying extra for a google badge but getting an inferior product

    I have only contacted support once, for Linksys on the aware, very good and very responsive. No idea on the other vendors. If they invested in aware I think it would be cracking product, like they are talking about integrating it with smart home, so if it could turn on all the lights and alarm if someone is moving in house when you are not in.....well that would be a game changer

    Aware works, dont get me wrong, it will alert on my phone, but you couldnt really depend on seeing the alert if you know what i mean


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  • Posts: 7,712 ✭✭✭[Deleted User]


    Shefwedfan wrote: »
    My mate had it, he liked it but it is overpriced and slow compared to the competition.


    I suppose if you have loads of google stuff it might make sense but I dont. I use all amazon.


    Even if I had google I still think I wouldn't buy, personally opinion. They just seem to be similar to the cheap Tenda stuff but with a google badge on it.

    The best thing about it is the simplicity. You don’t need to be an IT engineer to install it and that’s worth the extra for me.


  • Registered Users Posts: 211 ✭✭Declan1


    For a non techie... Are there any issues with respect to using a mesh with a Virgin Media system?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,958 ✭✭✭✭Shefwedfan


    The best thing about it is the simplicity. You don’t need to be an IT engineer to install it and that’s worth the extra for me.

    They are all the same

    The linksys and BT is an app, turn them on, download app and about 2 mins later it’s all working

    If you check the reviews on all of these, one of the complaints from technical people is they can’t go into and start messing around, they are all plug and play now

    Google, your just paying for a logo and getting inferior technology, check the spec of the competition if you think I’m making it up


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,958 ✭✭✭✭Shefwedfan


    Declan1 wrote: »
    For a non techie... Are there any issues with respect to using a mesh with a Virgin Media system?

    They all plug in via Ethernet port, they don’t care what you have connected to once it connect to the internet, it is handy if you can turn off WiFi on the device so you are just using the mesh, in case of interference


  • Registered Users Posts: 277 ✭✭Mikey23


    I’ve the Eero 3-pack from Amazon. Weren’t delivering to Ireland but work fine here over Parcel Motel (you can disregard the UK phone number when setting up). Bringing Virgin Media 500mb up to the attic of a two-storey house (roughly 100mb makes it up here).

    Considered the Google equivalent but what swung it for me was each Eero unit has a spare Ethernet port at the back of each which is v handy. No outages, no interference and seamless handover as you go around the house. Also has 2.4 & 5Ghz channels under one network name and a nice, uncomplicated app.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,958 ✭✭✭✭Shefwedfan


    Mikey23 wrote: »
    I’ve the Eero 3-pack from Amazon. Weren’t delivering to Ireland but work fine here over Parcel Motel (you can disregard the UK phone number when setting up). Bringing Virgin Media 500mb up to the attic of a two-storey house (roughly 100mb makes it up here).

    Considered the Google equivalent but what swung it for me was each Eero unit has a spare Ethernet port at the back of each which is v handy. No outages, no interference and seamless handover as you go around the house. Also has 2.4 & 5Ghz channels under one network name and a nice, uncomplicated app.

    I waa looking at eero for a while, they got bought out by amazon recently and released. They seemed highly rated when a standalone company

    Seemed a little over priced compared to competition but I know amazon are doing offers to sell them....Not sure what they are selling at now but they had an offer on a few weeks back

    How is the software? Any nice features.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,958 ✭✭✭✭Shefwedfan


    If you have kids linksys have Shield, I have it turned on but don’t use, more or less you can lock down their devices at the WiFi later, so no dodgy sites etc, just pick mobiles/laptop etc from the list of devices connected and set the rating

    Could be useful

    Pleas note I’m not trying to sell anyone on one device over the other, this is just my personal finding and observations, I had a thread on here and have been messing around now for nearly 6 months at them.... PS I’m no network engineer....plug and play all the way


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,377 ✭✭✭NSAman


    Using the Orbi systems here.

    In one location we have four levels, high speed and about 9000 soft. Works perfectly throughout the building. Speeds dont drop off at all and even the external wifi cameras work flawlessly.

    The other location is home on a very slow connection, we have three levels and have always had issues in the basement, since we installed this, connection is stable and faster.

    Again, not a tech expert but this works flawlessly for our needs.


  • Registered Users Posts: 61 ✭✭Hespy


    NSAman wrote: »
    Using the Orbi systems here.

    In one location we have four levels, high speed and about 9000 soft. Works perfectly throughout the building. Speeds dont drop off at all and even the external wifi cameras work flawlessly.

    The other location is home on a very slow connection, we have three levels and have always had issues in the basement, since we installed this, connection is stable and faster.

    Again, not a tech expert but this works flawlessly for our needs.

    +1 for Orbi. Set up the router, put the satellites around the house. 5ghz backhaul, so you get full speed everywhere.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,958 ✭✭✭✭Shefwedfan


    I wanted the orbi, really highly recommended but I didnt like you have a main unit and then satellite, so you cannot have A piggyback to B to C......

    So I would have to have main unit in middle of house and then a satellite at each end, this restricted me a little too much so I didn't invest. Thats why I went with the Linksys Velop triband instead


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  • Registered Users Posts: 4,654 ✭✭✭ablelocks


    i have the google mesh - 4 units around the house and no issues, lots of wireless devices between hue / streaming / tablets and laptops etc, speeds consistently high (fibre to the home), it was plug and play and forget.

    mind you, i did get the 4 units for about €160 if i remember correctly when they went on "clearance sale" in currys last year....

    was thinking i should change the eir router, possibly no need. (although got a certificate error on it this morning on a work laptop that showed Wuhan, Hubei, China in the settings message)


  • Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 6,161 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sheep Shagger


    kala85 wrote: »
    Is it really that good? How do you know?

    Would rather not have the microphones from Google around the home.

    We have it, we also have Google homes as I don't care about Google knowing about my boring life.


  • Registered Users Posts: 524 ✭✭✭richardjjd


    kala85 wrote: »
    How many nodes have you? And where is a good place to get them.

    Did you have any increase in WiFi speed.?

    I’m consistently getting 250-300 throughout the house. It used to be that I could only get that in the room witH the virgin router.

    We’ve three nodes. One downstairs at the back of the house. Two upstairs, one at the front of the house, one at the back.

    I bought an as-new set off adverts but you don’t see much of a difference in price no matter where you get them.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,879 ✭✭✭kala85


    is there a way on any of these devices to see what websites are being accessed by different devices that are accessing the networl


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,958 ✭✭✭✭Shefwedfan


    Not that I am aware of, as I said the Linksys Sheild will block websites per device based on the setting you put on it....but I cant see anyway for it to track


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,103 ✭✭✭highdef


    I've got three WiFi routers in the house, all configured with the same SSID, password and encryption type plus each one is on a different channel so there's no overlap. Haven't read into the mesh system but would it be better than my current setup?


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 16,584 CMod ✭✭✭✭faceman


    I ordered the Tenda Nova MW6 set of 3 yesterday. From reading reviews and looking at the pricier competition. It more than likely seems to do what I need.

    Will report back once I get them


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,958 ✭✭✭✭Shefwedfan


    highdef wrote: »
    I've got three WiFi routers in the house, all configured with the same SSID, password and encryption type plus each one is on a different channel so there's no overlap. Haven't read into the mesh system but would it be better than my current setup?


    Massively


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,015 ✭✭✭Ray Donovan


    I have Eir Fibre coming to the home on Thursday week (hopefully anyways if I can sort out my underground ducting) and am convinced I am going to need a mesh system to get the signal all around the house. (2700 sq ft, all block built)

    I'm far from a techie but trying to set up my home to be a bit smarter (Ring alarm system and cameras with Alexa, smart plugs and bulbs here and there) but mostly the internet is just used for plain old surfing and some Netflix streaming through a smart TV.

    So anyways taking everything into consideration I have almost settled on the TP Link Deco M5 system. I was wondering if anyone had any feedback on this or has anyone any suggestions for something in the same price category. I really like the fact that with any mesh system you will be on the same network all around the house which is currently not the case for me.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,958 ✭✭✭✭Shefwedfan


    I have Eir Fibre coming to the home on Thursday week (hopefully anyways if I can sort out my underground ducting) and am convinced I am going to need a mesh system to get the signal all around the house. (2700 sq ft, all block built)

    I'm far from a techie but trying to set up my home to be a bit smarter (Ring alarm system and cameras with Alexa, smart plugs and bulbs here and there) but mostly the internet is just used for plain old surfing and some Netflix streaming through a smart TV.

    So anyways taking everything into consideration I have almost settled on the TP Link Deco M5 system. I was wondering if anyone had any feedback on this or has anyone any suggestions for something in the same price category. I really like the fact that with any mesh system you will be on the same network all around the house which is currently not the case for me.

    If you have really think walls then maybe pay the extra for the M9 which use the electric line as a backbone


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