topic Re: Router booster? in My Router

Router booster?

ellythemoo — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 10:16:15 GMT

I finally got my account hoohas with Plusnet sorted, but the Wifi is still woefully under par. My socket & router are in one room, and my wifi signal drops drastically when I go out of it, even just into the next room. I can't move my socket so am having to access Sky via Wifi; could this cause an issue?

I spoke to Plusnet last night and was told that they'd split the Wifis on the router to make 5G and normal separate, but the 5G one isn't appearing on any of my devices.

Will I have to get a router booster and if so can anyone recommend one? I have fibre and don't really see why I should have to boost the wifi from the next room!

Thank you.

Re: Router booster?

bmc — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 10:24:33 GMT

@ellythemoo

Given the unlimited variations within properties ISP's cannot be responsible for a customers WiFi - they can only guarentee the incoming speed.

PlusNet are a "value" or "basic" brand who use a basic modem/router. It is a re-badged BT HH5.

Many PlusNet users buy a BT HH6 off eBay and use that but it is still no guarentee this would fix your problems.

Brian

Re: Router booster?

ellythemoo — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 10:26:42 GMT

Thanks for your reply. Any idea what could be causing it? My walls aren't 50ft thick!

Re: Router booster?

Baldrick1 — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 12:02:12 GMT

@ellythemoo

There are many reasons starting by the fact that th Hub oe is not that good. A BT Smarthub 6 is better and might do the job. This post might give you clue to other options. https://community.plus.net/t5/Tech-Help-Software-Hardware-etc/Distributing-Data-around-Larger-Properties/m-p/1761491#M89668

Re: Router booster?

ellythemoo — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 14:30:24 GMT

Thanks very much. I'm going to start by getting a v long ethernet cable to either bring the router into the sitting room where I do most of my work (it's in the bedroom presently, which I hate) or to connect my Sky box to the router. I guess if I get a second even longer ethernet cable then I could do both which may help?

Re: Router booster?

bmc — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 14:45:36 GMT

@ellythemoo

Can you confirm your Master Socket is in the bedroom and there are no other extensions.

To move the modem/router you'd need a telephone cable not ethernet . You can get signal loss doing this so if you go down this road buy a high quality (ie not cheap) one.

Ethernet cable works up to around 100m

Brian

Re: Router booster?

Baldrick1 — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 15:42:17 GMT

@bmc wrote:

To move the modem/router you'd need a telephone cable not ethernet . You can get signal loss doing this so if you go down this road buy a high quality (ie not cheap) one.

@ellythemoo This has to be the worst option if you want to use the upstairs Master socket for a phone as this will introduce a 'Bridge tap' to your connection.

Use an Ethernet cable to the downstairs room. Then it's a case of what you need dowmstairs. If it's just one Ethernet outlet just plug the cable in to the computer and away you go. If you want wireless or more than one Ethernet connection downstairs then plug the lead from the router into your Sky WAP and you have another three Ethernet outlets plus the Sky wireless downstairs ready for use.

Remember, Ethernet connections are always better than wireless.

Re: Router booster?

ellythemoo — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 15:54:13 GMT

Thank you both. I only have one socket, which is in the bedroom. It's a flat so everything is on the same floor, hence I still don't understand why there are issues! However, it looks like if i get a loooooooooong ethernet cable, I can move the router into the sitting room, attach Sky to it via an ethernet cable, and hopefully my laptop too; then use wireless for, er, wireless things like my phone and tablet.

Re: Router booster?

bmc — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 17:09:06 GMT

@ellythemoo

To be clear - you cannot use an ethernet cable to move your modem/router.

Depending on your style of Master socket it might be possible to fit an extension socket by running high quality cable through to where you would want to set up using a wall mounted back box. A filtered face plate could then be used to remove the need for the filter dongle.

Brian

Re: Router booster?

ellythemoo — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 18:01:27 GMT

If I get a longer ethernet cable, why can't I move my router into another room? It will still be running from the same socket? Sorry if this is a stupid question, I'm not particularly technical.

Or I mean whichever cable it is which plugs in from the phone line into the router.

Re: Router booster?

ellythemoo — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 18:06:53 GMT

How about this cable; could I plug this into my router to go into Sky or my laptop and leave the router where it is?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0936C9XYF

Re: Router booster?

dvorak — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 18:45:45 GMT

Moderators Note

This topic has been moved from ADSL Broadband to My Router

Re: Router booster?

Baldrick1 — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 19:06:31 GMT

@ellythemoo

Yes, that’s the way to do it, this cable is much higher spec than you need. If you shop around you will find cheaper options. Cat 5e should do the job. Cat 6 will eat it. Do you really need 50m, that’s about 165 feet?

Re: Router booster?

ellythemoo — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 20:26:07 GMT

We have one of these lying around at work I've been given so I figure it's worth a shot! I will try it out and let you know. Thanks again for all your assistance.

Re: Router booster?

bmc — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 20:26:08 GMT

@ellythemoo wrote:
If I get a longer ethernet cable, why can't I move my router into another room? It will still be running from the same socket? Sorry if this is a stupid question, I'm not particularly technical.

Or I mean whichever cable it is which plugs in from the phone line into the router.

@ellythemoo

An ethernet cable is an entirely different beast from a phone cable. They use different connections for a start (RJ11 & RJ45) though they look the same.

The modem/router must use a phone cable to connect to the incoming OpenReach line.

Brian

Re: Router booster?

ellythemoo — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 21:16:24 GMT

Ah, sorry I kept banging on about ethernet cables! Fingers crossed that the ethernet cable will do the trick.

Re: Router booster?

ellythemoo — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 21:29:24 GMT

Can I ask wat you mean by Sky WAP please?

Re: Router booster?

Baldrick1 — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 22:03:40 GMT

@ellythemoo

My apologies, I have got you mixed up with another thread.
I thought that you had an old Sky hub that you had configured as a WAP.If both your computer and Sky box both have Ethernet connections and you don’t need wireless then you can use both at the same time if you put a switch on the end of the long cable and branch off to the computer and Sky box from this. https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TL-SG1005D-Desktop-Gigabit-Ethernet/dp/B00ZOOJXEG/ref=sr_1_6?_encoding=UTF8&c=ts&dchild=1&keywords=Network+Switches&qid=1632261554&qsid=257-9105015-3053854&s=computers&sr=1-6&sres=B07HP5TN4S%2CB07PWHGQSS%2CB07HP6ZLSM%2CB00ZOOJXEG%2CB07PYSNSDD%2CB07VWB347G%2CB07QF51CVQ%2CB07RQHL6BY%2CB00AYRZYG4%2CB0007SQEPK%2CB0000E5SEQ%2CB07QHD134G%2CB003UWXFM0%2CB07J652QS3%2CB0000E5SES%2CB001EVGIYG%2CB0041JM6GM%2CB07PDHVYFS%2CB00GGD10FY%2CB00N2JPKEC&srpt=ELECTRONIC_SWITCH&ts_id=430573031

If you also want wireless then you need a Wireless Access Point or WAP instead. These cost a bit more. Start off with the Ethernet cable and see if that works first.

Re: Router booster?

ellythemoo — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 23:07:22 GMT

We have something similar at work, like this, is it any good?

WIWAV WDH-2ET1FX-DC 10/100Mbps 3-Port Industrial Ethernet Media Converter with DIN Rail/Multi-Mount(Pack of 2,Fanless,-30℃~75℃) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B084G2HMBH/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_91G26MWRXZW2F8RXJVNS

Re: Router booster?

Baldrick1 — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 09:29:53 GMT

@ellythemoo

Unfortunately not for what you need. This device is designed to turn a fibre connection into 2 RJ45 LAN outputs. Have you got an old router or modem/router kicking around that could b adapted?