topic Re: Wi fi extenders in My Router

Wi fi extenders

retnartsl — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 10:07:04 GMT

Hi can anyone recommend a hard wired range extender that works with Hub 2 please ?

Re: Wi fi extenders

Anonymous — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 10:47:44 GMT

They are easy to configure, they work well, still get firmware updates, and not too difficult to buy second hand on eBay for less than £30. If you do buy second hand, make sure you are getting the mains power supply with it, as many sold on eBay were previously used PoE to power them and the associated unused PSU lost.

You probably won't find them 'new', but if you wanted new then the currently sold range is here - https://www.draytek.co.uk/products/access-points/wifi-access-points

Re: Wi fi extenders

Baldrick1 — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 11:22:40 GMT

@retnartsl

What do you mean by ‘hard wired’? Any make should work, your options https://community.plus.net/t5/Tech-Help-Software-Hardware-etc/Distributing-Data-around-Larger-Properties/m-p/1761491#M89668

Moderator’s Note

This topic has been moved from Broadband to My Router

Re: Wi fi extenders

retnartsl — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 11:30:59 GMT

Hi thank you for your reply I have an office in the garden with a Ethernet cable going to it as wanted to get Wi-Fi there and wondered what extenders are compatible please?

Re: Wi fi extenders

Baldrick1 — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 11:50:46 GMT

@retnartsl

Simply do a search for a Wireless Access Point. All will work on the end of your Ethernet cable. After that it is a trade off between features, range and cost.

Re: Wi fi extenders

Champnet — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 13:43:50 GMT

@retnartsl Anything else in your garden office ? If so plug your ethernet line into a switch which will give you maximum speed to your computer, TV and anything else that connects to the Wan or your Lan. If you use plan on using mobile devices then add an access point….

Re: Wi fi extenders

Anonymous — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 22:08:06 GMT

@Champnet that's another reason I choose to use VigorAP 902, because it's a Wireless Access Point with a built in ethernet switch. It's also ideal for the 'office in the garden' if there was no electricity in there, as this WAP can be powered PoE over the incoming ethernet cable.

Re: Wi fi extenders

Champnet — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 06:48:14 GMT

Nice kit but a bit expensive.....

Re: Wi fi extenders

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 06:59:25 GMT

Not really, I've got five and each has typically cost me around £30 on eBay for units in immaculate condition.

Re: Wi fi extenders

Champnet — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 07:07:11 GMT

That’s not bad, I looked at retail prices. Are you using any other Draytek kit ?

Re: Wi fi extenders

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 08:42:35 GMT

In the past I've used DrayTek wireless routers to upgrade friends and family's broadband, when they've wanted a one box modem/router/firewall/WiFi solution.

I used to use take on UK holidays, a DrayTek wireless router with an attached USB 3G mobile data dongle to provide a WiFi hotspot (with the same WiFi SSIDs as used at home) - before mobile tethering or MiFi hotspot devices were a thing.

The only other DrayTek device I'm currently using is the DrayTek Vigor 130 VDSL modem, which is one of the few stand alone modems that allows you to adjust the PPPoE MTU above 1500 to give the full DSL line packet size.

In the coming months I'm planning on migrating my broadband FTTC line to VDSL SOGEA + VoIP, and at that time I'll upgrade my pfSense router (to something like this) to be future proofed and ready for full fibre in the years ahead. I'm also likely going to upgrade the modem to the DrayTek Vigor 166 for the ultimate performance while still on VDSL.

Re: Wi fi extenders

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 18:51:02 GMT

@Champnet wrote:

That’s not bad, I looked at retail prices.

This one just sold on eBay for £17.01 plus £9 p&p

Re: Wi fi extenders

Champnet — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 19:13:02 GMT

I did bid on that one, didn't win.......................

Re: Wi fi extenders

Anonymous — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 08:04:19 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

I use DrayTek VigorAP 902 . ... ... ... they ... still get firmware updates

And as if by magic, DrayTek just released another firmware update for these - https://www.draytek.co.uk/support/downloads/vigor-ap902

Re: Wi fi extenders

PotatoSalad — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 13:40:57 GMT

Just jumping in on this thread rather than creating a new one as it seems that I have a very similar situation.

Recently signed up with Plusnet, and have the Hub 2 on a Full Fibre 145 connection.

I have an ethernet connection and power in my garden office but the Wifi doesn't reach this far. I have 2 laptops and would also like my mobile to be connected to Wifi in the office, so the single ethernet cable doesn't really suffice.

Been trying to wrap my head around the world of extenders, powerline extenders, access points, mesh networks etc. and am struggling to be honest. Was originally thinking I'd just get a Wifi extender, put it in the house and that should allow it to reach the office (I was previously with Virgin and they were able to provide me with these as part of my package). But it seems like there might be a smarter solution that I could be missing.

It sounds like your recommendation on the VigorAP 902 could be ideal for me. Do you think that it would do what I'm looking for based on what I've described here? Or is there anything else I should be considering? The powerline extender idea also seemed potentially suitable so I could plug that into the office and get an extension through there. Would really appreciate some input from someone who is more of an expert at this that me.

Thanks in advance!

Re: Wi fi extenders

bmc — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 13:47:03 GMT

@PotatoSalad

If you already have an ethernet cable run simply buy an Ethernet Switch to provide ports for the laptops.

If there is power then PowerLine plugs would probably suit.

Brian

Re: Wi fi extenders

MisterW — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 13:54:11 GMT

@PotatoSalad if you already have an ethernet connection then all you need is a Wireless access point(AP), preferably one with multiple ethernet ports so that you can connect your laptops wired if required. Given that ( I assume ) your garden office isnt huge , you dont really need long range wireless but you do need a 5ghz capable AP to keep up with your 145Mb Fibre. The Vigor AP902 would do fine,

Do you have any old routers lying around as they can usually be configured as Wireless AP's without too much trouble, and of course they have 4 ethernet ports ( but check they are not just 10/100 ports ).

NB that assumes your ethernet cable is cat5e or better ?

Re: Wi fi extenders

PotatoSalad — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 14:08:44 GMT

Thanks so much for your reply.

I have an old Virgin router, would that do the job?

Re: Wi fi extenders

MisterW — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 14:18:10 GMT

Maybe , although being Virgin it may be locked down. What model is it ?

Re: Wi fi extenders

PotatoSalad — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 14:25:07 GMT

It's their "Hub 3" model. I've come across this article which makes it seem possible, but pretty complicated

https://drew1440.com/2021/06/01/reusing-a-virgin-media-superhub-3-as-a-wifi-extender/