topic Re: Extender/booster for Plusnet 2 Hub in My Router

Extender/booster for Plusnet 2 Hub

pete234356 — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 12:49:02 GMT

I've just started streaming music and I'm having lots of break-up and loss of signal, so I guess I need a booster/extender.

The PN2 Hub is just over 6 meters from my streamer in the same room with no walls in between.

Any suggestions please?

Thanks

PS I do have a TP-Link AC1200 Wireless Dual Band VDSL/ADSL Modem Router, but the PN installer said I shouldn't use that as the PN2 Hub is much better

Re: Extender/booster for Plusnet 2 Hub

bmc — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 12:52:55 GMT

@pete234356

First up I would try the TP-Link unit to see if it works and what the WiFi is like.

Brian

Re: Extender/booster for Plusnet 2 Hub

pete234356 — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 13:16:01 GMT

Thanks @bmc I did try the TP-Link some years ago to stream from my PC to a radio in the Kitchen about 2.5m away from the TP-Link router- it was awful.

So I'd hoped the Hub2 would work.

It is a bit better insofar as the stream works for a few minutes before breaking up, but it's still not useable.

Re: Extender/booster for Plusnet 2 Hub

bmc — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 13:39:14 GMT

@pete234356

Don't suppose an ethernet cable could be used?

My only other suggestion is to disable one of the WiFi bands on the Hub2 to see it that works. Unfortunately you can no longer "split" the bands by using different names for them.

Brian

Re: Extender/booster for Plusnet 2 Hub

MisterW — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 13:57:31 GMT

or try changing Wifi channels to avoid interference with adjacent networks.

Re: Extender/booster for Plusnet 2 Hub

pete234356 — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 14:01:43 GMT

Thanks again @bmc I appreciate your help.

It's the ideal solution, but a cable is not going to happen.

I thought that a half-decent router could manage a signal that would work at a distance of about 6m, but it seems not.

I thought a booster/extender would work - is that not the case?

I'm not bothered by the cost, I just want to be able to stream from a router (I'll buy a new one if that will solve the problem) to my Naim streamer about 6m away.

Re: Extender/booster for Plusnet 2 Hub

pete234356 — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 14:03:25 GMT

Thanks @MisterW

Can you point me somewhere that shows how to do that please?

Re: Extender/booster for Plusnet 2 Hub

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 14:04:14 GMT

@pete234356

Do you have a Smartphone? I use an app on my Android phone called WiFi Analyzer which gives a graphical display of various signals locally to you and their relative strengths.

You might find that both you and a neighbour are on the same channel, and changing to a different one gives better results.

Note that on the 2.4GHz band, the way that channels overlap mean that it is best to stick to either 1, 6 and 11. A lot of equipment, (not sure about the Hub 2), only allow selection of those channels anyway.

Re: Extender/booster for Plusnet 2 Hub

pete234356 — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 14:15:19 GMT

Thanks @Anonymous

I installed the app.

Next to the router I get a signal strength of 110%-120%

By my streamer the strength is between about 45-50%

I've no idea how to change channels is there a link you can give me please?

Re: Extender/booster for Plusnet 2 Hub

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 14:27:49 GMT

@pete234356
Crucially, can you see any other WiFi networks on the same channels as you that could be interfering?
To change channel you need to log in to your hub:
Put 192.168.1.254 in to a web browser on a PC, tablet, phone etc connected to your network. You should find your default login details on a removable card on the back of your hub.

Re: Extender/booster for Plusnet 2 Hub

pete234356 — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 14:36:03 GMT

Cheers @Anonymous

Is this the settings I need to change?

I can see my neighbours wifi as an option on my mobile phone

Re: Extender/booster for Plusnet 2 Hub

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 14:36:16 GMT

Yes.
Did you see other, possibly interfering networks on the WiFi Analyzed app already using channels 11 and 36?
In my experience, "Smart" isn't verysmart - far better to select manually!

Re: Extender/booster for Plusnet 2 Hub

MisterW — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 14:52:54 GMT

The problem with Smart is that the router sees adjacent network strengths from its location and adjusts the channel accordingly. . The strengths can be very different at the client location

Re: Extender/booster for Plusnet 2 Hub

pete234356 — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 15:49:59 GMT

Thanks @Anonymous

The Analyzer seems to show only my router

So I just change the channels to something else then save?

I got this warning come up -

I just wanted to check that everything still work when I save the new settings? as I'll have no idea what to do if it doesn't

Re: Extender/booster for Plusnet 2 Hub

Baldrick1 — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 15:50:53 GMT

@pete234356

Going back to basics, what speed is the hub reporting, what are you getting next to the hub and what speed at the streamer location?

Re: Extender/booster for Plusnet 2 Hub

MisterW — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 15:54:30 GMT

The Analyzer seems to show only my router

If the analyzer doesnt show any other networs then there's no point in changing channels

Re: Extender/booster for Plusnet 2 Hub

pete234356 — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 15:58:07 GMT

Thanks @Baldrick1

The analyzer speed indicator dial is only 1/2 visible due to an advert that I can't appear to close.

At the Router - At first the needle spins quite far round then stops, then goes up to about 20 then stops again

At the Streamer it's exactly the same

But I can only see 1/2 the dial

Re: Extender/booster for Plusnet 2 Hub

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 16:05:12 GMT

Try changing the view on the Analyzer app.
I find the Channel Graph one much easier to interpret than the dials.
It is relative signal strength that you are interested in.

Re: Extender/booster for Plusnet 2 Hub

pete234356 — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 16:15:54 GMT

Graph shows-

At the Router 2.4G

X-axis 1 =33 (Y-axis)

2=0

4=91

A the Streamer

X1=93.6

x6=44

X8=93.6

5G says Data Not Available

Re: Extender/booster for Plusnet 2 Hub

Baldrick1 — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 16:37:48 GMT

@pete234356

Try this speed tester, there should be no drop outs. There’s no need to fill in the location or review questions https://www.thinkbroadband.com/speedtest