topic Re: Wifi Strength in Son's Bedroom in My Router

Wifi Strength in Son's Bedroom

w0036471 — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 14:07:51 GMT

We have FTTP with a Hub Two router. The router is located next to the point where the fibre enters the property, at the front of the house in the lounge. My 13yo son has just let me know he's upgraded his mobile data package because he doesn't get strong enough Wifi in his room (which is diametrically opposite from the router). I've read 1,001 threads on this forum on this issue, but they're all in complete jargon and I'm still none the wiser as to what I need to do to boost the signal to his room. Running miles of Ethernet isn't really a practical solution, and we rent privately so can't make any physical changes. Our house is an ex-forces brick-built house, built in the late 50s/early 60s, so has pretty robust walls, and I have no idea what the wiring situation is. To add to this, whatever solution we use needs him to still be able to connect his phone to the Chromecast in his telly. Can someone explain to me, like I'm a 5yo idiot, what I need to buy from where, and how to install it please?

Re: Wifi Strength in Son's Bedroom

Baldrick1 — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 14:14:15 GMT

@w0036471

Options: https://community.plus.net/t5/Tech-Help-Software-Hardware-etc/Distributing-Data-around-Larger-Properties/m-p/1761491#M89668

There's no straight answer on which will suit your budget and property best.

Re: Wifi Strength in Son's Bedroom

w0036471 — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 14:16:12 GMT

Yeah, that's precisely the jargon-filled guff I was asking for help with translating.

Re: Wifi Strength in Son's Bedroom

jab1 — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 14:22:07 GMT

@w0036471 Insulting people who try to help isn't a good start.

When he says he 'doesn't get strong enough Wi-Fi' exactly what does he mean, and what is he doing - general browsing/gaming/w.h.y.?

Re: Wifi Strength in Son's Bedroom

w0036471 — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 14:26:28 GMT

He is playing games/watching videos on his phone. The Wifi signal keeps dropping out entirely and pushing him onto his phone's 4G connection.

Re: Wifi Strength in Son's Bedroom

jab1 — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 14:28:23 GMT

OK. So how big is the house/what is the rough distance between the lounge and his bedroom?

Re: Wifi Strength in Son's Bedroom

w0036471 — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 14:47:57 GMT

So, the house is about 8m wide and 6m deep, so his room is probably 7m or so from the router through a couple of thick walls including the chimney breast and stairwell.

Re: Wifi Strength in Son's Bedroom

jab1 — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 15:23:56 GMT

@w0036471 wrote:from the router through a couple of thick walls including the chimney breast and stairwell.

So, this is an old house? I'm no networking expert, but maybe use wireless extenders or powerline adapters?

Re: Wifi Strength in Son's Bedroom

bmc — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 15:35:57 GMT

@w0036471

PowerLine Adapters are probably the best idea without running ethernet cable.

If you go down this line make sure you get ones powerful enough for your FTTP speed. Others on the Forum might suggest suitable models for you to consider.

Brian

Re: Wifi Strength in Son's Bedroom

w0036471 — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 15:47:37 GMT

Yeah, it's a late 1950s ex-RAF married quarters red brick house. I've tried looking on Amazon for wireless extenders but it's so full of unverified knock-offs now it's hard to tell what's a worthwhile product and what isn't, as well as what would actually work with the PlusNet Hub. I kinda hoped PlusNet would have recommendations of products.

Re: Wifi Strength in Son's Bedroom

jab1 — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 16:39:05 GMT

So, it is brick-built, not some 19th-century castle? I suggest you explore the powerline option, but as said above, I am not a networking expert.

@MisterW / @Townman any ideas, or suggestions?

Re: Wifi Strength in Son's Bedroom

MisterW — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 17:08:05 GMT

Whilst I agree with the powerline suggestion, particularly, in this case, the versions that include a wifi adapter, the performance is overstated and VERY dependant on the electrical wiring. For example the 1000AV spec adaptors will really only achieve around 150Mb under good conditions. If the house (built in the 50/60s) hasn't been rewired then the performance could be badly impaired, and if it has been rewired with multiple separate circuits (and RCDs) then performance could be as low as 25Mb.

@w0036471 what speed FTTP product do you have ? and what sort of speed are you needing in your son's bedroom ?

Re: Wifi Strength in Son's Bedroom

w0036471 — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 17:17:39 GMT

So, we're on Full Fibre 145 (so "up to" 145Mb down). All he'd be doing in his room is either playing Minecraft or watching Netflix on his phone, or casting Neftflix to his TV, so in and of itself nothing majorly draining. How would I tell what the wiring situation is by looking at my fuse box?

Re: Wifi Strength in Son's Bedroom

MisterW — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 17:34:12 GMT

How would I tell what the wiring situation is by looking at my fuse box?

I would hope that it isn't actually a fuse box in the literal term, in that it has circuit breakers rather than actual fuses!

The circuits breakers should be labelled , are the upstairs sockets on a different circuit to the downstairs ? and is there more than one RCD ?

Re: Wifi Strength in Son's Bedroom

lahbrannan1 — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 17:50:40 GMT

Hi @w0036471

There are a range of options available to you to boost the WIFI signal in your premises. You can explore WIFI extenders, internet boosters, a mesh system or powerline adapters. Which option you opt for is entirely prefential nevertheless all do have the same purpose with a few caveats. For example a powerline adapter which comes with ethernet ports allows you to transmit the signal from the main router where the primary plug is installed to the secondary plug (a different part of the premises) If you opt for the powerline adapter with the ethernet ports then you can always hardwire your connection to the secondary socket.

There are many different brands retailed however one I personally recommened is TP Link.

I hope the above is of some use to you though if you do have any further questions then please do not hesitate to reach out

Re: Wifi Strength in Son's Bedroom

Townman — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 17:53:32 GMT

Everyone is looking at the “suspected” WiFi performance and not considering that the issue could well be the mobile phone. Some phones are notorious for random WiFi roaming. A Google search of the make, model and OS version could identify familiar issues.

I would be surprised that a small brick house is contributing to this issue. If this were a large sandstone house then maybe.

I’d also inspect the WiFi spectrum (use anyone of the readily available analysers on either a phone or windows PC).

Until you are certain that this is a WiFi signal issue from the router, I would not be spending money on kit to fix an ill defined problem; yes the symptoms might be well perceived, but similar symptoms can arise from different causes.

If dLAN adapters are thought to be a suitable solution I’ve had good results with Develo kit … but it is not cheap … whilst cheap kit rarely delivers optimal solutions.

Re: Wifi Strength in Son's Bedroom

Townman — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 17:58:44 GMT

@lahbrannan1

Whilst all of these have similar objectives, WiFi extenders use WiFi as the back-haul to the router thereby reducing the WiFi performance for all connected devices.

A WAP wired over Ethernet (cable or Ethernet over power) will always perform better.

What device were you thinking of under the term “broadband booster”.?

Re: Wifi Strength in Son's Bedroom

jab1 — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 17:59:53 GMT

@Townman wrote:
Everyone is looking at the “suspected” WiFi performance and not considering that the issue could well be the mobile phone. Some phones are notorious for random WiFi roaming. A Google search of the make, model and OS version could identify familiar issues.

I would be surprised that a small brick house is contributing to this issue. If this were a large sandstone house then maybe.

I agree with you there, @Townman - especially the bolded bit.

Re: Wifi Strength in Son's Bedroom

w0036471 — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 17:59:57 GMT

@Townman
Could you give an example of what Android app you might use to check the WiFi? Please, treat me like I know nothing.

Re: Wifi Strength in Son's Bedroom

w0036471 — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 18:02:59 GMT

Also, is there a way to force his phone to use 2.4 GHz instead of 5 GHz?