topic Re: Broadband coverage issue in My Router

Broadband coverage issue

Stevieleeds — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 07:53:40 GMT

Hi all,

We have recently built a large extension on our 1830's stone cottage. I suspected that we might have broadband coverage issues especially since the new TV was to be at the end of the new extension which is 10m away off the original house. So I had an ethernet cable fitted to extend the signal to the TV. The problem was that all other devices were struggling to get the signal from the router which was at the front of the house. So I moved the router to the back of the house and used a patch cable between the entry point into the house. All good, except now devices in the front of the house cannot reach the router which is now in the back. I bought a cheap range extender and this kind of works, but devices randomly connect to it and cause bandwidth compatibility issues. I also get the case when my device is connected to the router and therefore can't find casting devices at the front of the house. The security camera in the front of the house has given up the ghost completely and can't seem to connect to anything anymore. What I think I need is another Hub 2 router at the front of the house configured identically to the one in the back. Is this even possible? or would you guys recommend a different solution altogether? Many thanks in advance!

Re: Broadband coverage issue

Batfrog — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 08:23:26 GMT

@Stevieleeds You’re almost correct. I would return the router to it’s original location at the front of the house and connect it to a wired access point at the rear via the ethernet cable.

The access point can be any router but I would make sure whatever you use has separate 2.4Gh and 5Ghz wifi and give them separate names (SSIDs).Here is a link giving an example: https://www.tp-link.com/uk/support/faq/2655/ Other makes of router can also be used, there are plenty on eBay quite cheaply.

I have this set up with the ‘access point’ in the loft of my bungalow which gives good coverage in all rooms. (Bungalows tend to have a large footprint since they are all one level) My router is at ground level close to where the signal enters the house. In my opinion range extenders are a poor second to the arrangement above.

Re: Broadband coverage issue

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 08:24:57 GMT

@Stevieleeds

I'm slightly confused about where all of your devices are in relation to each other, but would this help:

I'm assuming that the ethernet cable you had run in goes from the Hub's original location at the front of the house to the TV position at the back of the new extension?

If that is correct, you could try restoring the Hub to its original location and reconnecting this ethernet cable to it. At the "TV" end of the cable, install a small ethernet switch. Connect the ethernet cable to one of the ports, (any one, it doesn't matter which), and use a second ethernet cable to connect your TV to the switch, (again, any spare port).

Your TV should now be working properly.

Now connect your "Range Extender" to the ethernet switch and configure it as an Access Point, to give WiFi coverage in the extension.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-LS1005G-Wallmount-Ethernet-Splitter/dp/B07VWB347G

Re: Broadband coverage issue

Stevieleeds — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 09:15:22 GMT

Hi and thank you for the speedy response.

"I'm assuming that the ethernet cable you had run in goes from the Hub's original location at the front of the house to the TV position at the back of the new extension?" : Yes, that is correct, I used a patch cable from the ONT to the ethernet extension to the back of the house (TV location) and placed the Hub 2 at the back of the house.

The range extender that I bought has only the 2.4G bandwidth so that will inevitably still cause bandwidth compatibility issues. What I really need is something that provides an identical signal to the original Hub 2 to all devices throughout the house.

I did think about getting another Hub 2 as there are loads of them on Ebay. Would that work?

Thanks again,

Steven

Re: Broadband coverage issue

Stevieleeds — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 09:16:22 GMT

Thank you I think this is probably the best solution so far!

Re: Broadband coverage issue

Stevieleeds — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 09:17:33 GMT

Would an identical Plusnet Hub 2 work well? There are loads going for pennies on Ebay sealed in their original box....

Thanks again!

Steven

Re: Broadband coverage issue

Batfrog — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 10:12:44 GMT

@Stevieleeds Off hand I don’t know if a Hub2 could be used in my scenario but I wouldn’t use one. You can’t separate the 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz WiFi with the Hub2 which other posts on this forum show to be a problem with various WiFi devices that are 5Ghz capable jumping from one to the other, doorbells, mobiles, cameras etc. Whereas if you can set such devices to one channel (usually 2.4) they operate much better.

@Mr_Paul’s solution is probably cheaper than buying a router but I suspect that your existing range extender would not be as good as a router as far as WiFi is concerned. It depends also if you want to connect your TV by WiFi or cable and that depends on the location and if the cables can or need to be hidden.

Re: Broadband coverage issue

dvorak — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 11:45:21 GMT

Moderators Note

This topic has been moved from Full Fibre to My Router

Re: Broadband coverage issue

Baldrick1 — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 13:16:51 GMT

@Stevieleeds wrote:

What I really need is something that provides an identical signal to the original Hub 2 to all devices throughout the house.

You can bodge around with configuring old routers as Wireless Access Points and/or using wireless extenders to your hearts content.

However, the only way to achieve what you really want is to buy a couple of Mesh units. Assuming that you are on FTTC, return the Plusnet hub to the original location and use the Ethernet cable to interconnect the two Mesh units, and by doing so provide a perfect backhaul.

Assuming you are on FTTC, either set the Mesh units up as Access Points, or to use the full mesh router functions, configure the Hub in bridge mode and enter your Plusnet credentials into the primary Mesh unit. If you are on Full Fibre then simply use the second option and connect the primary Mesh unit directly to the Full Fibre ONT. With either FTTC option, switch off the hub Wireless and connect the hub to the primary Mesh unit using one of the 3 LAN sockets.

Not the cheapest solution I know, but you get what you pay for.

Re: Broadband coverage issue

Stevieleeds — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 15:01:10 GMT

Thank you for this. As I have an ONT (see photo) I assume that I am on Full Fibre. Could you please explain again leaving out the FTTC options? Sorry but I am flummoxed by the differences, being a lay-person!

Re: Broadband coverage issue

Stevieleeds — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 15:43:29 GMT

BTW I have one of these: Tenda Nova MW3 Whole Home Mesh... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07D9CC637?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share will it still work?

Re: Broadband coverage issue

bmc — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 15:46:49 GMT

@Stevieleeds

Fibre is the old FTTC - fibre cable to the cabinet and then copper to your house.

Full Fibre Is fibre optic cable all the way to the house. It terminates in an ecxternal box on a wall and then is brought into an internal box (ONT).

Can you not run ethernet cable fron the original router position to where the proplems areas are and then get a WIFi accesss point (WAP) to connect to it.

Brian

Re: Broadband coverage issue

mystreet1 — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 15:53:18 GMT

That is a mesh system, so will work. Never used one myself but looking at the pictures on amazon they have two lan ports and one can be used as a WAN connection.
You can do away with the PN router, enter your username and password in the master mesh, connecting to the Internet. They run a cable to the new extension and connect the second mesh to it.

Re: Broadband coverage issue

Baldrick1 — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 15:55:00 GMT

@Stevieleeds

Yes. All that you have to do is connect it to the ONT, you don't need the Plusnet Hub, set the input type to PPPoE, enter your account usernname appanded with @plusdsl.net and your account password. If asked for VLAN, leave it blank.

Re: Broadband coverage issue

MisterW — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 16:21:47 GMT

From the Tenda user guide, there's no specific way to connect the units using a wired backhaul.

It seems from this https://confusedbird.com/thread-70.html that you simply set them up wireless and then make the wired connection.

@Stevieleeds the above link is worth a read , its maybe a bit technical but I'd give it a go...

Re: Broadband coverage issue

Stevieleeds — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 08:47:41 GMT

Hi and thanks again. Unfortunately I stumbled at the first hurdle because I do not know which username and password to use for the PPPoE. This must be a password that the existing router uses to connect to Plusnet, i.e. not any that I have set up to gain access to my account online or the password for the router itself. How do I access that particular password please?

Many thanks,

Steven

Re: Broadband coverage issue

Anonymous — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 08:52:37 GMT

@Stevieleeds

Have you tried the password that you use to access your Plusnet Member Centre?

Re: Broadband coverage issue

Baldrick1 — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 09:09:49 GMT

@Stevieleeds

It is the one that you use to log in to your Plusnet Account (NOT this forum). If you don't know it then go to your account log in page, enter your username and select 'Forgot password'

Re: Broadband coverage issue

Stevieleeds — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 09:13:52 GMT

Thanks again.....gonna spend today playing around with it and getting frustrated I think..

Re: Broadband coverage issue

Stevieleeds — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 07:56:44 GMT

Thanks to everyone who has helped with this so far. I still have a problem which concerns my TV and speaker system. Known as Samsung Symphony, the two speakers and TV always have to be connected to the same mesh node, or the system doesn’t work. The problem is, at least one of those devices at any time decides that it would be best connecting to a node at the other end of the house! No, I mean literally 120 metres away rather than the one that is wired, and sat next to them. I’m guessing that an upgraded mesh system where I can force specific devices to use one particular node might solve the problem. I’m using three Tenda AC1200 which are 5 years old.