topic Re: Mesh wifi advice needed in Tech Help - Software/Hardware etc

Mesh wifi advice needed

maranello — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 22:17:54 GMT

I'm looking for advice on the best way of setting up a wifi mesh. As a past customer of Plusnet (having been lured away by BT and subsequently Youfibre), I know how helpful and knowledgeable people on this community can be.

My current setup is thus.

Arris dual band router, located at front of my house.

Devolo powerline adaptor, 2.4Ghz, taking wireless signal to back of house, and Ethernet connection to Smart TV.

TP-link ac-750 wireless repeater, dual band, also at back of house, in same room as Devolo unit

Belkin wifi repeater, 2.4Ghz, upstairs.

Performance wise, this setup seems to be adequate most of the time. My laptop is practically permanently connected by ethernet to the Arris, and speedtests are typically around 95Mbps up and down. We use two tablets and two smartphones, a smart tv and anothe tv with a Roku, three echo devices and one smart plug. By configuring the static devices to connect to the optimum wifi signal these by and large function satisfactorily. we have got into the habit of switching the mobile devices to the strongest signal when we use them throughout the house.

I'm sure that there are some changes we could make to this setup to improve performance. With so many different SSIDs being used there is potentially interference which is degrading performance.I have also been told that the Devolo powerline units are sometimes unreliable using the Arris (we had similar problems with the BT Smart hub). From what i have read it appears a mesh network would be an improvement.

I have been given a 3 unit Mercusys halo S3 system to try out. It only uses a 2.4GHz signal. If i use this in place of my current setup, and turn off the signal on the arris as advised in the setup, I would effectively be losing one access point and the faster 5GHz band, but reducing the number of SSIDs. Would the potential reduction in interference compensate for the reduced coverage range?

I would greatly appreciate any response and advice of how best to go about setting up an optimum network with the equipment that i have described above

Re: Mesh wifi advice needed

paul_blitz — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 13:29:25 GMT

One thing you can consider doing - although it's more a convenience thing than a performance thing, is to set up your 3 APs with the same SSID and password... however, because it is still not an actual 'mesh' you'll find that mobile phones etc will still remain on their original AP until there's no signal!

That Mercusys halo S3 is a true mesh system, so to use it you'll need to replace the current AP's, as well as disable the wifi on your broadband router. You'll probably still want to use the powerline adapter to connect that unit... I guess you might want to comare the performance of powerline vs native wifi linkage...

Re: Mesh wifi advice needed

bmc — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 13:47:37 GMT

@maranello

Have you consider trying to run ethernet cable to provide a solid starting point at where ever you terminate it.

One potential option for this is an external cable round the house to the back (or two if one goes upstairs) terminationg in an ethernet wall socket. Not the cheapest option but provides (as stated) a solid starting point(s) and is future proof.

Brian

Re: Mesh wifi advice needed

maranello — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 22:39:02 GMT

@paul_blitz

Thanks for the advice. I added the Devolo powerline because the wifi signal from the then BT hub wasn't strong enough and i was getting buffering on IPlayer. Now i just get frequent short drops in connection which sometimes causes IPlayer or Disney+ to freeze - it's rather annoying. I'm aiming to ditch the Devolo if i can get a reliable enough wireless signal to the tv

@bmc

I welcome your suggestion, although SWMBO would not be keen to see more cables either nternally or externally.