topic Re: Wireless repeater?? in Tech Help - Software/Hardware etc

Wireless repeater??

penfold — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 19:33:08 GMT

We have had our conservatory converted with a proper roof, and made it more into a lounge. I've put a TV in there with a Blu-ray and one of our Roku express boxes. Router, a Plusnet hub2 that's works fine is at the front of the house. We get pretty good wireless coverage around the house, my phone in the conservatory on 5ghz is getting around 60mbps, my wife's that's on 2.4ghz around 30mbps, on a connection of almost the full 80/20. Oddly the Roku box is only getting 6mbps, but it says signal etc all good. It's HD only, so that's likely enough, but wondered if a wireless repeater would be helpful. Streaming through it is ok with pretty good quality, or should I just leave alone. Signal on 5ghz is -64dBm in the conservatory according to wifiman. Any advice?

Re: Wireless repeater??

Protech — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 19:55:56 GMT

Have a look at this

https://community.roku.com/t5/Wi-Fi-connectivity/Poor-download-speed-but-my-internet-is-400mbps/td-p/668818

It would appear that this is not uncommon with some roku boxes. So I doubt a wireless repeater will help much.

Re: Wireless repeater??

penfold — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 20:24:01 GMT

Thanks for that, I'll have look at the signal strength etc. It seems to stream fine, and didn't glitch. When it was in my bedroom, which is directly over router was getting 33mbps. Maybe as it's streaming fine I should stop fussing 😯

Re: Wireless repeater??

bmc — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 11:15:32 GMT

@penfold

Although not the cheapest option would it be possible to run an ethernet cable from the router to the lounge?

If you live in a detached or semi detached property the cable could be external, terminated at either end by ethernet wall plugs. In the "lounge" you could install a WiFi Access Point (WAP) or a powered ethernet switch which would allow hard wiring of the TV and other devices.

As stated it's not the cheapest option but would give you a solid starting point in the "lounge" and is future proof.

Brian

Re: Wireless repeater??

penfold — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 12:23:05 GMT

It would be difficult and quite involved. I could use power line networking to a WAP. The Roku box doesn't have an ethernet port. I was hoping to use a mains powered wireless repeater for ease.

Re: Wireless repeater??

jgb — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 13:16:56 GMT

Whilst not the optimum solution I have a Plusnet Hub 2 and use a TP-Link Mesh dual band WiFi Extender AC1900 (RE550). I installed mine about 12 months ago and have been pleased with the results (my previous old BT branded single band extender did not want to work with the Hub2. I now get a reliable WIFi signal in the two rooms furthest from my router where coverage was previously patchy. Phones, tablets etc, seem to switch seamlessly between the router and the Extender if I move around the house.

I suspect that TP-Link have other and newer models available now but the AC1900 RE550 does still seem to be available from some on-line sellers. There are, of course, other manufacturers of similar equipment.

Re: Wireless repeater??

bmc — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:28:27 GMT

@penfold

If an external cable is possible, I was thinking along the lines of getting someone in to do it - hence not the cheapest option. It is future proof and no worries about the signal reaching the "lounge".

Powerline adapters may well do the job. Things may be better now but in days of old poeple either liked them or didn't. Make sure you get a pair with sufficient WiFi speed in case (or if) FTTP comes along.

Others may offer advice on what to get. Some have a WAP built into the second unit along with ethernet sockets.

Brian

Re: Wireless repeater??

penfold — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:31:38 GMT

Thanks all for the suggestions. I'll have a look about at best options.

Re: Wireless repeater??

MisterW — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:40:44 GMT

If you're considering Powerlines then make sure both units are in a position where they can be plugged into the same electrical circuit, especially if your consumer unit is a split load type with RCDs or has RCBOs. Take the rated spec e.g 1000av with a large pinch of salt, they should be ok up to about 100Mb which is fine for your existing FTTC connection BUT if you are thinking of getting a higher speed Full fibre in future then they will limit the speeds on anything connected via them.

Re: Wireless repeater??

penfold — Mon, 12 May 2025 20:24:06 GMT

Apologies for resurrecting this post. I decided to leave things as they were working, but I've now got a printer in there and it struggles connecting to the wireless. Ethernet is not currently an option so I was looking at the TP link TL-WPA7167 as suggested, as I can keep the same ssids and I already use the 4010 units. Only question I have is how do they cope with wireless that's not split into 2.4 and 5ghz, but combined like the hub 2 does. Thanks 👍

Re: Wireless repeater??

Baldrick1 — Tue, 13 May 2025 13:17:51 GMT

@penfold

Don't know about this device but I had no problem with an RE200, see: https://community.plus.net/t5/Tech-Help-Software-Hardware-etc/Separate-Bands-with-a-Smarthub-2-or-Plusnet-Hub-2/m-p/1843141#M92270

Re: Wireless repeater??

penfold — Tue, 13 May 2025 20:30:51 GMT

Just had a thought, not sure why I didn't think of this before. I said ethernet is out of the question, but in essence it's not. The conservatory is wired into the house ring via a 30a trip switch. Long story but it couldn't be wired separately as wiring old even though I have a modern CU. I could use a normal power line adapter in the conservatory and repurpose my hub1 as a wireless access point. I don't know why I'm fussing over having same ssids as printer and Roku box only use 2.4ghz and I can split the network on the hub1. I assume everything else would connect to the strongest network as long as the phones know about it and ignore it if not. Is the guide on the forum the most up to date?

Re: Wireless repeater??

MisterW — Wed, 14 May 2025 06:56:31 GMT

@penfold I did exactly that for a neighbour, where the router was at the front of the house and conservatory at the back.

Take the claimed speed of the powerlines with a pinch of salt though!. Using a pair of these https://www.tp-link.com/uk/home-networking/powerline/tl-pa7017-kit/ gives around 150 Mb max connection.

Re: Wireless repeater??

penfold — Wed, 14 May 2025 07:57:12 GMT

Thanks

I currently use TL-PA4010. I have 2 of them, that feed my sons PC as he prefers ethernet for gaming, and this was the next best thing. Gets around 60Mbps on an 80/20 connection.

Ill repurpose his Home plug temporally to test.

Would you recommend changing the SSID to match the Master Router or change and split the bands. The only things that will really connect would be the printer and Roku box. Phones for some reason keep connected to the 5Ghz network of the master router although signal drops from 40dBm in the living room to 78dBm in the conservatory.

If FTTP ever comes to my area will maybe upgrade to AV1000 kit

Re: Wireless repeater??

MisterW — Wed, 14 May 2025 08:26:51 GMT

Would you recommend changing the SSID to match the Master Router or change and split the bands

It's a bit 'suck it and see' what works best for you.

I my neighbours case, I used different SSIDs and channel numbers. I'm pretty sure that his next-door had recently moved their router/AP and it was now close to the conservatory. He had an Eero that was not being used, so I put that on the end of the powerline in the conservatory configured as an AP.

Re: Wireless repeater??

Dan_the_Van — Wed, 14 May 2025 09:49:15 GMT

I currently use a TL-PA4010 paired with a TL-WPA4220 they are connected to separate MCB (house and garage) but on the same RCD.

For me the wireless (SSID) name is the same as the Hub Two, importantly they do not share the same wireless channel, devices appear to connect to the strongest channel, they seem to switch between the two wireless stations without issues.

HTH

Re: Wireless repeater??

penfold — Wed, 21 May 2025 10:01:26 GMT

Well as a proof of concept that worked fine, albeit with wires trailing everywhere. Will neaten stuff up over weekend.

Phone switched relatively seamlessly between the hub 2 and hub 1 on the same SSID and password on each according to WIFIman on my phone, with a bit of a delay switching back to hub2 when in good signal range.

Signal on printer is much better.

Speed tests seem OK, but when connected to the hub 1 and 5ghz (the channels are still merged on the hub1) speed tests max out at 40Mbps. When on Hub2 nearer 75Mbps.

I assume this is due to the overheads on powerline networking with AV600 units and an older hub 1 having a 3x3 anntennae rather than 4x4 on hub 2.

As this is mainly going to be used for the printer and ROKU unit, which both use 2.4ghz this will be fine I would assume, or should I just use a different SSID, split them and use the hub 1 for the 2 devices connections and connect phone etc if I need to if signal gets low at the back of the conservatory

Re: Wireless repeater??

Dan_the_Van — Wed, 21 May 2025 11:07:04 GMT

I found a wired speedtest through my TP-Link powerline adapters was around 40 Mbps, the Hub 1 may also have reduced WiFi performance, I could experiment with my old Hub One if you'd like?

I would see how using the same SSID at both location performs before I'd split them, if the conservatory devices prefer to connect to the Hub two then maybe split the names.

Re: Wireless repeater??

penfold — Wed, 21 May 2025 11:14:47 GMT

Thanks. If you get a chance, but its not that pressing. Its also likely the AV600 100mbps ethernet causing a bottleneck.

Ill put everything together once I have another powerline adapter. I was thinking of getting AV1000 kit for the main unit connected to the router and my sons unit, and using a spare AV600 as the conservatory link as speed really isn't that much of a factor there. FTTP is coming soon to my area.

Depends on costs....

Shame cant switch off the hub 1 lights, but its a much cheaper solution currently that powerline repeaters or a mesh system, which is likely overkill for my needs.

Re: Wireless repeater??

Dan_the_Van — Wed, 21 May 2025 11:35:07 GMT

There is no point mixing AV600 and AV1000 devices, the Powerline adapters will adopt the speed of the slowest device AV600.

https://www.tp-link.com/uk/support/faq/3090/

If you are careful it is possible with a knife blade to peel off the cover of the Hub One lights and cover with some dark tape. You should be able to stick the cover back on.