Moved house, brought hub 2. Poorer signal

[#1]

I've just moved to a 1930s house from a 2000's property. My Hub 2 wifi signal strength is very poor even in the next room to the router. Should I consider switching to 2.4Ghz despite me paying for a package which lets me have 140Mbs?

What are the pros and cons?

Is there an upgrade or other solution?

[#2]

@Wolfieboy The design/construction of a property can have an effect on router performance.

It may be a good idea to test whether the 2.4Ghz band performs better - disable the 5Ghz band on the Hub. That will not affect the speed - the 'speed' will remain the same.

[#3]

The uplink speed will remain the same.

The relative speed of the WiFi is moot point.  Though the 5GHz signal is faster, its signal does not travel as far and a degraded high error rate signal could result in a slower data throughput speed.

Whilst 2.4GHz is slower its signal travels further with less degradation - that could lead to a better data throughput rate.

WiFi can be. Arkey impacted by the presence of other WiFi networks especially if they are not being friendly by using channels other than 1, 6 and 11.  Investigation of the WiFi spectrum using inSIDDer is advisable.

WiFi speeds are not what one is paying for - it’s the router to exchange speed which defines the product.

[#4]

WiFi coverage is a tricky business. The Plusnet hub can only reasonably judged in terms of speed when you are close to it or use a cabled connection.

Spending a significant sum on a mesh system may get you good "whole home" coverage but there is plenty of dissatisfaction with the various mesh systems and they tend to work best if the WiFi units are cabled together.

[#5]

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@Wolfieboy wrote:

I've just moved to a 1930s house from a 2000's property. My Hub 2 wifi signal strength is very poor even in the next room to the router.

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 The ideal solution is to use mesh units interconnected by an Ethernet backhaul, as already mentioned.

Much as I hate them, you might have some success with powerline units between rooms.

[#6]

@Wolfieboy 

Have you measured your speed using a wired connection just to confirm you're receiving your expected speeds?

Apart from that, your first option would be to run ethernet cable where possible - including going external if needed. This provides a solid starting point and future proofs the house. Not the cheapest option but doesn't rely on technology or WiFi signals.

Brian

[#7]

Honestly. It's super fast near to router. I don't need to connect an ethernet. But as soon as you move to another room or upstairs it drops dramatically.
So I'm amazed nobody has suggested a different router... A more modern one with better range with WiFi 6.
Anybody got any suggestions of one?
It seems to me that it's about time Plusnet updated their devices to match the speed of the supply.

[#8]

@Wolfieboy The Hub2 can handle up to 900mbps if wired, but wireless speeds are very environment dependent. a different router may give an improvement - but it may not.

[#9]

In reality most people do not connect devices by ethernet.
Google search:
better more powerful WiFi router than Plusnet hub 2
An upgrade to a modern standalone Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7 router-such as the ASUS RT-AX5700 (RT-AX86U Pro) or a mesh system like the TP-Link Deco AX3000-will provide significantly faster speeds, better range, and separate Wi-Fi bands compared to the basic Wi-Fi 5 Plusnet Hub 2.
Why Upgrade from the Plusnet Hub 2?
Outdated Wi-Fi 5 Tech: The Plusnet Hub 2 relies on older Wi-Fi 5 standards, which struggle over distance or through thick walls.
No Band Splitting: The Hub 2 forces 2.4GHz and 5GHz...

[#10]

@Wolfieboy 

Sorry, I may not have been entirely clear about ethernet cabling. I should have added that you attach a WiFi Access Point (WAP) to where ever you run the ethernet to.

PlusNet are a basic "value" brand and the router reflects this. It does the job for most people.

If looking to try something else have a look at the FritzBox 7530 AX (the AX means it can handle WiFi 6). A well regarded router - several people on here (myself included) ust the 7530 version.

https://uk.webuy.com/search/?stext=fritzbox+routers

If you buy one from CEX do a factory reset first before using.

Brian

[#11]

I bought a Fritzbox. What's next 😬? I'm not hugely computer literate. Can anyone talk me through it?

[#12]

@Wolfieboy 

I can't remember the exact settings but you need to login to the Router Admin page.

First thing to do is a factory reset to clear all previous settings. This is a software command so you need to find that.

Then add your PN credentials to get your internet connection.

Then change the network SSID to what you've used previously.

If doing this by WiFi you'll need to create a new connection using what the FritzBox currently uses until you can change to your details.

Brian

[#13]

@Wolfieboy 

I've just had a quick look at my FritzBox and the factory reset is found uner System, BackUp, Load Factory Settings.

Help page - https://fritzhelp.avm.de/help/en/FRITZ-Box-7530-avme/avme/024p2/hilfe_system_sicherung_reset

Once the reset is completed look for any Updates.

Brian