Replace mr Plusnet Hub 2 modem/router

[#1]

@alanothen 

I've used TP-Link products for a few years now and have always been happy with them.

TP-Link have a range of router products https://www.tp-link.com/uk/explore/wifi-router/ 

If you scroll down the page you will find "What type of residence do you have?" this will help you select a router.

With regards to setting up a new device you can either use a PC/Laptop or for Apple/Android devices there is a Tether app.

Some TP-Link routers also support 'Easy or One Mesh' devices which allow for a wireless access point to be added. Which is handy as if required you could add a mesh node at a later date to improve wifi coverage.

Answer to questions

1) Yes

2) Hopefully but not guaranteed, see above

3) Yes, a mesh system would give better coverage.

4) That's a hard question to answer, purchasing decisions are often based on personal affordability.

I think everyone who as joined in the thread are all retired.

Happy to help with any setting up questions if/when you get to that point.

Have you tried moving the hub to a different spot within the limitations of the current cables?

[#2]

Thank you again Dan the Van,

I think this is worth a £60 punt to see it makes things better - what I have works most of the time, but at the edges it is a bit flaky. I’d just like to make it better, and as I have the time and money to do so I might as well.

Amazon is having a bit of a Prime sale starting on Wednesday, so I may as well wait until then to see if that saves me a few pounds. In the meantime I’ll read up a bit on the TP-Link and Mesh products.

Cost isn’t particularly a factor in that all of these products are as cheap as chips compared to when I was involved in computing 15-30 years ago. I’d feel a bit daft if I procured a system that was enormously more capable than I needed - but that doesn’t mean I won’t end up doing it to satisfy my technical curiosity 😎.

What I need to do now is have a break from thinking about this, so I’ll take Bob (the dog) for a walk to the beach and I think we’ll end up at the Charnwood Arms for a nice Sunday lunch. I’ll have a quick look at that website you suggested before Bob and I leave.

Alan

[#3]

@alanothen 

The great advantage of getting an EasyMesh compatible AX53 is that if the signal is weak in any area you can buy an add on compatible mesh satellite without having to start again.

[#4]

Thank you again Baldrick 1.

one more question if I may before Bob (the dog) and I go for a walk to the beach: would I be right in thinking that I’d need an AX53 modem to plug into the wire from the BT Openreach fibre optic box, as well as the Mesh 4 system you suggested earlier? So the Mesh system is just a range extender and I still need the but to plug into the wall (please excuse the layman’s terms, I’m a surveyor, not an IT engineer).

Bobwalkin time - I’ll drop in again this evening.

Alan

[#5]

@alanothen 

 No. The Ax53 becomes the mesh unit main unit. By buying additional mesh satellites you are replicating the mesh system that comes as a complete set. You can add as many satellites as you need.

Range extenders are far inferior as they generally use different SSIDs (the transmitted wireless name) and can be problematic. When you move around the property they rely on your connected device releasing a diminishing wireless signal and pick up the nearer transmission. Mesh satellites, as the name suggests, are all synchronised with the same name etc. and provide a seamless connection in all areas within the wireless range of any of the units.

[#6]

Just a point to note whatever system you finally get.
To make things easier, you can change the WiFi name and password to your current one. This will save you some time and possibly hair pulling as you do not have to reconnect each wireless device to you new router. Let us know what you finally decide to get, and I am sure those here can help you change it.

Hope Bob had a good walk.

[#7]

Thank you so much Mystreet1,

There is no great rush to come up with a solution as the supplied Plusnet Hub 2 does work and provides WiFi internet - it is just a bit flaky around the edges. When I think back to last summer when my son was back from university, he did tell me that coverage wasn’t that strong in his room, which is at the back of the house. I don’t normally notice that issue, but I ought to sort it out the problem before Dan next comes back from Glasgow. I mostly notice the issue when I’m trying to use an iPad to watch a YouTube video whilst tinkering with one of my older motorcars or motorcycles in the garage - sometimes it works - sometimes it doesn’t.

Thank you for the tip about renaming the new network the same as the old - we end up with so many things that rely on WiFi these days (doorbell, CCTV, Hue lighting, remote switches… the list goes on).

Whilst I don’t want to spend a huge amount of time on this issue, I’m keen to make sure I don’t go and purchase something unsuitable, so the assistance of this forum is really useful. 

Alan 😎

[#8]

Thank you again Baldrick 1,

I’ve been reading some product descriptions for Mesh systems such as the TL Link Deco-54 on Amazon… apologies for my ignorance, but does this system completely replace the Plusnet Hub 2 box I have now, and at the same time add two more satellite stations to it, or would I still have to keep the Hub 2 box? In simple terms would the wire from the BT Openreach fibre box plug into it?

I’m hoping the answer is the former: that the Openreach wire would plug into one of the Mesh boxes and I could then get rid of the Hub 2 box, then configure that Mesh box with a laptop and the other 2 Mesh satellites would set themselves up more or less automatically. If that is the case then this would be a pretty cheap (£108 - that sort of cost would be perfectly reasonable), easy and tidy solution that would enhance my simple life.

I’m being slightly lazy here. Rather than get myself up to speed with the technology so I can sort out a good system myself from the myriad of products available, I’m hoping you chaps on this forum will guide me on a path to achieve the solution without having to do the hard work so I can spend my time tinkering with old motorcars and motorcycles and walking Bob on the beach.

Alan 😎

[#9]

Replacing the Plusnet router with another router is unlikely to affect wireless performance.

A better strategy is to add a wired wireless point and locate it in another part of the building. 

[#10]

@alanothen 

I’ve been reading some product descriptions for Mesh systems such as the TL Link Deco-54 on Amazon… apologies for my ignorance, but does this system completely replace the Plusnet Hub 2 box I have now, and at the same time add two more satellite stations to it, or would I still have to keep the Hub 2 box?

It replaces the Hub 2. You configure the primary Mesh unit to make a PPPoE connection with your Plusnet credentials and connect it directly to the ONT ( the Openreach fibre box )

[#11]

Thank you Spile,

We are slightly going round in circles here. Someone suggested that in the above, and I explained that I don’t want cables running around the house. I asked the question whether changing the Hub 2 router would improve WiFi signs, coverage and got advice contradicting yours. Some thought a better (more expensive) router would improve matters, others that using a Mesh system would fix it.

I just want to work out whether buying some different equipment to replace (ie not in addition to) the Hub 2 would sort the issue before I buy something. I’ve already discounted having wires around the house. 

😎

[#12]

Thank you MisterW,

That is very clear, thank you. In that case it would seem that this is probably the system to go for - as far as I can tell from the advice here and the product descriptions I have read on Amazon. I’ll write down the situation, the problem and what seems to be the most likely solution here, if anyone thinks I’m mistaken please do let me know before I commit to buying equipment:

1. Situation: I live in a 3 bed bungalow with solid walls that sprawls a bit with a separate double garage, a cabin in the garden and some remote CCTV cameras. The internet connection is full fibre 300 mb/s to the sitting room at the front of the house. The distance from the Hub 2 router to the furthest extremity (a CCTV camera on the car port) is probably 40m. I’m retired from mainstream work, so I don’t need the system for business, just domestic use, TV streaming, and home automation.
2. Problem: The Hub 2 works okay in the house, although my son has complained of poor WiFi coverage in the back bedroom. WiFi coverage out in the garage is poor, it would be very convenient to improve it so I can watch instructional YouTube videos whilst tinkering with older motorcars and motorcycles (I have too many of both). Also connection to some of the distant CCTV cameras is a bit slow and unreliable. I’m not going to have wired connections, so if there isn’t a wireless solution then I’ll just stick with what I have - which more or less works most of the time.

3. Possible solution: I buy a TP-Link Deci S4(3 pack) kit from Amazon, this is currently about £110, but I may as well wait a day or two and see if it is reduced a bit in the Prime Sale (starts Wednesday). I’d then have to (I’m quoting MisterW here) ‘configure the primary Mesh unit to make a PPPoE connection with your Plusnet credentials and connect it directly to the ONT’. I have no idea what all that means yet, but I’m a quick learner and I’m hoping you chaps would assist. If what I’ve read in the product descriptions is right then then one of the Mesh boxes will replace the Hub 2 box in the sitting room, and it will connect wirelessly with the other two that I could put in perhaps the kitchen and the garage to give me much wider coverage, all in the same network. If I can achieve this fir about £100 and a few hours tinkering I’ll be very happy.

So, that is it chaps: soup to nuts. If anyone can see a flaw in that argument please do let me know in the next couple of days - or indeed if folk think it is a good plan that is likely to work then an endorsement would be appreciated as well.

Many thanks,

Alan 😎

[#13]

@alanothen 

Wireless propagation is funny stuff and depends on many factors, such as neighbours WiFi signals, unassociated transmissions, thickness and construction of walls etc. So, you will never get a definitive, dependable, answer to  the question ‘will this fix my wireless problem’? The best you can do is try out alternatives. 
The advantage to a mesh system is that you can start either with an ‘easy mesh’ compatible router and see how well that works in isolation, buying add on satellites to fill dead spots if necessary. Buying separate bits this way can be relatively expensive. Alternatively, you can buy a 3 unit mesh kit. Again, you can add extra satellites to this if necessary.

Which would work out cheaper? I’m afraid that there’s no straight answer without experimenting in your property.

[#14 · Accepted solution]

@alanothen at the risk of possibly confusing you even more, might I suggest you also look at the Mercusys Mesh systems https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/page/C87A8DBF-CDE6-4A6F-BBDF-B09E38D9BC38

They are actually part of the TPlink brand but are a little cheaper. You may therefore be able to future proof a bit and get a better performing system for a similar price to the S4.

[#15]

Different people have different experiences and problems. By saying that you are not prepared to hardwire, you are effectively ignoring advice so you will need to find your own path or accept an inferior compromise like powerline. You might get help on a non ISP forum as this isn't an isp issue.