Which router should I use?

[#1]

I need a better router than the Plusnet one, or else to move to another provider. My flat is not big but for unfathomable reasons I need a TP Link to extend the wifi signal. This is causing problems with my Sonos network as some speakers are on the TP Link connection and the others are on the Plusnet connection. Plus it's really annoying having to skip between Wifi connections anyway. 

I know there are better routers out there and would be grateful for a recommendation please.

Many thanks!

[#2]

Moderators Note

This topic has been moved to My Router

[#3]

Have you tried renaming the Wi-Fi network name/password on the TP-Link devices to match that of the Plusnet router (or vice versa)?

[#4]

Yes, but it still comes up as a separate connection. Which I guess, technically, it is.

[#5]

Comes up as a separate connection where exactly? That sounds a tad peculiar if both access points have the same name.

[#6]

Well it comes up as two separate connections when you try to connect to the Wifi, both with the same name. (for example when I search for a connection on my phone)

[#7]

HI there I've recommend this for you needs because I've got this Router as my Home Network System


https://www.asus.com/networking-iot-servers/wifi-routers/asus-gaming-routers/rt-ax86u/

[#8]

@ellythemoo  Are you using SonosNet to connect your speakers ?

https://speakergy.com/what-is-sonosnet/ 

[#9]

Yes they are - Channel 1.

[#10]

Thank you - I will start saving!

[#11]

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@ellythemoo wrote:

Well it comes up as two separate connections when you try to connect to the Wifi, both with the same name. (for example when I search for a connection on my phone)

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What TP Link device are you using exactly? I’m wondering if there’s something different you could be doing with the config. Can you share make/model?

[#12]

It's this one

TP-Link AV600 Powerline Adapter Wi-Fi Kit, Wi-Fi Booster/Hotspot/ Extender, Wi-Fi Speed up to 300Mbp...

[#13]

@ellythemoo - thanks, not a huge amount of configuration available in which case 😕

Might be worth confirming that the settings on page 17 of the manual here match the equivalent settings in the Plusnet Hub Manager though, particularly the security setting.

Another thing you might want to try is temproarily disabling the 5GHz Wi-Fi in the Plusnet Hub Manager. The extender you are using is pretty basic and only broadcasts on 2.4GHz. Configuring the Plusnet hub to do the same might improve things ( although worth considering that you'll sacrifice Wi-Fi speed/performance by doing this).

@ellythemoo wrote:

Well it comes up as two separate connections when you try to connect to the Wifi, both with the same name. (for example when I search for a connection on my phone)

... it's really annoying having to skip between Wifi connections anyway. 

This still confuses me to be honest. See below, which is a direct exceprt from TP-Link's website: -

"Generally, when multiple devices (bands) broadcast their wireless network with the same name (SSID), you can only see one network name in the wireless list of your end devices.

For example, if the SSID of your router is 'TP-Link_Router', and you also configure your Range extender with the same SSID, you will only see 1 wireless name in the list of your phone, though your router and extender have 2 wireless signals in total. And then, if you connect your phone to this network, you may not know which front device your phone is connecting to."

🤔

[#14]

@ellythemoo 

When you say you can see two connections, do you mean one on the WPA4220 and the other on the Hub?

The WPA will display attached devices, the Hub displays DHCP clients and where they are connected, for me the WPA clients are show as devices being connected to the HUB LAN 1 where the powerline adapter TP-Link PA4010 is connected.