Advice on WIFI Mesh system

[#1]

I recently moved house into an old stone house with thick walls (approx 2500 sq m).  The previous owner used a Devolo power link system with several WiFi nodes.  This is still in place, but it's quite old and slow.  However, I have a few devices (eg TVs) plugged into the nodes via ethernet ports, and these seem to work ok.  But the WiFi provided by the Powerlink boxes is poor and not continuous like you get with a mesh system.

I brought with me a basic Tenda WIFI Mesh system which did work alongside the Powerlink system, but was slow.  So I've just bought an up to date AX3000 mesh system, and my question is, what's the best way to set it up? 

Currently I have the primary node plugged into an ethernet port of my Plusnet Hub 2, which is connected to the fibre ONT box via its WAN port.  I've disabled the WIFI of the Hub 2.  The WiFi is ok, but it does struggle to link all of the the mesh nodes. Not sure if I can somehow configure the primary mesh node to connect it directly to the ONT (thereby getting rid of the Hub 2), or if this would give any benefits.

Another option would be to go for a more up to date Power link system (if these are still available), but this seems like a backwards step.

I've searched the internet for suitable advice, but most of the (few) articles are full of technical jargon which is beyond me. 

Any advice appreciated.

[#2]

@Revesby 

First question is - is it possible to run ethernet cable, either internally or externally to get upstairs?

This gives a solid starting point for WiFi access.

Brian

[#3]

Moderators Note

This topic has been moved from Full Fibre to Tech Help

[#4]

@Revesby 

Not sure if I can somehow configure the primary mesh node to connect it directly to the ONT (thereby getting rid of the Hub 2), or if this would give any benefits.

Well you can certainly get rid of the Hub 2. Configure the primary mesh node WAN fro PPPoE and enter your PLusnet credentails. Username is <accountname>@plusdsl.net and password is the one used to access the member centre.

Whether it will improve the wifi performance is debateable, but it will certainly save about 10w power consumption of the Hub 2 (the use of which in this case is pretty pointless unless you are using it for wired connections)

[#5]

@Revesby 

Whatever you spend on a mesh setup will never give you the best performance if the mesh units are interconnected wirelessly through thick walls. In these circumsatnces they are best interconnected via an Ethernet 'backhaul'.

The primary advice with a property of this size is to install Ethernet cabling, but is accepted that this is not always practicable.

It would be very interesting to know if using the Devolo devices to fulfil the backhaul function would give a wireless boost. To try it, simply connect the devolo outputs to an Ethernet port on each of the mesh units. At worst it will not work properly, it won't damage anything.

[#6]

Thanks for the feedback. I don't know what Backhaul is, but given it's an old property with solid walls, running cables is not an option.  I did try taking a signal from my mesh router as a feed to the Devolo powerline primary node, and then feeding secondary powerline nodes into the other mesh units, but to no avail.  Maybe because they are different standards or different makes - mesh is AX3000 and powerline is AC1200.  So, back to where I started.  It's not bad, but to stream TV to my firestick reliability I have to open the lounge door to give a better WiFi signal to my secondary mesh node.

[#7]

You can get flat ethernet cable that can be placed under carpets etc if that would help.

[#8]

I'm sure I've said this elsewhere in this forum and others, but good old 2-pair 4-core telephone cable (Pair 1 - WHITE/Blue------- BLUE/White, Pair 2 - WHITE/Orange - ORANGE/White) is unobtrusive, runs around quite sharp corners and works fine as Ethernet at 100mbps in a domestic setting. You just need to terminate it correctly in RJ45 plugs.

SWMBO has never even noticed or commented on the "telephone cable" that runs from near our front door, along various skirting boards and round door frames to the far side of the house behind our main TV. It's not really used for much now but when I need it it's there.

I also use various "Powerlink" systems, the furthest node being almost 50 metres away at the far end of the garden. All work fine and there's a mix of units from TP-Link and BT so you may just need better units than you currently have. Mine are described as AV200 and AV600 performance and I can get pretty much full speed anywhere to the limit of my 67mbps broadband connection.

I don't use any "mesh" or WiFi repeaters, all my WiFi nodes (access points) have different SSID's.

[#9]

@Revesby 

It would help if you described the “problem” with some detail, it’s all rather vague.  This is technical space so you need to learn the relevant language - use Google.

Backhaul is how WIfI APs connect to the device which is connected to the internet.  Doing that over WiFi halves the capacity of the WiFi network.

Devolos should work fine - you do not describe your perception of the problem with them so it’s hard to help.  People do fuss about not getting 100+mbos every where even though it’s not needed for anything.  Depending on provider 11 to 25 mbps is.more than adequate for 4k streaming, therefore 100mbps over telephone cable as described by @HPsauce is quite adequate as a back haul.

Mesh units using WiFi backhaul need a good wifi signal between them; if devices cannot otherwise connect to the base station, then neither will the mesh devices.