Clueless Internet question

[Mark T Jones]

Quick question

Currently with BT (can't stand them, unfortunately they've now integrated their systems with EE)

Use their normal router with 3 extenders. Signal outside the main router room is flakey.

Is it likely that more bandwidth would solve the problem?

Would a better router help (if so, which one?)

Is TP-Link better than extenders (if so, which?)

Anything else I should know? - Feel free to assume I'm stupid in this respect, it will save a lot of repetition

 

[martin_shl]

Bandwidth on your broadband won't make any difference to your wifi. If you've tested speed while connected by cable to the router and that is ok then wifi to sort.

In order of quality:

• Run network cable to your different access points from the router
• Use a good quality mesh network system
• Use powerline extenders (though beware that these can cause interference to some devices to you or others)
• Use good quality access points as extenders - you could use 5GHz for the extending and 2.4 GHz for your client devices;

Looking for access points (and ideally router) that support Wifi Roaming (aka AP assisted Client mobility) is a plus as they can encourage devices to move to an access point/router with better signal.

 

[Mark T Jones]

Bandwidth on your broadband won't make any difference to your wifi. If you've tested speed while connected by cable to the router and that is ok then wifi to sort.

In order of quality:

• Run network cable to your different access points from the router
• Use a good quality mesh network system
• Use powerline extenders (though beware that these can cause interference to some devices to you or others)
• Use good quality access points as extenders - you could use 5GHz for the extending and 2.4 GHz for your client devices;

Looking for access points (and ideally router) that support Wifi Roaming (aka AP assisted Client mobility) is a plus as they can encourage devices to move to an access point/router with better signal.

Thank you

TBH, I didn't understand much of it...

 

[martin_shl]

Thank you

TBH, I didn't understand much of it...

Sorry. I'll try to help better

Is it likely that more bandwidth would solve the problem?

Bandwidth on your broadband won't make any difference to your wifi. If you've tested speed while connected by cable to the router and that is ok then wifi to sort.

Would a better router help (if so, which one?)

Might do. Some ISP supplied routers are terrible.
TP link make some good routers, also Netgear. I use Draytek, but I would not recommend these for you as they have complex user interfaces.

Is TP-Link better than extenders (if so, which?)

TP link is a manufacturer brand; they make routers, access points and extenders. Some extenders will be better than others. Look for recent reviews and comparisons for devices in your budget range.

Anything else I should know? - Feel free to assume I'm stupid in this respect, it will save a lot of repetition

Extenders that don't use wires use some of their wifi bandwidth for phones, computers etc and some to send those signals back to the router. Mesh networks are similar, but are meant to do this in a more intelligent way. Wired extenders using Cat 5e or Cat 6 cable back to the router will help your extenders or access points give you the best signal in all locations.

 

[Mark T Jones]

Sorry. I'll try to help better



Bandwidth on your broadband won't make any difference to your wifi. If you've tested speed while connected by cable to the router and that is ok then wifi to sort.


Might do. Some ISP supplied routers are terrible.
TP link make some good routers, also Netgear. I use Draytek, but I would not recommend these for you as they have complex user interfaces.


TP link is a manufacturer brand; they make routers, access points and extenders. Some extenders will be better than others. Look for recent reviews and comparisons for devices in your budget range.



Extenders that don't use wires use some of their wifi bandwidth for phones, computers etc and some to send those signals back to the router. Mesh networks are similar, but are meant to do this in a more intelligent way. Wired extenders using Cat 5e or Cat 6 cable back to the router will help your extenders or access points give you the best signal in all locations.

Thank you

I think I understand (it seems to involve a lot of wire though?)

 

[DontAsk]

Quick question

Currently with BT (can't stand them, unfortunately they've now integrated their systems with EE)

Use their normal router with 3 extenders. Signal outside the main router room is flakey.

BT/EE offer a WiFi connectivity guarantee https://www.bt.com/broadband/complete-wifi I don't know if its' "new customers only" but I would contact them and complain that the WiFi signal is poor.

Where is the router in relation to other rooms in the house? Where is it positioned in the room? What sort of walls do you have?

How old is the router? I would be very surprised if you can't get a good signal in adjacent rooms or the floor above/below with any recent consumer grade router.

Have you checked which channel your router is using? Does that conflict with neighbours?

Are you using 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz Wifi? Do devices that you want to connect support 5 GHz?

BT were trying to move all personal accounts to EE branding but that has now been abandoned.

 

[martin_shl]

Wire is an option - it is best but you may still be able to do it without though it depends a bit on your house.
Big thick walls and/or foil backed insulation are enemies of wifi, but you can get extenders that use mains wiring that might be an option.

 

[Mark T Jones]

BT/EE offer a WiFi connectivity guarantee https://www.bt.com/broadband/complete-wifi I don't know if its' "new customers only" but I would contact them and complain that the WiFi signal is poor.

Where is the router in relation to other rooms in the house? Where is it positioned in the room? What sort of walls do you have?

How old is the router? I would be very surprised if you can't get a good signal in adjacent rooms or the floor above/below with any recent consumer grade router.

Have you checked which channel your router is using? Does that conflict with neighbours?

Are you using 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz Wifi? Do devices that you want to connect support 5 GHz?

BT were trying to move all personal accounts to EE branding but that has now been abandoned.

Thank you

The signal at the router is OK. It's about 6 years old (but always needed extenders)

Apparently the poor signal between rooms is a mix of the solid engineering bricks & the use of silver insulation materials. It's common to our neighbours too.

It's 5GHz - and I don't know!

 

[NickGrogan]

How many devices are connected to the router?
What do you mean by flaky?
When was the last time you turned in on and off (yes, it really works)

Yes wire is good

 

[Mark T Jones]

How many devices are connected to the router?
What do you mean by flaky?
When was the last time you turned in on and off (yes, it really works)

Yes wire is good

Thanks

We do that periodically

Devices:

3 extenders

2 phones (voice over wifi)

Printer

Possibly other stuff I've forgotten!

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

I am happy in my office and home with powerline extenders...

 

[NickGrogan]

Thanks

We do that periodically

Devices:

3 extenders

2 phones (voice over wifi)

Printer

Possibly other stuff I've forgotten!

Computers? TV? Ipads?

Sounds like there is something wrong with the extenders. Are they connecting to the router and are you connecting to the extenders?

 

[Mark T Jones]

Computers? TV? Ipads?

Sounds like there is something wrong with the extenders. Are they connecting to the router and are you connecting to the extenders?

Oh yes - 2 computers and a TV

I may be wrong, but it feels that there is dilution between extenders

TV drops out, as do wifi calls (but signal mostly OK)

 

[DontAsk]

Are the extenders really extenders or simple repeaters?

Are they re-broadcasting on the same channel as the router?

If things are so bad, how do the extenders get the signal from the router in the first place?

What is performance like in a room with an extender if you turn off the extender? If it's bad then the extender must be getting a dodgy signal too, and cannot help you.

The extenders, at least, may need to be wired.

 

[NickGrogan]

How fast is your internet at the router, ideally directly connected?

How fast when you're using the extenders (ie further from the router and near the extenders)

Are you actually connecting to the extenders?

 

[Mark T Jones]

How fast is your internet at the router, ideally directly connected?

How fast when you're using the extenders (ie further from the router and near the extenders)

Are you actually connecting to the extenders?

How will I know?

 

[NickGrogan]

Broadband Speed Checker

Check your broadband speed test using our easy and accurate broadband speed checker.

www.broadbandspeedchecker.co.uk

It should give you a ping time and upload and download speed.

If using your phone, make sure its in airplane mode, so not using your 4g/5g signal

 

[WaveJumper]

Nick beat me to it re speed, may have missed it but what are you getting up and down the line as you seem to be running a fair bit of kit and the TV could be a killer. Are you full fibre