WiFi help - mesh or other solution to slow patchy wifi

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claude1

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#243027 24-Nov-2018 11:21

We live in a two storey house - my parents live downstairs in their own space and we live upstairs in our own space.

Currently we are with 2 degrees - ultra fast fibre plan.

We have a stock standard FRITZ! Box Modem that was supplied by 2 degrees.

It is currently plugged in to the ONT box upstairs in our kitchen area.

We have two kids who between them use PS4, laptop (teenager games or watches tv/movies via laptop).

Upstairs and downstairs we use an iPad and Mac and smart TV and Apple TV each, plus printer and iPhones etc...so lots of devices using Wifi at a time.

We are getting inconsistent slow wifi and my parents have areas downstairs where wifi doesn't work.

Basically I am wanting advice on what to do to improve wifi.

I have been looking at Mesh systems or just getting a better modem.

It would be great to cut down on amount of wires/cables we have to deal with too - in an ideal world it would be great to get rid of modem and just have one thing plugged in to fibre box instead e.g. mesh system.

Anyway, what should we do and how do we fix issues? We are happy to spend what we need to (within reason i.e. up to $500-$600).

Thanks for your advice and help.

CVC

WolfChop

152 posts

Master Geek

#2133181 24-Nov-2018 11:49

I had the exact same situation you did. Modem router installed in upstairs kitchen but our WiFi coverage downstairs was very poor. I now use the Ubiquiti AmpliFi HD mesh system. It's expensive (around $550), but the simplicity, ease of use, dead simple setup and excellent and consistent WiFi coverage throughout my entire home AND in the garden makes it 100% worth it. Worth checking out!

darkasdes2

428 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2133193 24-Nov-2018 12:05

Get another fritzbox 7490 off trademe and update the frimware on both units and then you can set it up as a mesh network.

I have done that and it works great

gehenna

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#2133194 24-Nov-2018 12:14

Quite a lot about this topic discussed here in recent times. Have a search of the forums and see if you find your answers. If not come back with some specific questions that haven't been asked before maybe?

timmmay

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#2133195 24-Nov-2018 12:14

Another way to do this is to get 1) A powerline network system with one or two outlets and 2) Another wireless access point OR 3) Get a powerline network that creates another wireless network for you. Plug them into power sockets and off you go. You can also plug in extra "slave" units for extra wireless networks or wired network access.

This is likely to be cheaper than a mesh system. You'll probably end up with two or three separate wireless networks that you change between manually.

claude1

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2133274 24-Nov-2018 14:15

Also meant to say - Parental Controls - we need something that will allow us to manage amount of time and time of day etc that our kids are on their devices.

and This is the mess of wires and plugs we have in our kitchen currently...would love to find a way to reduce or get rid of them - any ideas welcome!

cyril7

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#2133284 24-Nov-2018 14:40

Whats the bench top made of.

Cyril

fe31nz

1229 posts

Uber Geek

#2133536 24-Nov-2018 23:45

Yes, that bench top looks like it might be metal. If so, it will likely degrade the WiFi signal trying to go through it, and may also cause problems with reflected signals and if it is not earthed, it may be acting as an aerial and inducing RF noise into the FritzBox. As a quick test, try having the FritzBox on the floor and see if that helps with the WiFi downstairs. But make sure no-one will step on it - put a chair in the way or something like that.

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claude1

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2133684 25-Nov-2018 09:17

Benchtop is stainless steel but modem has only been on it for a few days...new kitchen finished on Thursday.

Wifi issues have been around for ages.

Thanks

CVC

Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#2133711 25-Nov-2018 11:15

claude1:

Also meant to say - Parental Controls - we need something that will allow us to manage amount of time and time of day etc that our kids are on their devices.

and This is the mess of wires and plugs we have in our kitchen currently...would love to find a way to reduce or get rid of them - any ideas welcome!

The Fritzbox also has an inbuilt DECT base station. Pair the cordless phone directly with the Fritzbox, then you can get rid of the phone cable between the Fritzbox and original base station, and since the original base station will now only be a battery charger for the handset, it can be relocated somewhere else as it would only now need power.

Since you are using the Fritzbox for VOIP, You will need to keep on using it. The suggestion of using a 2nd fritzbox in mesh mode sounds like the best option for reducing number of cables while also improving WI-FI

tripper1000

1617 posts

Uber Geek

#2133838 25-Nov-2018 16:21

What happens when you put the Fritz Box on the floor (or in the cupboard under the bench)? Its free to try. The old bench top (or metal pots in the cupboard under it) could have also been causing interference.

Also, narrowing your wifi bandwidth from 80MHz down to 20MHz can improve range at the cost of speed.

P.S. it slacks me off how they like to put those ONT's on the wall in plain sight. It's the wrong place for a tidy house and often the wrong place for good wifi coverage.

sbiddle

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#2133937 25-Nov-2018 19:53

Expecting a single router/AP to service a large house particularly two stories is unrealistic. It simply will not work in the real world.

mgbridges

118 posts

Master Geek

#2135256 27-Nov-2018 14:12

I recently installed a Netgear Orbi mesh setup and so far it's working brilliantly for me. We're on 3 levels, with the ONT on the lowest level and our bedroom on the highest. We now have the router on the lowest level and a satellite on each of the other floors. I get full-strength wifi everywhere and the throughput is double what I was getting through powerline adapters.

Also, the Orbi comes with Circle parental controls. I'm still trying to get that setup for my son, but it looks like ti could answer another of your issues.

I paid $400 for the Orbi 3-pack in the PBTech Cyber Monday sale.

Cheers,

Martin