Looking for Modem suggestions

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Looking for Modem suggestions

dandan

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#293138 31-Dec-2021 20:55

I am currently with Slingshot and have one of their NF3V modems. I am on the Gigantic plan 900/450.

I have always struggled with the wireless coverage. 5ghz seems to drop off about 10m from the modem and when I get to the back door 2.4ghz is gone and my phone switches to 4g. Outside the house there is no coverage.

My modem sits inside my lounge within a wooden shelf. I have a typical timber studded wall house and wondered if another modem would provide better coverage.

The highest simultaneous usage would be me gaming on my PC/streaming media (over Ethernet), wife streaming Netflix/browsing phone and two kids on their Ipads gaming or streaming media.

I am looking to spend around $150 for a modem. I had my eye on a Netgear Nighthawk R7000 from DSE for $129+ shipping.

Thanks D.

michaelmurfy

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#2841013 31-Dec-2021 21:07

A single router is not what you're looking for. Instead, you'll be looking into a Mesh solution.

Contact Slingshot and ask for one of their Cloudmesh Satellites to pair up with your NF3V (https://help.slingshot.co.nz/hc/en-us/articles/900004807143-Netcomm-NS01-CloudMesh-Satellite). You should always use your providers router unless if you've got a very, very good reason not to. The R7000 for example won't route Gigabit.

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PJ48

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#2841371 1-Jan-2022 13:20

In addition to Michael's suggestion, depending on where your wooden shelf is, and what is around it, you may improve things a lot if you can just get the existing modem sitting up higher away from any physical obstructions. Every additional piece of furniture between a router and the client attenuates signal strength. There is a good reason why commercial wifi is ceiling mounted.

freitasm

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#2841428 1-Jan-2022 13:52

Is it a modem or is it a router?

Names have meaning.

cyril7

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#2841444 1-Jan-2022 14:16

freitasm: Is it a modem or is it a router?

Names have meaning.

He says he is on 950/450 Gigbit, so clearly fibre, so he is using it only as a router, although the model in question also posses's xDSL modem functionality.

Cyril

dandan

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2841862 2-Jan-2022 13:54

Sorry for the confusion I'm a tech noob. Just trying to improve my wireless coverage so I can get 5G to all the rooms in the house. I suppose I should have been asking for the router aspect.

Not really a fan of forking out more for mesh system rental through Slingshot (I presume its rental?).

I might have to try moving it to a more exposed location but the with all the LAN ports occupied thats a lot of fugly cords to try and hide.

michaelmurfy

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#2841928 2-Jan-2022 14:59

I don’t think it’s a mesh rental. Contact them. This is your best option.

Gordy7

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#2842029 2-Jan-2022 17:38

Just throwing in my limited experience...

I use a Spark/Skinny Smart Modem in my 3 bedroom house....

Timber frame, gib lining, timber weather boards 150 sq m.... 1000 sq m section.

I get 5GHz WiFi at 15m (>250Mbps) thoughout the house and 2.4GHz around the whole property.

You can pick up these modem/routers for about $50 on Trademe.

However WiFi coverage depends on many factors including building materials and requires testing...

Mesh may be the best answer in your case.

Gordy

My first ever AM radio network connection was with a 1MHz AM crystal(OA91) radio receiver.

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dandan

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2842401 3-Jan-2022 11:37

Thanks for the replies, I'll enquire about the mesh network via Slingshot.

I'm also off contract so I might check out some other providers while I'm at it.

Thanks peeps.

Zal

209 posts

Master Geek

#2842481 3-Jan-2022 15:25

Possible not what you are looking for, but Grand steam stuff from go wifi is amazing for the price point. I have a number of their APs and routers for clients.

Free Cloud based controller for the APs. Haven't had any troubles and highly recommend.

For better coverage around a house, I normally put the AP in the roof space and run a power over ethernet connection back to the router.