WiFi issues, Router no good?

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noroad

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#3338523 3-Feb-2025 11:19

robjg63:

Just FYI:

The E4's (for example) are similar to the M4s (but cheaper) and have "2 10/100Mbps WAN/LAN Ports" instead of the gigabit ones on the M4's.

E series are 100Mb/s port units, would not recommend that for anything, M series are still good wifi 5 units, X series are wifi 6, BE wifi 7. The X10 is entry level wifi 6 that will be perfectly adequite for the average 300/100 user and they are very cheap. These are now the sweet spot for price/performance.

nitro

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#3338528 3-Feb-2025 11:31

robjg63:

The E4's (for example) are similar to the M4s (but cheaper) and have "2 10/100Mbps WAN/LAN Ports" instead of the gigabit ones on the M4's.

OP has 300/100 service, so the E4s won't be ideal - especially with PB Tech still having some M4s for a bit more coin.

robjg63

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#3338549 3-Feb-2025 12:01

Sorry - I was just trying to clarify what the differences might be amongst the models.

I wouldn't recommend the E4's.

Having a slower ethernet port connected to your ONT effectively kneecaps your fibre right away.

i.e You have a 300/100 fibre connection and having a router that would only be 100/100 effectively chops your download speed to a third of its potential ability.

The M4s (and the other models above) dont have that limitation.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

David321

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#3338573 3-Feb-2025 13:15

nitro:

a new mesh-capable router installed where wifi is needed (main living room), and its satellite where wifi coverage is insufficient might also do the trick.

for 300/100 service, the HG659, albeit rather old, would still be sufficient. you might just need an access point or two for wifi in the house.

where might you be? there could be some of us nearby with an unused AP, seeing how AC wifi would be plenty for you current service.

@nitro

I see what your saying and that sounds like a good idea to test. I am in Faringdon Rolleston.

_David_

David321

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#3338578 3-Feb-2025 13:33

robjg63:

Presumably, you could:

Connect the ONT port in your garage network box, into the ethernet port that currently runs to your TV.

Move the HG659 to close by the TV and connect the (formally TV) port to the Internet port on the HG659.

You can then use one of the ethernet ports on the HG659 to cable connect the TV.

Now the router is in your living room has wifi improved?

The HG659s are getting a bit old now. They always had an issue where they start going weird when a certain number of devices start attaching.

You could investigate something like the TP-Link mesh routers - you can but a pack of 2 or 3 (you can buy the single as well - but are cheaper with multiple units).

2 pack $148 https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETTPL9402/TP-Link-Deco-M4-AC1200-Dual-Band-WiFi-5-Whole-Home

3 pack $199 https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETTPL9403/TP-Link-Deco-M4-AC1200-Dual-Band-WiFi-5-Whole-Home

The first unit you set up with an ethernet cable connected to your ONT. It would replace the HG659.

The other units then link (with their own wifi network) to the closest unit/best signal mesh unit and provide coverage.

Each unit has 2 x 1 Gigabit ethernet ports. So the first unit would have one port conneced to the ONT and one free ethernet port.

The other units would each have 2 spare ethernet ports.

Apart from your main TV perhaps, wifi is probably fine for all devices in your house - the Mesh units provide very high speed wifi.

@robjg63

Sounds like a great idea and I completely understand what you mean, so bonus points for the clear simple explanatory answer!

Really guttered I chucked out the spare router I had from Vodafone, I could use that to test the theory.

_David_

shk292

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#3338579 3-Feb-2025 13:43

robjg63:

3 pack $199 https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETTPL9403/TP-Link-Deco-M4-AC1200-Dual-Band-WiFi-5-Whole-Home

The first unit you set up with an ethernet cable connected to your ONT. It would replace the HG659.

The other units then link (with their own wifi network) to the closest unit/best signal mesh unit and provide coverage.

Each unit has 2 x 1 Gigabit ethernet ports. So the first unit would have one port conneced to the ONT and one free ethernet port.

The other units would each have 2 spare ethernet ports.

Apart from your main TV perhaps, wifi is probably fine for all devices in your house - the Mesh units provide very high speed wifi.

I agree with the general idea of this but you'd be much better connecting the outer units to the central one using the existing ethernet cables in the house

HP

Shop now for HP laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

David321

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#3338606 3-Feb-2025 15:14

shk292:

robjg63:

3 pack $199 https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETTPL9403/TP-Link-Deco-M4-AC1200-Dual-Band-WiFi-5-Whole-Home

The first unit you set up with an ethernet cable connected to your ONT. It would replace the HG659.

The other units then link (with their own wifi network) to the closest unit/best signal mesh unit and provide coverage.

Each unit has 2 x 1 Gigabit ethernet ports. So the first unit would have one port conneced to the ONT and one free ethernet port.

The other units would each have 2 spare ethernet ports.

Apart from your main TV perhaps, wifi is probably fine for all devices in your house - the Mesh units provide very high speed wifi.

I agree with the general idea of this but you'd be much better connecting the outer units to the central one using the existing ethernet cables in the house

Is it possible to disable the WiFi they use to talk to each other and make them use cable?

_David_

wellygary

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#3338621 3-Feb-2025 15:41

This says you can use ethernet backhaul on all the units, you just need to slave them from the ethernet port of the main hub via a switch..

https://www.tp-link.com/my/support/faq/1794/

shk292

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#3338933 3-Feb-2025 21:14

I use Deco units and if there is an ethernet connection to mesh, they use it, regardless of topology or intervening switches

noroad

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#3338962 4-Feb-2025 05:54

David321:

Is it possible to disable the WiFi they use to talk to each other and make them use cable?

You don't need to disable the wireless back-haul, if wired back-haul is available the devices are smart enough to prefer that and they will keep the wireless as a backup

David321

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#3338963 4-Feb-2025 06:48

Hi all - OP here, just want to post an update.

Taking what I have learnt so far from this thread (thanks all), I did some more testing last night.

My findings were, although the WiFi signal shows as ok throughout the house the speed (according to speedtest.net) was terrible, something like 7mbps up and down. I tested this with my phone (using their app) and my laptop.

I then went to the garage and opened the door to the network cabinet and did the tests again in the garage using my phone and laptop, I got 50 up and 50 down with my phone (all the S9 can handle) and just over 300 down and just over 100 up using the laptop.

My plan is (thanks to @robjg63) to move the router to the main living room which is conveniently in the middle of the house. This is where the main TV is which is the only device connected by Ethernet cable into the port in the wall which runs to the garage.

I will put a cable in the cabinet running from the fiber box to the port which has the cable running to the single port in the main living room, plug the router in to that port, then plug the TV into the router to maintain its cable connection rather than use WiFi.

Of course this means none of the other data ports in the house will work, but currently every other device is connected by WiFi anyway. If I ever do decide I want to use those ports which is unlikely, ill buy two mesh routers as suggested by @robjg63 and set up as per his advice and see how that goes.

Hopefully this will fix the issue.

_David_

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