Recommendations for a wi-fi extender

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CB_24

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#185639 30-Nov-2015 13:15

Just moved into a new much bigger single level house, the 2nd lounge at the other end of the house has poor wi-fi so looking at an extender to reach down there.

I currently have a TP-Link TD-W8960N router and if I can get a good signal to the 2nd lounge I'd want one with an ethernet connection on it to run a switch for some non wi-fi devices there.

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#1437804 30-Nov-2015 13:24

Can you run Ethernet cable? How about a powerline network with a basic access point closer to that room? Either tends to work better than an extender, but may cost a little more - $100 for the powerline, $50 for the WAP. Ethernet is best but the most hassle.

rphenix

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#1437821 30-Nov-2015 13:31

Buy a powerline device - (ethernet over power). And at the far end, instead of using ethernet you can get a powerline wifi to extend the wireless signal - this way your effectively running a network cable between your existing TP-link and the wireless AP.

Something like this would work.

CB_24

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#1437855 30-Nov-2015 13:59

Thanks for the suggestions, should have mentioned at our previous place I run a heap of CAT5 cable and do have plans to do it here one day also but can't see it happening in the near future.

rphenix

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#1437896 30-Nov-2015 15:02

Understandable - that's why even though I prefer wiring where possible the powerline/homekit units are great. Nearly as good as running a cable and works nearly everywhere. I never use an AP in repeater mode as that's always a solution that plays up - instead powerline with built in wifi works so much better quite a few places I've set this up and its been a few years I've never had to go back.

livefornow851

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#1438256 1-Dec-2015 07:12

Powerline is usually the go-to option if hard-wired isn't possible. You can also buy powerline hardware where one end works as an access point to provide WiFi at full strength.

If it is your own house and you have the ability to start running cat5e/6 instead of a powerline solution it will still be more reliable and secure. In some instances with powerline, nearby neighbours can access your unsecured network either intentionally or accidentally with another device.

Mike from McKay Technologies

CB_24

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#1438338 1-Dec-2015 09:46

The D-Link-PowerLine-DHP-W311AV-500Mbps-Starter-Kit the actual unit you'd recommend or that was an example?

Another question, if I get that device which has one extender, can you buy more extenders if needed to increase the coverage more or its one to one? Not one to many?

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rphenix

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#1438348 1-Dec-2015 09:58

Just an example.

rphenix

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#1438350 1-Dec-2015 10:01

CB_24:
Another question, if I get that device which has one extender, can you buy more extenders if needed to increase the coverage more or its one to one? Not one to many?

You can add more devices process is usually similar to this. I would recommend sticking with the same brand and preferably same model if you do this.

raytaylor

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#1438799 1-Dec-2015 18:45

Personally I recommend the TP-Link set

http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=NETTPL0422&name=TP-LINK-TL-WPA4220KIT-ADVANCED-300Mbps-Universal-W

As an ISP we have them deployed as standard kit for our customers. Price is good too and there are options to add more devices as they seem to have the biggest range in powerline. Eg. you can buy another 200mbit unit and it will work where as other brands seem to loose interest in powerline every so often and so finding a compatible unit sometimes isnt easy.

Ray Taylor

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CB_24

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#1438980 2-Dec-2015 00:15

Doing some further reading I see mention of "The Powerline Adapters need to be connected in the same electrical circuit".

What's the changes a standard house (that has had a lot of modifications done to it) whould have different electrical circuits?

hio77

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#1438981 2-Dec-2015 01:05

Due to the way wireless extenders half throughput, i could never advice anyone lets them near the network.

We do however have an UPNP/airplay receiver on the network which also acts as a wireless extender that i cant rip that functionality out.. It gains its unique password and is quite approately named to never touch it!

I would look at powerline if possible, or even straight out running a cable along the floor/roof! before even considering the idea of an extender.

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Jase2985

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#1439031 2-Dec-2015 08:18

CB_24: Doing some further reading I see mention of "The Powerline Adapters need to be connected in the same electrical circuit".

What's the changes a standard house (that has had a lot of modifications done to it) whould have different electrical circuits?

how many fuse panels do you have? are you on three phase power?

if the answer is 1 and no then in all likelihood everything will be on the same "electrical circuit"

CB_24

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#1439103 2-Dec-2015 10:35

Appears to be only one fuse panel around the house.

josephhinvest

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#1439188 2-Dec-2015 12:13

I bought a Netcomm NP508, a Powerline extender that has two Ethernet ports and also creates a wifi network. I'm actually really impressed with how well it works. I've not tried any optimising and it makes a connection of about 200Mbps. The connection is completely stable and the initial setup was essentially zero, plug in device, connect to router, plug in other device and a small config of the wifi and done.

Cheers,
Joseph

littleheaven

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#1439555 2-Dec-2015 21:21

josephhinvest: I bought a Netcomm NP508, a Powerline extender that has two Ethernet ports and also creates a wifi network. I'm actually really impressed with how well it works. I've not tried any optimising and it makes a connection of about 200Mbps. The connection is completely stable and the initial setup was essentially zero, plug in device, connect to router, plug in other device and a small config of the wifi and done.

Cheers,
Joseph

I have one of these deployed at my parents' place, because their wireless doesn't make it to the far end of the house. Works great - the wireless network it generates is the same speed as their primary network from their router.

Geek girl. Freelance copywriter and editor at Unmistakable.co.nz.

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