Good mesh system for FibreX ?

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Good mesh system for FibreX ?

KingPluto

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#223792 17-Oct-2017 16:20

I recently got Vodafone FibreX Max installed at home.

I was hoping to install Google WiFi (mesh system) to sort out all the wifi dead spots, but apparently FibreX needs VLAN Tagging which Google WiFi doesn't have (note: I don't really understand any of this, which is why I was going for the Google system for easy setup)

Can anyone recommend a good mesh system that works with FibreX, that doesn't cost a stupid amount and doesn't require me to have some advanced qualification in network setups to install?

Thanks loads

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MikeB4
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#1885212 17-Oct-2017 16:57

I am using the Netgear Orbi with Fibre X which in my experience has been very good (Fibre X not good though). The Orbi supports VLan tagging with the current firmware

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

sbiddle

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#1885253 17-Oct-2017 19:04

Why do you want a mesh system?

KingPluto

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#1885300 17-Oct-2017 21:32

I want a mesh because we currently only get decent WiFi in less than half the house. Tried an extender but it just kept disconnecting (and even when it does work it’s still laggy and uses a different network name which is just annoying for connections)
Supposedly a mesh sorts out all these problems ... once I’ve worked it out.

Mike - thanks for the reply - which Omni model do you have? How easy was it to set up?

KingPluto

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#1885301 17-Oct-2017 21:33

*orbi system

MikeB4

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#1885329 17-Oct-2017 22:31

I have the RBR50 with 1 satellite. It was a very easy set, I downloaded the latest firmware. After rebooting I connected the satellite and few minutes later all was done. The satellite sets itself up. I now get excellent coverage through out our home with speeds well over 300. Previously our home was troublesome, it is a Lockwood home.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

michaelmurfy

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#1885398 18-Oct-2017 01:07

Have a look at the Amplifi review that @l43a2 did: https://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=21646

Likely has what you're after and looks darn nice too. But I've also got to ask why you want a mesh system? Have you tried a decent access point (no - not consumer router, something decent) like a Grandstream GWN7610 or a Ubiquiti UniFi? I will also suggest giving a GWN7610 a shot along with a GWN7000 router (also got a review here).

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sbiddle

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#1885425 18-Oct-2017 08:08

KingPluto: I want a mesh because we currently only get decent WiFi in less than half the house. Tried an extender but it just kept disconnecting (and even when it does work it’s still laggy and uses a different network name which is just annoying for connections)
Supposedly a mesh sorts out all these problems ... once I’ve worked it out.

A mesh system is still an inferior and expensive fix for your problem - which goes back to my question asking why you wanted a mesh solutiion.

A far cheaper and better solution is to simply deploy multiple access points in your home cabled back via Ethernet. Examples of such solutions are already posted above. This is, and always will be the best solution for any WiFi solution. Extenders and mesh solutions will always be an inferior solution.

Extenders are, and always will be a terrible solution (completely ingoring that they halve your speed for a start) because 99% of people buying them incorrectly install them in the area with poor coverage which means they simply can't work properly. For an extender to work correctly it needs to be placed in an area with very good signal strength from the primary AP/router.

KingPluto

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#1885432 18-Oct-2017 08:39

Ok. Can you explain how multiple access points work? Do you need to install a WiFi router at each point? Does it make a seamless network or does each access point have its own name?
What would I need to buy? Would I need to get electrician in to install? Builders in to replaster walls after all the wiring is installed?

I really don’t know any of the technical stuff. I just want to be able to get WiFi at the other end of the house.

Thanks heaps for your help

trig42

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#1885434 18-Oct-2017 08:46

I think the mesh products (especially the Orbi) have their place.

The Orbi has a dedicated channel for backhaul (so is not using your Wifi bandwidth to talk amongst itself), and it is easy to setup and seamless to the end user device.

TPLink have the Deco range as well, and they say it does VLAN tagging also, but I think the Netgear is better tech.

Jase2985

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#1885845 18-Oct-2017 17:27

the difference between mesh and non mesh is the way the back haul is done, mesh is via with non mesh is via cable, the way the access points work and are setup is pretty much the same.

sparkz25

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#1885880 18-Oct-2017 18:50

KingPluto: Ok. Can you explain how multiple access points work? Do you need to install a WiFi router at each point? Does it make a seamless network or does each access point have its own name?
What would I need to buy? Would I need to get electrician in to install? Builders in to replaster walls after all the wiring is installed?

I really don’t know any of the technical stuff. I just want to be able to get WiFi at the other end of the house.

Thanks heaps for your help

i prefer ubiquiti unifi, i use it in my house and at my parents and my grand parents houses with out a hitch i also have clients using it and manage them all from a remote controller or a local controller depending where they are and on the client, michaelmurfy hosts a controller that you can use since your a member of geek zone

if you have data outlets through out your house you wont need a sparky or a builder you can plug the uaps in your self and configure them all your self, if you dont have any data outlets you could get a decent sparky to install outlets alongside your phone jacks (and by this im meaning that he should be able to pull up and pull down new cables with out destroying the walls),

or you can mount the uaps on the celing your self and run some long patch leads or cable and crimp on some plugs

its a little hard to say with out knowing how old your house is and if it has a wooden floor celing space and so on, a rough sketch would be helpful to show where you would want the aps and distances and where the modem is located and so on

here is a nother thread on something similar but for a new build

https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=66&topicid=223689

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KingPluto

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#1885884 18-Oct-2017 18:58

Thanks heaps. The house is old (early 1930s) 2 storeys, no ceiling space, wooden floors and definitely no data ports (indeed only 2 phone ports!) so I think the cost of getting it wired up is going to be prohibitive

I think a mesh is the easiest solution. Though $600 is a fair bit for an experiment! At least you guys have helped me find systems that will supposedly work with FibreX ... I’m edging toward the AmpliFi over the Orbi because you get three mesh points for a cost that is $90 less than the two you get with Orbi

Anyone want to convince me why the Orbi is the better option?

Jase2985

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#1885941 18-Oct-2017 20:08

there is no doubt it will work its just not the optimal solution.

Kiwifruta

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#1885958 18-Oct-2017 21:07

Instead of installing new cabling, you could try Ethernet over Power line adapters to connect the router to the APs.

I've always had good success with EoP, but others have not, so YMMV. I live in Tauranga, if you live here you are welcome to borrow my pair to test in your house.

Kiwifruta

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#1885962 18-Oct-2017 21:08

Just remembered you have Fibre X, so you can't be in Tauranga. Hopefully someone else could lend you a pair.

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