Huawei B618s-65d WiFi signal strength, options for improving range

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Technofreak

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#289015 7-Aug-2021 09:15

A relative has a Huawei B618s-65d wireless broadband modem.

It has a weak WiFi signal. Certainly a weaker signal than the old ADSL router/access point, to the point that where WiFi was once available in the house it is now not available.

Do these devices have an inherently weak WiFi signal? What is the best way to boost this signal?

Thanks.

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rhy7s

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#2756489 7-Aug-2021 12:53

The best way is to hang another access point off the ethernet port on non-competing channels (sticking to 1,6 or 11 on 2.4GHz) preferably at enough distance that you you're not duplicating coverage.

Technofreak

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#2756531 7-Aug-2021 14:38

rhy7s:

The best way is to hang another access point off the ethernet port on non-competing channels (sticking to 1,6 or 11 on 2.4GHz) preferably at enough distance that you you're not duplicating coverage.

Another access point was an option I was considering though not simple in this case to put it at a location different to the base unit. It would be pretty well side by side.

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Technofreak

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#2756550 7-Aug-2021 16:01

Any recommendations on an access point. Some thing like this. https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETUBI1226/Ubiquiti-UniFi-UAP-AC-LR-Dual-band-AC1350-450867Mb

Started looking at mesh set up but not sure we need to go to that extent.

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cyril7

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#2756551 7-Aug-2021 16:07

Hi, the UniFi's are a good solution, but turn the Huawei's wireless all off, I would more likely go with just the AC-Lite, depending on how large an area and complex the walls within it may be enough, otherwise a 2nd added to complete coverage, but ensure you run a cable to connect it, dont use wireless backhaul (which the UniFis do support if you must). If you dont want to run up a controller, just give me a shout or michael murphy who also runs a community cloud controller.

Cyril

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#2756552 7-Aug-2021 16:21

cyril7:
Hi, the UniFi's are a good solution, but turn the Huawei's wireless all off, I would more likely go with just the AC-Lite, depending on how large an area and complex the walls within it may be enough, otherwise a 2nd added to complete coverage, but ensure you run a cable to connect it, dont use wireless backhaul (which the UniFis do support if you must). If you dont want to run up a controller, just give me a shout or michael murphy who also runs a community cloud controller.

Cyril

Hi Cyril, thanks. Wasn't sure how well the AC-Lite one would perform, hence looked at the LR. Need to cover about 10 metres distance through a couple of timber frame walls.

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cyril7

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#2756570 7-Aug-2021 17:30

Hi, so the LR is around 30% more cost, but only adds 2dB to the 5GHz band, and 4dB to the 2.4GHz band on Tx, RX is the same, albeit I suspect better antennas internally.

If you are going with "install" type APs as we are discussing here, then you need to put effort into optimally mounting them, ie up high, ideally on the ceiling so they see over the clutter, not having to punch through the furniture.

So once you get over that hurdle, you have more options, ie can you mount a single AP in the middle room, so only having to throw 5m and one wall, instead of 10m and 2walls.

I suspect the room you currently have the router in is your main living space, so ideally you want an AP in that room, so purhaps if ceiling mounting is possible you go for two APs, one in the current/main space and one in the far room, that way you get better over all coverage, plus distribute load and contention over two APs, so more wins.

Without more info, hard to comment, but my view is to look harder into how you can better site APs, then decide what is appropriate.

Cyril

snnet

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#2756601 7-Aug-2021 20:08

My fwa modem is a bit rubbish with wifi, I've just had a grandstream AP plugged right next to it since the beginning running solid - didn't bother disabling the built in wifi