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Wifi Mesh FTTC

anotheruser
2: Seeker
2: Seeker

‎11-09-2021 11:20 AM

Hey all, hoping for some guidance.

 

I have a few deadspots in my home that I want to improve with a wifi mesh system,

I'm FTTC, only superfast 2 (~65Mbps) and I have no desire to backhaul. The only other criteria is that In the main router room I need the ability to hardwire one desktop pc, so the google wifi mesh isnt suitable as it has no ethernet ports.

 

What kind of tech can I actually take advantage from? Is Wifi 5 sufficient or should I still look for a good Wifi 6 deal? Will I want Triband or dual band?

Any suggestions to what I should buy?

 

Thanks!

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5 REPLIES 5

Cynric
16: Advanced member
16: Advanced member

‎11-09-2021 02:45 PM

Have a look at powerline. Some of the kit includes WiFi extenders.

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HappyNomad
16: Advanced member
16: Advanced member

‎11-09-2021 07:18 PM - edited ‎11-09-2021 07:23 PM

@anotheruser wrote:

Hey all, hoping for some guidance.

 

I have a few deadspots in my home that I want to improve with a wifi mesh system,

I'm FTTC, only superfast 2 (~65Mbps) and I have no desire to backhaul. The only other criteria is that In the main router room I need the ability to hardwire one desktop pc, so the google wifi mesh isnt suitable as it has no ethernet ports.

 

What kind of tech can I actually take advantage from? Is Wifi 5 sufficient or should I still look for a good Wifi 6 deal? Will I want Triband or dual band?

Any suggestions to what I should buy?

 

Thanks!

Firstly, If you are wanting to dispense with the VF router then you will need a VDSL2 modem.


If you are planning to connect your new mesh system in 'Bridge Mode' to your Vodafone (VF) modem/router then you will have the ethernet ports on the VF router to connect your laptop.  You would leave the VF router as the DHCP server with its WiFi switched off.

 

I initially went down this route with three Velop dual band mesh nodes. The primary node connected through the wall by ethernet cable to the WiFi disabled VF router with the other two upstairs (wireless) in opposite diagonal corners of the house.  Each node has two ethernet ports.

This arrangement didn’t meet expectations and so the VF THG3000 router was retired in favour of a Draytek Vigor 130 modem and a Linksys MR8300 tri-band mesh router (a Velop node in a traditional 4 gigabit port WiFi router case) to which Node #1 is connected by ethernet cable and Nodes #2 & #3 are still wireless… its been up and running happily and efficiently providing full coverage throughout the house and gardens for the best part of two years now.  

Very occasionally one of the wireless nodes drop out but devices connected to it just reconnect to another - no LAN downtime since it was all installed and the mesh has over thirty devices connected via Ethernet or Wifi either full time - Alexa, Hue, Hive etc or intermittently, iPhones, iPads, laptops, printers, smart TVs etc.

 

A good mesh system is not cheap, a hybrid mesh system is cheaper but didn't cut it for me and there are mesh systems and there are better mesh systems.  Dual band, Tri-band, WiFi 6, etc.  No recommendations beyond working out what you want/need and finding the system that appears to best fit the bill in the price range you want to be in.  Good luck.

Nabs
17: Community Champion
17: Community Champion

‎13-09-2021 10:10 AM

@anotheruser You could see if you're able to switch to Vodafone Pro.  This comes with a Wifi Guarantee which means if they can't provide wifi  (at least 10Mbps) in every room you have the right to end your contract without charge.
They do this by providing WiFi Boosters (up to 3) at no upfront cost (the monthly charge may be more than you're currently paying)
https://www.vodafone.co.uk/broadband/pro
https://newscentre.vodafone.co.uk/press-release/unbreakable-broadband-without-breaking-the-bank-voda...

 

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HappyNomad
16: Advanced member
16: Advanced member
In response to Nabs

‎13-09-2021 11:29 AM

@Nabs wrote:

@anotheruser You could see if you're able to switch to Vodafone Pro.  This comes with a Wifi Guarantee which means if they can't provide wifi  (at least 10Mbps) in every room you have the right to end your contract without charge.
They do this by providing WiFi Boosters (up to 3) at no upfront cost (the monthly charge may be more than you're currently paying)

When you say ‘the monthly charge MAY be more than you’re currently paying', do you actually mean, 'the monthly charge WILL be significantly more than you are actually paying'?

 

From the first link you provided… 

  • Superfast - from £19.50 per month / £468 over two year contract
  • Pro - from 32.50 per month / £780 over two years = £312 extra
  • Pro Xtra - from £40.50 month / £972 over two years = £504 extra

As a long time Superfast customer, it is certainly not a route I’d be following given that Pro /Pro Xtra adds nothing of any substance to justify an extra £300+.

 

 

 

Nabs
17: Community Champion
17: Community Champion
In response to HappyNomad

‎13-09-2021 11:44 AM

Some people may not have the technical know-how to set up mesh networks and/or extenders on their own + a decent mesh network can easily set you back hundreds upfront (my own 2 node mesh cost me just over £200) 

Apologies if my post has offended you @HappyNomad, I was simply giving the OP (and anyone else who reads this thread) an option that wouldn't involve a large upfront cost, and the flexibility to leave if it didn't resolve their problem.

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