WiFi mesh boosters?

[Andeh1]

As we complete a new build, I have 3 x Cat6a points for WiFi.

The whole house is brick walls, so WiFi will struggle, therefore the three WiFi boosters need to be reliable and mesh capable. Ideally unmanaged/fit and forget.

The router will connect via a switch/patch panel to each of them. All have a socket for external power.

All need to be wall mounted and discrete.

Any recommendations? Thanks

[somouk]

When you say unmanaged... do you mean you don't want to use an app to set them up at least?

There will be loads on the market, wall mounting can limit their coverage as most have set dispersal patterns but some will be fine.

Definitely get ones that can all backhaul via cable, some won't and insist on using wifi backhaul, also make sure the network ports are all 1 Gbps.

[Andeh1]

Thanks for the response! My naivety at wifi APIs showing. Setting up via an app would be fine.

They have to be wall mounted due to the locations we have installed the cabling.

Could you expand on your comment on backhaul and how I would check please?

[number2]

I use Deco M5s which have wired backhaul. While they work well for me, it's not a recommendation for you as there are probably newer and better systems out there and/or systems better suited to you.

The wired backhaul means that they connect back to the main router via ethernet (where available) rather than connect to each other via WiFi. It means you get 100pc of your main router/modem speed at each mesh point. Otherwise point 3 would be connecting to point 2, for example. which diminishes the performance as you get further away from the main modem, and makes your WiFi busier.

You're looking for at least one ethernet connection on the nodes but read the specs to confirm.

This is useful. I need not have written the above .

https://www.howtogeek.com/802009/what-is-a-mesh-ro...

[Andeh1]

Thanks very much number!


I actually came back to say the below is looking like the preferred option from my limited experience!


TP-Link Deco X50-PoE AX3000 Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System with PoE, Dual-Band, AI-Driven Mesh, cover up to 6,500 ft2, Connect up to 150 devices, 1.0 GHz Dual-Core CPU, HomeShield, Pack of 3

https://amzn.eu/d/a1xRX1a

[Puzzles]

I need to do something similar as the internal block walls are limiting my coverage.

[Gary C]

Can you get an ethernet cable to each of the devices location ?

If so then even the cheap BT mini's do a good job, if not then look for devices that have a dedicated 'backhaul' radio channel.

With mesh, lots of them share the radio channel they are using to communicate with the connected device, to pass the data back through the link(s) to the router. Which means everything you receive has to be sent to the mesh node on the same link effectively halving the quoted speed.

If you can wire the nodes, the backhaul is done by ethernet which removes this problem.

Also, steering. Active steering means they hand off devices between themselves as the signal strength changes so you can walk about with your laptop and not notice any change as it hands over between nodes.

I think all mesh nodes should do this but people on here in other threads disagree

[camel_landy]

Don't forget that radio signals can radiate vertically too. So whilst the walls might be brick, the floors and ceilings are likely to be wood and plasterboard.

HTH

M

[Dr_Rick]

I currently run a Tenda MW6 mesh system for my 1920's house. 1no base station plugged directly into the hub, then 3no distributed across the same number of floors in the house. The app is OK I suppose, customer support could do with improvement as it's community based more than dedicated company staff.

I've not had to do any real 'intervention' on the system since I fitted it all. It's set to reboot overnight just to clear out any redundant data.

I bought from Amazon in the end.

[s1962a]

If you have cat6 cables running to where the access points need to be, you could get some ubiquiti wifi access points. They are also POE powered if you want to install a POE switch for them to connect to.

[Pent]

Yes what he said. ^^^^^^

Wireless access points

[sparkyhx]

As above and re-iterate you will need a POE switch, not just an ordinary one

[Gary C]

Pent said:

Yes what he said. ^^^^^^

Wireless access points

simple WAP's though aren't as good as using proper Mesh units as the automatic handoff means no device hanging on with grim determination to a fading signal, just seamless roaming throughout the house.

[framerateuk]

I've had a Google Wifi mesh for a few years, mostly happy but I had some issues recently which seemed to be related to an update by Google. You have so little control with the Google Wifi that there was literally nothing I could do, so I swapped for something I could manage a little more.

I bought this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-AI-Driven-Coverag...

I didn't have Wifi 6 on the old Google Wifi, and the speed and quality of the connection is far better - I've been streaming games wirelessly from my PC and I've been amazed at how solid the connection is. It just wasn't possible on the old system.

I've got all the units hardwired with Cat6, but they work fine wirelessly too, you just need to make sure they're close enough to each other.