Discussion
I’m trying to install a mesh network in an apartment. The apartment is on 2 levels with a bedroom and massive terrace on the 2nd level.
I have mercusys (3 node) mesh system that kind of works… primary node is plugged directly in to the Modem, another node on the ground level with a 3rd on the 2nd level.
I get c.400mb in the living room, but only 60mb (max… drop as low as 15) for the 2nd level bedroom which drops as low as 5 or 6mb on yhe terrace (not enough to run the IPTV system).
The apartment is fully wired, but if I plug one of the nodes in to a downstairs port and another in to an upstairs port I’m still only getting 60mb max upstairs.
Do I need to configure something to make the node use wired?
I have mercusys (3 node) mesh system that kind of works… primary node is plugged directly in to the Modem, another node on the ground level with a 3rd on the 2nd level.
I get c.400mb in the living room, but only 60mb (max… drop as low as 15) for the 2nd level bedroom which drops as low as 5 or 6mb on yhe terrace (not enough to run the IPTV system).
The apartment is fully wired, but if I plug one of the nodes in to a downstairs port and another in to an upstairs port I’m still only getting 60mb max upstairs.
Do I need to configure something to make the node use wired?
Check the documentation from the system you have. Some can work as just access points all linked back to a switch, others need a "star" formation, with a master node and the rest wired back to that.
If the later you need to connect the master node to the the router, then a switch to master node, and the remaining units to the switch.
If the later you need to connect the master node to the the router, then a switch to master node, and the remaining units to the switch.
I have got a Mercusys and I configured it by placing the master unit, wired from the router, and getting it configured. I then added the second, also wired from the router on a different leg, and added it to the master. I then added a third, linked wirelessly direct to the master.
I didn't turn all the units on all at once.
I didn't turn all the units on all at once.
I have:
Node 1 is connected directly to the router in the living room.
Node 2 is connected to node 1 wirelessly, and is on the opposite side of the living room with an Ethernet cable plugged in to an Ethernet port.
Node 3 is upstairs plugged in to another Ethernet port
Node 1 and 2 give me c.600mb on speed test
Node 3 gives c.30mb, so is not utilising the wired connection to node 2.
I assume there’s an Ethernet port nearer to Node 1, but it’s hidden behind a massive wall unit (6m long, floor to ceiling), which isn’t realistically movable.
Using the mercusys app, I can see that node 2 & 3 are both connecting to node 1.
So I made node 2 the primary… hoping that would then utilise the hard connection. But it doesn’t… still get 30mb upstairs.
I’ve also tried to find another location on the ground floor for node 2 that gives a better wireless signal to node 3 upstairs, but that doesn’t work either.
This is a Spanish property, with solid walls and a 300mm concrete slab between floors.
30mb in the bedroom is fine… their TV works no problem. But they have built a sunroom with kitchen/dining/living area. Here in only getting 5-6mb, and the IPTV system is constantly buffering. Plus there’s no signal at the pool area.
If I can get node 2 to give node 3 600mb it won’t be a problem… there will be some signal drop, but there’ll be such a huge surplus that it will be plenty to run the TV etc.
Might have to consult mercusys!!
Node 1 is connected directly to the router in the living room.
Node 2 is connected to node 1 wirelessly, and is on the opposite side of the living room with an Ethernet cable plugged in to an Ethernet port.
Node 3 is upstairs plugged in to another Ethernet port
Node 1 and 2 give me c.600mb on speed test
Node 3 gives c.30mb, so is not utilising the wired connection to node 2.
I assume there’s an Ethernet port nearer to Node 1, but it’s hidden behind a massive wall unit (6m long, floor to ceiling), which isn’t realistically movable.
Using the mercusys app, I can see that node 2 & 3 are both connecting to node 1.
So I made node 2 the primary… hoping that would then utilise the hard connection. But it doesn’t… still get 30mb upstairs.
I’ve also tried to find another location on the ground floor for node 2 that gives a better wireless signal to node 3 upstairs, but that doesn’t work either.
This is a Spanish property, with solid walls and a 300mm concrete slab between floors.
30mb in the bedroom is fine… their TV works no problem. But they have built a sunroom with kitchen/dining/living area. Here in only getting 5-6mb, and the IPTV system is constantly buffering. Plus there’s no signal at the pool area.
If I can get node 2 to give node 3 600mb it won’t be a problem… there will be some signal drop, but there’ll be such a huge surplus that it will be plenty to run the TV etc.
Might have to consult mercusys!!
Are the ethernet ports 2 and 3 are plugged in to connected to the router at the other end or do you mean 2 and 3 are connected together via ethernet? If so are you sure that cable is good and links the 2 points you think it does? it's usual when putting in ethernet ports to have them all connect to the same place somewhere (the utilities cupboard in my case) rather than just connecting 2 individual sockets.
The image here shows potential configurations for a different brand. In the one with the cross through it, your router probably has the switch built in (multiple ethernet ports)
Apologies if teaching to suck eggs, but also be aware most of these devices can operate in 2 modes. Wireless access point mode, where your router/modem does the routing and they just wifi access, or in Router mode, where you need to set your modem/router to modem only or passthrough mode and let the master node do the routing, in which case you need to go modem to master node, and then to a switch to get cables to other devices.(second config in the picture)
The image here shows potential configurations for a different brand. In the one with the cross through it, your router probably has the switch built in (multiple ethernet ports)
Apologies if teaching to suck eggs, but also be aware most of these devices can operate in 2 modes. Wireless access point mode, where your router/modem does the routing and they just wifi access, or in Router mode, where you need to set your modem/router to modem only or passthrough mode and let the master node do the routing, in which case you need to go modem to master node, and then to a switch to get cables to other devices.(second config in the picture)
RizzoTheRat said:
Are the ethernet ports 2 and 3 are plugged in to connected to the router at the other end or do you mean 2 and 3 are connected together via ethernet? If so are you sure that cable is good and links the 2 points you think it does? it's usual when putting in ethernet ports to have them all connect to the same place somewhere (the utilities cupboard in my case) rather than just connecting 2 individual sockets.
The image here shows potential configurations for a different brand. In the one with the cross through it, your router probably has the switch built in (multiple ethernet ports)
Apologies if teaching to suck eggs, but also be aware most of these devices can operate in 2 modes. Wireless access point mode, where your router/modem does the routing and they just wifi access, or in Router mode, where you need to set your modem/router to modem only or passthrough mode and let the master node do the routing, in which case you need to go modem to master node, and then to a switch to get cables to other devices.(second config in the picture)
No problem… I have some knowledge, but I’m far from competent The image here shows potential configurations for a different brand. In the one with the cross through it, your router probably has the switch built in (multiple ethernet ports)
Apologies if teaching to suck eggs, but also be aware most of these devices can operate in 2 modes. Wireless access point mode, where your router/modem does the routing and they just wifi access, or in Router mode, where you need to set your modem/router to modem only or passthrough mode and let the master node do the routing, in which case you need to go modem to master node, and then to a switch to get cables to other devices.(second config in the picture)
Mercusys system has 2 options… router and access point. I have it set up in access point mode.
Like most Spanish properties built in the last 25 years it’s fully wired with access points in every room. I assume that if I plugged 2 nodes in to any of these they would utilise the hardwired connection… which clearly they don’t.
Am i going to have to bite the bullet and empty the wall unit to see if the master access point is behind it? Then plug Node 1 in to that?
Chris Stott said:
Like most Spanish properties built in the last 25 years it’s fully wired with access points in every room. I assume that if I plugged 2 nodes in to any of these they would utilise the hardwired connection… which clearly they don’t.
Am i going to have to bite the bullet and empty the wall unit to see if the master access point is behind it? Then plug Node 1 in to that?
For all the ports in the house to be able to talk to each other port, there would need to be a switch connecting the other ends of the cables. The switch needs power and would usually be the sort of thing an owner would take with them rather the leave with the house. Where do the phone/internet connections come in to the house, is there anything else there? I might be just ethernet cables sticking out of a hole rather than neat sockets, or could be a patch panel with multiple socketsAm i going to have to bite the bullet and empty the wall unit to see if the master access point is behind it? Then plug Node 1 in to that?
eg I have ports in my lounge, main bedroom, and front room, with the other ends of the cables all going to my utilities cupboard where I have a switch that connects them all together, and also connects to the router. The cupboard also has the cable TV/internet connection, the gas and electric meters and the fuse box.
Edited by RizzoTheRat on Monday 24th June 14:19
Edited by RizzoTheRat on Monday 24th June 14:24
I assume the phone lines and main access point is behind the display unit that covers one entire wall in the living room… the main router is on this unit, and the wire that connects it to the incoming fibre disappears behind it… I can’t see anything as the unit is hard against the wall with no access.
I don’t know if the property has a switch… I know where all the main electric box is, and IIRC, there’s nothing else there. So I need a switch to get WiFi out of the main node in to the rest of the house?
Looks like I’m stripping the wall unit of the books/glasses/ornaments so I can drag it out and have a look!
I don’t know if the property has a switch… I know where all the main electric box is, and IIRC, there’s nothing else there. So I need a switch to get WiFi out of the main node in to the rest of the house?
Looks like I’m stripping the wall unit of the books/glasses/ornaments so I can drag it out and have a look!
You need a switch to get ethernet from the router to the other ports in the house, but the existing router might have one built in, most likely 4 ports.
ie fibre/cable in -> Router -> Switch -> Multiple sockets
The other way of doing it is to either daisy chain the network nodes if they have 2 ports (fibre/cable -> Router -> Node 1 -> Node 2 -> Node 3), or as it sounds like you're initially trying to do with Nodes 1 and 2 talking via wifi, and Node 3 wired to node 2. If you can find the correct ethernet cables you can do this without a switch by using a coupler that just connects 2 cables directly to each other.
ie fibre/cable in -> Router -> Switch -> Multiple sockets
The other way of doing it is to either daisy chain the network nodes if they have 2 ports (fibre/cable -> Router -> Node 1 -> Node 2 -> Node 3), or as it sounds like you're initially trying to do with Nodes 1 and 2 talking via wifi, and Node 3 wired to node 2. If you can find the correct ethernet cables you can do this without a switch by using a coupler that just connects 2 cables directly to each other.
Sorry for being a bit dim, but…
1. If I connect node 1 to the router with an Ethernet cable it works fine.
2. If I connect node 2 to node 1 with a cable it works
Why can’t I just stick a cable in to the back of node 2, plug it in to the socket on the wall and then do the same with node 3?
Surely this is just the same as connecting the nodes directly to each other as per point 1?
1. If I connect node 1 to the router with an Ethernet cable it works fine.
2. If I connect node 2 to node 1 with a cable it works
Why can’t I just stick a cable in to the back of node 2, plug it in to the socket on the wall and then do the same with node 3?
Surely this is just the same as connecting the nodes directly to each other as per point 1?
Chris Stott said:
Thanks!
So I need to find the main socket (likely behind the wall unit) and plug the main node (the one that’s connected to the router) in to that… assuming the node has a switch that should enable me to plug the other node in upstairs to get a direct connection?
Ideally you want to end up with Master socket --> router --> all the cables to the other rooms. You can then plug the mercusys nodes in where you like.So I need to find the main socket (likely behind the wall unit) and plug the main node (the one that’s connected to the router) in to that… assuming the node has a switch that should enable me to plug the other node in upstairs to get a direct connection?
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