Do I need a mesh network

[Penfold7]

I have a relatively stable wireless network with reasonably good signal around the house apart from the conservatory which has been made into more of an extension.
I have a TV and a Roku box in there and a wireless printer.
Although the printer does make a connection its always reporting a poor connection and the roku box struggles to get above 6Mbps on a speed test, even though I am on an 80/20 FTTC connection. Router is at the front of the house, and would be difficult to move. I have tried using Powerline networking and an older router to widen the range of the wireless network but if I use the same network as the main router it causes slow speeds, and having a separate network then other devices don’t automatically change network sometimes. Also the consevatory whilst not on a separate circuit is supplied from the main ring via an isolator fused switch. Oddly enough my phone stays connected to the 5ghz network in this room on the main routers network, and gets around 60Mbps on a speed test, although Roku and printer do use the older 2,4ghz.
I was thinking of a mesh network to I can keep 1 SSID and have good connectivity, but they all appear to cost into 3 figures which is overkill for my needs.
Do you have any advice with the setup I have or on a cheaper mesh solution?

[veeg]

Hello

Let me get you some.

@phillpower2

[PeterOz]

older router

Make and model please

apart from the conservatory

How far away from the house

lso the consevatory whilst not on a separate circuit is supplied from the main ring via an isolator fused switch

That is why a powerline networking will not work.

Also make and model of the main modem/router

[Penfold7]

The older router is a Plusnet hub1. Main router a Plusnet hub2. Conservatory is attached to the rear if the house. House is a standard 3 bed house of average size. The conservatory is powered by a tap into the ring main of the main house through a trip RCD switch. This then goes to 2 double sockets and the to a fused spur to power the lights. The power line adapter does work but slower than I would expect. They are AV600 units. TP link

[PeterOz]

@phillpower2 might have to chime in here.
I am blocked from info about your routers due to
The Amazon CloudFront distribution is configured to block access from your country

When you used the old router, did you set it up as an access point?
If you did and it is not working.

without buying anymore equipment what you could try if you have a power socket near
the conservatory that you know is on the same power circuit as the modem/router.

Plug the Av600 units in then with the old router setup in access point mode
plug the network cable from the AV600 into the router.

This might look a bit messy. But use it as a test to see if it will work.

[PeterOz]

By same circuit I mean that if you trip the breaker on the line the internet modem router is connected
then the power point that the 2nd AV600 is plugged into will also power off.
Sorry pic is not showing.
[ATTACH type=“full” alt=“Same Circuit.webp”]15512[/ATTACH]

[Penfold7]

Hi Peter. The main issue is not that it’s not working but it’s so slow when connected to the secondary router compared to the main one. Could it be due to the fact I’m using the same ssids and password as the main router on the wireless?.
For info, the Plusnet hub1 is basically a rebadged BT home hub 5. The hub2 a rebadged smarthub2 with slightly different firmware
Of note using WiFi man on my phone on 5ghz, signal is 40dB in the same room as main router, 75dB in the conservatory. However with the printer connected to the main router it reports low signal and signal 25% and this is on 2.4ghz which should have longer range

[PeterOz]

Could it be due to the fact I’m using the same ssids and password as the main router on the wireless?.

Not in my experience.
And this?

When you used the old router, did you set it up as an access point?

[Penfold7]

Yep. DHCP is off and it’s got a static IP outside the DHCP range of the main router. I’ve also disabled the firewall on this router.
Thanks.

[Penfold7]

Yep. DHCP is off and it’s got a static IP outside the DHCP range of the main router. I’ve also disabled the firewall on this router.
Thanks.

[Penfold7]

I’ll do some speed tests for you later for comparisons. I’ll also do a speed test wired to the power line plug by ethernet from my laptop if that would help??

[Penfold7]

I’ll do some speed tests for you later for comparisons. I’ll also do a speed test wired to the power line plug by ethernet from my laptop if that would help??

[PeterOz]

There is a problem with posting pics (they are sorting it out) I have a pic of what I would like you to test if.
you have this. A power point near the conservatory
By same circuit I mean that if you trip the breaker on the line the internet modem router is connected
then the power point that the 2nd AV600 is plugged into will also power off.

Access point is the better method rather than repeater.
I take it you do not have the access point hardwired to the main router.

[PeterOz]

There is a problem with posting pics (they are sorting it out) I have a pic of what I would like you to test if.
you have this. A power point near the conservatory
By same circuit I mean that if you trip the breaker on the line the internet modem router is connected
then the power point that the 2nd AV600 is plugged into will also power off.

Access point is the better method rather than repeater.
I take it you do not have the access point hardwired to the main router.

[Penfold7]

No the access point is wired to main router with power line network. It’s just unfeasible to hardwire unfortunately. I assumed I’d setup the 2nd router as an access point.