Do I need a mesh network

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  • Penfold7
    PCHF Member
    • Jul 2021
    • 165

    #1

    Do I need a mesh network

    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
    PCHF Director
    • Jul 2016
    • 8982

    #2
    Hello

    Let me get you some.

    @phillpower2

    Comment

    • veeg
      PCHF Director
      • Jul 2016
      • 8982

      #3
      Hello

      Let me get you some.

      @phillpower2

      Comment

      • PeterOz
        PCHF Member
        • Mar 2021
        • 4191

        #4
        Originally posted by Penfold7
        older router
        Make and model please
        Originally posted by Penfold7
        apart from the conservatory
        How far away from the house
        Originally posted by Penfold7
        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

        Comment

        • PeterOz
          PCHF Member
          • Mar 2021
          • 4191

          #5
          Originally posted by Penfold7
          older router
          Make and model please
          Originally posted by Penfold7
          apart from the conservatory
          How far away from the house
          Originally posted by Penfold7
          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

          Comment

          • Penfold7
            PCHF Member
            • Jul 2021
            • 165

            #6
            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

            Comment

            • Penfold7
              PCHF Member
              • Jul 2021
              • 165

              #7
              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

              Comment

              • PeterOz
                PCHF Member
                • Mar 2021
                • 4191

                #8
                @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.

                Comment

                • PeterOz
                  PCHF Member
                  • Mar 2021
                  • 4191

                  #9
                  @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.

                  Comment

                  • PeterOz
                    PCHF Member
                    • Mar 2021
                    • 4191

                    #10
                    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=β€œfull” alt=β€œSame Circuit.webp”]15512[/ATTACH]

                    Comment

                    • PeterOz
                      PCHF Member
                      • Mar 2021
                      • 4191

                      #11
                      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=β€œfull” alt=β€œSame Circuit.webp”]15512[/ATTACH]

                      Comment

                      • Penfold7
                        PCHF Member
                        • Jul 2021
                        • 165

                        #12
                        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

                        Comment

                        • Penfold7
                          PCHF Member
                          • Jul 2021
                          • 165

                          #13
                          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

                          Comment

                          • PeterOz
                            PCHF Member
                            • Mar 2021
                            • 4191

                            #14
                            Originally posted by Penfold7
                            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?
                            Originally posted by PeterOz
                            When you used the old router, did you set it up as an access point?

                            Comment

                            • PeterOz
                              PCHF Member
                              • Mar 2021
                              • 4191

                              #15
                              Originally posted by Penfold7
                              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?
                              Originally posted by PeterOz
                              When you used the old router, did you set it up as an access point?

                              Comment

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