Wifi extender vs Mesh

Alfred

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Question for the network gurus:

I want to upgrade the Wifi at the house- eliminate dead spots and boost 5Ghz availability to all rooms. Currently run a TpLink AC1750 V2, so probably will upgrade that router anyway to a newer model.

So- should I consider a conventional new router and extender combo or a integrated Mesh setup ?

The house is older so there's really no Cat5 run anywhere to upstairs, so ideally I'd like to get a desktop extender located upstairs that I can pull off some ports and run some hardwire up and across the attic to the garage. Not sure I can do that with the Mesh designs. Something like this one: https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/range-extender/re580d/
 
Iā€™m currently running a mesh system and am plenty happy. The devices Iā€™m using have two Ethernet ports so you could run hardwired devices from them. If you needed more than two ports, you could add a cheap switch.

Another benefit of buying a new mesh system is that youā€™d be getting a new router. ;)
 
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How much traffic is being used upstairs? I have one room which gets weak signal but is it not used often so a cheap extender worked perfectly for me. If it was a heavy use room I would have gone with a new mesh system to give better performance. Extenders are only a bandaid for low traffic areas IMHO.
 
Another thought about using Mesh. If the garage is attached, you might cover it with Wi-Fi without running cable. Iā€™ve got a Mesh satellite in my garage.
 
Iā€™m currently running a mesh system and am plenty happy.

Which system did you go with ? Garage is attached but I have a device I want hardwired and its likely going to wind up out there.
 
If the optimum locations of the Mesh units suits (meaning one located where it could ā€œtalkā€ to another in the garage), and if your units had at least one Ethernet port (most of them seem to), that would give you hardwire in the garage without running any cable. ;)
 
Tried an extender before and it was ok. WiFi mesh is much better. I set up a TP Link Deco for my sister. Works great. I set up an Eero system on Centurylink and Linksys Velop system on my hot spot. Both work great. My vote is for a WiFi mesh system. As @Jeppo said you can also connect them via ethernet cable. Example from Linksys:
https://www.linksys.com/us/support-article?articleNum=217442
 
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One point of consideration is powering the WiFi access points or mesh devices. If theyā€™re not wired with cat 5 youā€™ll need a power supply or POE injector. Do NOT plug multiple AP units in that are bridged / meshed together in to a switch in a manner that forms a loop because youā€™ll create a packet storm.
 
I would go with a new mesh network personally. I went with the Netgear Orbi but there are many options out there. Orbi components have 4 Ethernet ports, so you can easily connect laptops/printers/etc.

Keep in mind that 2.4GHz signals are great for getting through walls/obstacles but are not fast. 5GHz is faster but doesnā€™t handle obstacles well, so you will have to remember that when selecting the location of the router and any satellites.
 
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I have a Google WiFi mesh system here. 4200 sqft and 4 kids. At any one time there are between 40 and 50 devices on our system. Have been very happy with it.
 
Another vote for mesh here... I recently switched from a TPLink extender to a Velop mesh, and the improvement in range and speed has been great. Another nice benefit is that the network is the same wherever you are, so no clunky transitions on mobile devices as you move around.

Velop has only two Ethernet ports per node and each mode needs to be plugged in, so if that's an issue you might consider a different option.
 
Ok...
So, assume that I am absolutely not a tech guy...
Like at all...
What is mesh?
Why is it better than an extender?
Any models better than others?

I just bought an older (1940ā€™s) brick house, with detached garage and need WiFi for everything
 
We moved our computer from our office to the corner of the family room, which is as far from the other end of the house, upstairs or down, as you can get. We went from 100% good coverage to 75% 'meh' coverage on the other end downstairs, and maybe 50% semi-crappy coverage upstairs. I put a TPLink extender downstairs on the other end which has helped, some. We have AT&T fiber and apparently I have to get 'their' mesh stuff if I want to go in that direction.

https://www.att.com/buy/accessories/internet-equipment/airties-att-smart-wi-fi-extender-white.html
 
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We have AT&T fiber and apparently I have to get 'their' mesh stuff if I want to go in that direction.
Hmm, that sounds curious. Theoretically, they should just provide a modem / router and you should be able to put another device, router or security appliance, behind it and then use whatever you like.

When I designed the network layout for my parents house, I started with a satellite modem (few available choices) going into a Ubiquity router. The router in turn feeds a Ubiquity switch that handles the hardwired network ports, and establishes separate VLANs for different access (e.g. wireless, guest, the bridge to my wife's shop, etc) that I can firewall as desired.

On the wireless side, I used two of these: https://www.cambiumnetworks.com/products/wifi/cnpilot-e400/ that mesh together, one designated primary and the other slave, with one at each end of the house. The units will hand off between them seamlessly and it has both 5GHz (also used for the mesh) and 2.4GHz available on the same SSID. They are POE and tie back to the Ubiquity switch, which is why I made mention of being careful how you connect and power them. At first, I had both units plugged into the network switch for power and when I enabled the wifi bridge, creating a circular loop between the two ports, it created a broadcast packet storm that had every traffic light on the switch blinking in unison while everything went non communicado. The answer was to disable the switch port but leave it for power only.
 
Which system is the best bang for the buck? The prices vary a good bit, it seems.
There are two options that I can think of. One would be commodity residential grade hardware and then flash the firmware with something like WRT or Tomato. The non stock firmware will give you better features and security but you'll be throughput limited by the hardware, though for most people this really won't be a practical limitation. Option 2 is to go with what I would call light commercial hardware like Ubiquity or Cambium which will give you the firmware features with a modest boost in hardware throughput.
 
Had a Dlink router/ap system for a while that worker well with Dlink Extender dwnstrs but my wife always seemed to manage to eff it up somehow. I think because of taking laptop out of home to meetings elsewhere and come home and have to reboot the extender to connect. I never had any trouble with it.
 
Well after 11.92 hours of reading product reviews, expert opinions and other diatribes about the "next big thing" in networking, I decided to plunge in or else be in analysis paralysis for the rest of 2020 and into 2021.

Interestingly my decision was as much based on price and features as it was return policies. Returns: Best Buy 15 days. Walmart, sort of 30 days. Costco 90 days. Amazon 30 days if you can get past the odium of repacking taping and hoping they receive the return and credit you for it.

Hello Costco. Went in and picked up a https://www.costco.com/netgear-orbi-whole-home-mesh-wi-fi-system-with-advanced-cyber-threat-protection%2C-3-pack.product.100483036.html

Tri Band, AC3000 Main router with 2 satellite units $299 I was eyeballing the fact that all of the satellites have 4 Ethernet ports, not just the main router. For many people that wont matter, but I liked it. I care not about the advanced cyber threat hoopla feature.

Of course it has an App to set up and get all syncopated. But you can also get into an interface (like most routers) directly, if not quite as fully featured as some of my old routers.

I have it up and running, now to get all the cats and dogs devices to salute their new packet dealer.
 
Having 4 ports would have changed my whole attitude. Great feature!
 


Co worker that is very network savoy from dealing with it on industrial side of things just got the same package and gave it great reviews and recommended same package to me when I asked a few weeks back I just havenā€™t picked one up yet.
 
Well after 11.92 hours of reading product reviews, expert opinions and other diatribes about the "next big thing" in networking, I decided to plunge in or else be in analysis paralysis for the rest of 2020 and into 2021.

Interestingly my decision was as much based on price and features as it was return policies. Returns: Best Buy 15 days. Walmart, sort of 30 days. Costco 90 days. Amazon 30 days if you can get past the odium of repacking taping and hoping they receive the return and credit you for it.

Hello Costco. Went in and picked up a https://www.costco.com/netgear-orbi-whole-home-mesh-wi-fi-system-with-advanced-cyber-threat-protection%2C-3-pack.product.100483036.html

Tri Band, AC3000 Main router with 2 satellite units $299 I was eyeballing the fact that all of the satellites have 4 Ethernet ports, not just the main router. For many people that wont matter, but I liked it. I care not about the advanced cyber threat hoopla feature.

Of course it has an App to set up and get all syncopated. But you can also get into an interface (like most routers) directly, if not quite as fully featured as some of my old routers.

I have it up and running, now to get all the cats and dogs devices to salute their new packet dealer.
My dad just put in that system himself and ended up adding one extra satellite to get good coverage down in his shop. I recommended it based on a coworkers glowing reviews. I now have one sitting at home waiting to replace my old Nighthawk router with a wired access point that has been flaky lately.
 
Well after 11.92 hours of reading product reviews, expert opinions and other diatribes about the "next big thing" in networking, I decided to plunge in or else be in analysis paralysis for the rest of 2020 and into 2021.

Interestingly my decision was as much based on price and features as it was return policies. Returns: Best Buy 15 days. Walmart, sort of 30 days. Costco 90 days. Amazon 30 days if you can get past the odium of repacking taping and hoping they receive the return and credit you for it.

Hello Costco. Went in and picked up a https://www.costco.com/netgear-orbi-whole-home-mesh-wi-fi-system-with-advanced-cyber-threat-protection%2C-3-pack.product.100483036.html

Tri Band, AC3000 Main router with 2 satellite units $299 I was eyeballing the fact that all of the satellites have 4 Ethernet ports, not just the main router. For many people that wont matter, but I liked it. I care not about the advanced cyber threat hoopla feature.

Of course it has an App to set up and get all syncopated. But you can also get into an interface (like most routers) directly, if not quite as fully featured as some of my old routers.

I have it up and running, now to get all the cats and dogs devices to salute their new packet dealer.
You made a great choice IMHO. I set this up in my parents large single story brick and stone home and it covers like a champ.
 
Well after 11.92 hours of reading product reviews, expert opinions and other diatribes about the "next big thing" in networking, I decided to plunge in or else be in analysis paralysis for the rest of 2020 and into 2021.

Interestingly my decision was as much based on price and features as it was return policies. Returns: Best Buy 15 days. Walmart, sort of 30 days. Costco 90 days. Amazon 30 days if you can get past the odium of repacking taping and hoping they receive the return and credit you for it.

Hello Costco. Went in and picked up a https://www.costco.com/netgear-orbi-whole-home-mesh-wi-fi-system-with-advanced-cyber-threat-protection%2C-3-pack.product.100483036.html

Tri Band, AC3000 Main router with 2 satellite units $299 I was eyeballing the fact that all of the satellites have 4 Ethernet ports, not just the main router. For many people that wont matter, but I liked it. I care not about the advanced cyber threat hoopla feature.

Of course it has an App to set up and get all syncopated. But you can also get into an interface (like most routers) directly, if not quite as fully featured as some of my old routers.

I have it up and running, now to get all the cats and dogs devices to salute their new packet dealer.

I went through the same analysis paralysis and wound up with the same system. Great choice
 
I've been through a lot of tech rodeos - there's that Perfect setup that no one can attain in real life, the next big thing, the next standard, the Utopian solution that will solve every problem, etc. End of the day, the stuff that just plain works without me needing to screw with it is more attractive than anything else.
 
Well after 11.92 hours of reading product reviews, expert opinions and other diatribes about the "next big thing" in networking, I decided to plunge in or else be in analysis paralysis for the rest of 2020 and into 2021.

Interestingly my decision was as much based on price and features as it was return policies. Returns: Best Buy 15 days. Walmart, sort of 30 days. Costco 90 days. Amazon 30 days if you can get past the odium of repacking taping and hoping they receive the return and credit you for it.

Hello Costco. Went in and picked up a https://www.costco.com/netgear-orbi-whole-home-mesh-wi-fi-system-with-advanced-cyber-threat-protection%2C-3-pack.product.100483036.html

Tri Band, AC3000 Main router with 2 satellite units $299 I was eyeballing the fact that all of the satellites have 4 Ethernet ports, not just the main router. For many people that wont matter, but I liked it. I care not about the advanced cyber threat hoopla feature.

Of course it has an App to set up and get all syncopated. But you can also get into an interface (like most routers) directly, if not quite as fully featured as some of my old routers.

I have it up and running, now to get all the cats and dogs devices to salute their new packet dealer.

Sounds like an excellent solution just more than I want to pay right now. Glad my Spectrum furnished gear works everywhere in hse except 1 dark corner. I had to move a Smart Plug Seven feet to get it to work.
 
I think that is the one my brother went with back when I chose the Orbi. I havenā€™t kept up with the technology but it was highly rated a year or so ago
 
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