What router do you use for good coverage? .. mesh?

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Hi,
I have a 2 story house, 2300sqft, but upstairs bedrooms have poor wifi reception ... probably due to the many walls.
It is all wallboard, wood frame construction.
I tried replacing my AE basestation with a new Netgear R8000 X6 router. This helped with speeds through the house (70-100MBPS)
except the master bedroom is still a dead space (2MBPS).
I don't have cabling installed so want to stick with Wifi.
I am thinking of going with a mesh wifi system.

Any good experiences/advice?

thx.
 
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My parents live in house that I believe is that same size (or close) and they also have big wi-fi issues. The modem and router are in an upstairs bedroom and reception throughout the house is very sketchy. Sometimes my dad can get 100+ MBPS in his upstairs office, sometimes it's 30 or less. In the downstairs den it's usually horrible. He's getting a Google 3-pack mesh system for Christmas, and we're hoping that will indeed solve the problem. They have an older model AirPort Extreme router currently. I'll try to remember to report back how it turns out.
 

pigoo3

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I'd definitely be interested in hearing how things work out as well Jonathan.:)

- Nick
 

chscag

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Mesh is definitely the way to go if you're dealing with a multi-level home. Around here (Dallas-Fort Worth) over 90% of older and new homes are of all brick construction which is a real challenge for WiFi reception in those homes that are multi-level. My home is all brick but ranch style so we generally get good WiFi reception throughout the house. The downside to obtaining a Mesh system is the initial expense. Make sure you read reviews and buy a system that can easily be added to later on if needed.

Another consideration for your situation is the use of power line adapters to carry the WiFi signal throughout your home. However, a multi-level home of 2300 SqFt is going to require an expensive array of adapters.
 
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Another consideration for your situation is the use of power line adapters to carry the WiFi signal throughout your home. However, a multi-level home of 2300 SqFt is going to require an expensive array of adapters.


I was just about to suggest considering the Powerline networking.
Powerline networking: what you need to know
https://www.techradar.com/news/networking/powerline-networking-what-you-need-to-know-930691

https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-powerline-networking-kit/







- Patrick
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My parents live in house that I believe is that same size (or close) and they also have big wi-fi issues. The modem and router are in an upstairs bedroom and reception throughout the house is very sketchy. Sometimes my dad can get 100+ MBPS in his upstairs office, sometimes it's 30 or less. In the downstairs den it's usually horrible. He's getting a Google 3-pack mesh system for Christmas, and we're hoping that will indeed solve the problem. They have an older model AirPort Extreme router currently. I'll try to remember to report back how it turns out.

Reporting back as promised. My dad and I just finished setting up the Google 3-point mesh system, and it's working fabulously! Spots of the house that were extremely low speeds before are now averaging 130 down and 11 up! Very happy!
 
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Reporting back as promised. My dad and I just finished setting up the Google 3-point mesh system, and it's working fabulously! Spots of the house that were extremely low speeds before are now averaging 130 down and 11 up! Very happy!

Hello Jonathan - thanks for the update and glad the 'mesh system' worked out so well! :)

My home Wi-Fi network is managed by an older Airport Extreme router (purchased in 2013 but the previous model) which is now 5 years old running 802.11n - as w/ Charlie we have a brick ranch house (2400 sq. ft.) and it's working fine for our needs, including video streaming from Amazon and Netflix - BUT, would like to upgrade to a newer one w/ 'ac' - have read a little about 'mesh networks' but need to increase my understanding. Dave
 

IWT


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now averaging 130 down and 11 up

If only.....

So many of us (in the UK) would give an arm & a leg for that. I know that those in big cities may be able to match or exceed that, but those outside the major conurbations are still struggling to get 20/10. After much protest and only recently, at considerable expense, can I get 70/15.

And we are a tiny island.

Such is life.

Ian

Ian
 

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My whole house is solid concrete block. Not just the exterior walls but every interior wall is that way. It plays havoc with Wifi and my weather radio and my clock that gets a signal to set the time automatically.

I was using a Link AC1900 but the 5ghz band would drop from time to time so replaced it with a Linksys EA8500 (think that is the model). Does AC 1900 and I get good signal in every room and much stronger than the Drink was doing.

IAN, I hear you on speed. Mine is fine for most stuff I do but sometimes wish it were faster but I can do everything I need to do with my current ISP. I get 25Mbps down. Before I moved here I was at 6Mbps with DSL as there was no Fiber in the area at the time.
 
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So many of us (in the UK) would give an arm & a leg for that. I know that those in big cities may be able to match or exceed that, but those outside the major conurbations are still struggling to get 20/10. After much protest and only recently, at considerable expense, can I get 70/15.

I hear you on speed. Mine is fine for most stuff I do but sometimes wish it were faster but I can do everything I need to do with my current ISP. I get 25Mbps down. Before I moved here I was at 6Mbps with DSL as there was no Fiber in the area at the time.



I wish there was some way to get a more accurate Internet "speed test" and actual speed as some friends I know get and pay for 150Mbps down that's confirmed with a speed test for maybe a couple of light users connected, yet it seems doing the same typical browsing that I would do seems like cold molasses speeds compared to my own browsing experience which I pay for and test and get at about 35Mbps download speeds.

My browsing usually seems much faster than theirs, so maybe the "speed tests" are based on theory rather that actual speeds??? I don't know.

So I really wonder why some pay for a much higher speed that they need or actually get.





- Patrick
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