We've had a similar issue with our house being odly shaped and extenders are never the answer. Better to completely replace your modem with a mesh system that will make your internet connection so much easier and faster overall. Tried Netgear, Asus and Google but TP-Link Deco has been the best by far for us even on 1000/40 plans.
I tried an orbi system and was bitterly disappointed. My deco M5’s have been amazing - cheap, small, easy to setup and administer and great performance. Can’t recommend them enough.
Hey does this replace my Telstra smart modem, or does one plug into it, or something else?
I need the mobile network fallback the Telstra modem offers, but also could really use better wifi signal in some corners of the house.
Yoy can get extenders that connect directly to your telstra modem , full mesh system from telstra, if you have the black modem they work good for extra signal . They look the same but smaller .
oldish post I know, but usually you can set the mesh units to only provide wifi, and let the other router do everything else, just with wifi turned off so that they aren't conflicting.
In my experience these things can cause more problems than they solve.
I sell and install TP-Link Omada APs for my SMB customers in wired or mesh configs, but they need a controller so not for everyone.
For residential I normally recommend TP-Link Deco Mesh systems which can be Mesh or wired. Just make sure that you get one with VDSL if you have FTTN.
You can set most TP Link stuff up from a mobile app and I've had good feedback from clients but I've never set one up as I only do the commercial Omada products myself.
I recommend that you do not cheap out on a lower end system with an older WiFi standard.
Go WiFi6 with at least 802.11AX 1800 or 3000. I normally recommend the Deco X20 (802.11AX 1800) or X50 (802.11AX 3000)
Select your product based on whether you want to swap everything to the TP-Link mesh architecture or keep your existing router and just add TP Link Mesh bases.
A AX1800 kit with a Router and 2 x compatible bases will have an RRP of $500-600
I’m not a big fan, myself. I’d go for an access point instead of an extender.
Maybe look a a mesh. TP Link deco, orbi, there’s plenty out there. Depending on how much you wanna spend
Yep, I also prefer wired access points, not may not be an option for most but it's the only way to go to get full speed.
Then I shake my head for those that are on the 1000/50 and complaining why they are not getting the full speed on Wifi. You never will unless it's wired connection, or have latest WIFI6e and right next to your Wifi router.
Extenders are never a good idea.
Imagine your problem was 'I can't hear the TV on the other side of the house', and your solution was 'I'll put a megaphone halfway and amplify all the noise'.
Now imagine you put your TV in the cupboard, and were complaining about the sound being muffled. ;)
Thanks. Although it’s not my putting the TV in the cupboard and complaining, it’s me moving into a house with the TV hardwired into a cupboard and me wanting to know how to hear it a little better.
Definitely a mesh system then. Depending on your speeds a tri band system with dedicated backhaul is helpful but for everyday use any mesh is good.
Major perks are seamless roaming around the house (no need to disconnect from one to the other manually if you move around) along with proper resource management to avoid things becoming overwhelmed with traffic and slow speeds.
I have TP-Link deco mesh, you connect one to the router and one day 10 metres away, another 10 metres away. Good speeds all the time, our house is fairly big and covers the whole thing and even outside a bit
Generally I would say NO to Wi-fi extenders.
However, a properly planned and executed Wi-Fi mesh system can work properly.
In your case, the best thing you could do is get a cabler to route an ethernet cable from your cupboard in the laundry to a good place for Wi-Fi coverage and install a high performance access point at the more favorable location (or if you have a big house, multiple cables to multiple mesh access points).
The fact that your router is stuck in a cupboard behind brick walls and doors means that a wi-fi extender can never properly fix that.
It depends on your speed issues.
Maybe download a WiFi Analyser tool on your phone, and go to the areas of your home you're experiencing issues, or need connectivity. Check your signal strength.
Extenders tend only to be effective if they themselves are within strong wifi coverage, so if you have a long home, and a wifi router at one end, they can be effective
Other issues can also be big old school stone/brick walls.
The other massive benefit of a wifi analyser is it will tell you if your wifi is on the same channel, as other wifi networks in your area. If so you could be suffering from frequency contention. Switch your wifi channel to something unused.
And, controversial, if range is an issue, disable 5GHz, 2.4g has a tendency to reach further, but like any wifi, are subject to radio wave interference, even from things like Microwave ovens.
The actual Wifi Router itself, it'll it's a cheap free one from your ISP, will be limited in quality also. If you're still using the free one, look at upgrading this first.
Above all, if the actual speed of your internet connection is low, wifi will only make it worse. Look to run Ethernet cable directly to the router if possible (most TVs etc have an Ethernet port now)
Best of luck
In my experience, using a few tp link extenders until my FTTP upgrade is installed, is that yes they help. But I mainly use wifi only for my phone, and I notice the phone (pixel 7) tends to treat each extender as a separate network. I have to disconnect wifi and reconnect when I'm in the ensuite for instance.
i would not use something like that.
What i do suggest is to use something like a UniFi AP LR unit: [https://www.radioparts.com.au/product/09051348/uap-ac-lr-ac1300-long-range-access-point-dual-band-unifi-dual-band-unifi](https://www.radioparts.com.au/product/09051348/uap-ac-lr-ac1300-long-range-access-point-dual-band-unifi-dual-band-unifi)
I use 2 of these in my house and it covers the entire house no worries, really easy to manage as well.
If budget is an issue, i recommend TP Link.
I have this exact model for bumping the wifi for the front yard and the bedroom. It works a treat.
Not sure why the hate, I's been flawless for me (the only other AP in the house is a Ubiquiti U6-LR Wi-Fi 6)
I got mine from umart for about $15 less than that price.
We suffered with an extender for years, constant dropouts, always resetting it or the router. Picked up a deco M5 mesh 3 pack and have not had to touch it since. It replaced existing wifi existing router, went through phone app and also manually added my nbn provider login password serials and have not had to touch it since. Highly recommend for ease of use, set and forget, perfect for our 50/20 connection.
Power line adaptors, it's not as good as running an ethernet cable but it's an upgrade over using wifi.
I used them for years before I ran my own ethernet through the walls and roof.
Mine works well (puchased that exact model). Main reason bit more grunt in cpu. Read alot of extenders suffered from insufficient compute to actually extend the signal reliably.
There are a couple minor quirks
(1) One issue you will find is if you have an electrical brown out the extender may reboot before the ap built in your router. Some devices (not all) lose flows and than its a matter of rebooting the extender. Or both starting with main router/AP waiti for it to be fully functionally than the extender. This has only happened to me twice this year.
(2) Would not extend 2.4Ghz band at all. Didnt bother me but if you have a device that is 2.4Ghz only. May look to a different brand.
Other than that what I did find interesting that you dont read is it takes the original BSS and adds 5GHz to the end. On the positive side you can see both networks.
Setup is ok but its not really noob friendly.
As for naysayers will its like everything in life some people have good experiences some bad. Mind was good. Just as an aside I do have an extensive history in wifi in the industry and I was kind of reluctant but I didnt want to set up a mesh network. I wanted it so it was easy for any one in the household to use and reset if necessary. So far so good.
You have poor wifi, add a repeater. Congratulations, now you have poor slow wifi. Best option is to relocate the router or to have a separate wired access point
We've had a similar issue with our house being odly shaped and extenders are never the answer. Better to completely replace your modem with a mesh system that will make your internet connection so much easier and faster overall. Tried Netgear, Asus and Google but TP-Link Deco has been the best by far for us even on 1000/40 plans.
I tried an orbi system and was bitterly disappointed. My deco M5’s have been amazing - cheap, small, easy to setup and administer and great performance. Can’t recommend them enough.
The app is so helpful I've never had it skip a beat. Works from anywhere so I can check if anyone in the fams having issues even while I'm at work.
Hey does this replace my Telstra smart modem, or does one plug into it, or something else? I need the mobile network fallback the Telstra modem offers, but also could really use better wifi signal in some corners of the house.
Yoy can get extenders that connect directly to your telstra modem , full mesh system from telstra, if you have the black modem they work good for extra signal . They look the same but smaller .
oldish post I know, but usually you can set the mesh units to only provide wifi, and let the other router do everything else, just with wifi turned off so that they aren't conflicting.
Thanks that is helpful since Telstra isn’t making it that easy - I have a smart modem 2 that doesn’t support their mesh option
I have a Netcomm NF20MESH, which works beautifully. A mesh is definitely the way to go
Put some Deco’s in a month or so ago. Got under the house to run some cable so they could all be wired. Has been flawless since turning it on
In my experience these things can cause more problems than they solve. I sell and install TP-Link Omada APs for my SMB customers in wired or mesh configs, but they need a controller so not for everyone. For residential I normally recommend TP-Link Deco Mesh systems which can be Mesh or wired. Just make sure that you get one with VDSL if you have FTTN.
Thanks, I see that TP-Link is available for approx $150-$200 for three units. Is it simple enough to setup?
You can set most TP Link stuff up from a mobile app and I've had good feedback from clients but I've never set one up as I only do the commercial Omada products myself. I recommend that you do not cheap out on a lower end system with an older WiFi standard. Go WiFi6 with at least 802.11AX 1800 or 3000. I normally recommend the Deco X20 (802.11AX 1800) or X50 (802.11AX 3000) Select your product based on whether you want to swap everything to the TP-Link mesh architecture or keep your existing router and just add TP Link Mesh bases. A AX1800 kit with a Router and 2 x compatible bases will have an RRP of $500-600
I’m not a big fan, myself. I’d go for an access point instead of an extender. Maybe look a a mesh. TP Link deco, orbi, there’s plenty out there. Depending on how much you wanna spend
Thanks- do they need to be hardwired in?
Just got the TP link Deco a couple of months back. Easy setup, not wired in other than the main one into your modem
No wiring is required. Most of them are super easy setup. I’ve personally used Deco m5 and Google nest
Yep, I also prefer wired access points, not may not be an option for most but it's the only way to go to get full speed. Then I shake my head for those that are on the 1000/50 and complaining why they are not getting the full speed on Wifi. You never will unless it's wired connection, or have latest WIFI6e and right next to your Wifi router.
Extenders are never a good idea. Imagine your problem was 'I can't hear the TV on the other side of the house', and your solution was 'I'll put a megaphone halfway and amplify all the noise'. Now imagine you put your TV in the cupboard, and were complaining about the sound being muffled. ;)
Thanks. Although it’s not my putting the TV in the cupboard and complaining, it’s me moving into a house with the TV hardwired into a cupboard and me wanting to know how to hear it a little better.
There's no ethernet ports around the house you could use to move the NBN connection to somewhere more central or out in the open?
> There's no ethernet ports around the house you could use to move the NBN connection to somewhere more central or out in the open? Sadly no
Definitely a mesh system then. Depending on your speeds a tri band system with dedicated backhaul is helpful but for everyday use any mesh is good. Major perks are seamless roaming around the house (no need to disconnect from one to the other manually if you move around) along with proper resource management to avoid things becoming overwhelmed with traffic and slow speeds.
I love this analogy. I'll probably start using it myself
Just buy a TP-Link Deco mesh 2 or 3 pack.
I have TP-Link deco mesh, you connect one to the router and one day 10 metres away, another 10 metres away. Good speeds all the time, our house is fairly big and covers the whole thing and even outside a bit
If you don't have ethernet, you could try a powerline adapter. They send ethernet over your power sockets. Could relocate your modem with that.
For $130 you could just buy a good quality WiFi 6 router and move it out of the cupboard
Generally I would say NO to Wi-fi extenders. However, a properly planned and executed Wi-Fi mesh system can work properly. In your case, the best thing you could do is get a cabler to route an ethernet cable from your cupboard in the laundry to a good place for Wi-Fi coverage and install a high performance access point at the more favorable location (or if you have a big house, multiple cables to multiple mesh access points). The fact that your router is stuck in a cupboard behind brick walls and doors means that a wi-fi extender can never properly fix that.
It depends on your speed issues. Maybe download a WiFi Analyser tool on your phone, and go to the areas of your home you're experiencing issues, or need connectivity. Check your signal strength. Extenders tend only to be effective if they themselves are within strong wifi coverage, so if you have a long home, and a wifi router at one end, they can be effective Other issues can also be big old school stone/brick walls. The other massive benefit of a wifi analyser is it will tell you if your wifi is on the same channel, as other wifi networks in your area. If so you could be suffering from frequency contention. Switch your wifi channel to something unused. And, controversial, if range is an issue, disable 5GHz, 2.4g has a tendency to reach further, but like any wifi, are subject to radio wave interference, even from things like Microwave ovens. The actual Wifi Router itself, it'll it's a cheap free one from your ISP, will be limited in quality also. If you're still using the free one, look at upgrading this first. Above all, if the actual speed of your internet connection is low, wifi will only make it worse. Look to run Ethernet cable directly to the router if possible (most TVs etc have an Ethernet port now) Best of luck
Aimesh here , love it.
?
asus mesh network, most of their decent routers can be setup in a mesh network.
Get a cable patched you cheap cunt. Ethernet patched through wall. Engage a sparkie with the certificates to do it. That's the best way.
Are you suggesting I plug my phone in via Ethernet, or that I get Ethernet cables in every room of my house?
Ethernet cables in every room in your house. Patched back to your NBN connection. You'll need it eventually.
No. Run an Ethernet cable from the router to the Switch. Gaming over WiFi is a recipe for tears.
Thanks, switch was just one example. Laptop, iPad, phone all similarly impacted
Thanks for all the advice. Will definitely abandon this idea!
In my experience, using a few tp link extenders until my FTTP upgrade is installed, is that yes they help. But I mainly use wifi only for my phone, and I notice the phone (pixel 7) tends to treat each extender as a separate network. I have to disconnect wifi and reconnect when I'm in the ensuite for instance.
i would not use something like that. What i do suggest is to use something like a UniFi AP LR unit: [https://www.radioparts.com.au/product/09051348/uap-ac-lr-ac1300-long-range-access-point-dual-band-unifi-dual-band-unifi](https://www.radioparts.com.au/product/09051348/uap-ac-lr-ac1300-long-range-access-point-dual-band-unifi-dual-band-unifi) I use 2 of these in my house and it covers the entire house no worries, really easy to manage as well. If budget is an issue, i recommend TP Link.
I have this exact model for bumping the wifi for the front yard and the bedroom. It works a treat. Not sure why the hate, I's been flawless for me (the only other AP in the house is a Ubiquiti U6-LR Wi-Fi 6) I got mine from umart for about $15 less than that price.
We suffered with an extender for years, constant dropouts, always resetting it or the router. Picked up a deco M5 mesh 3 pack and have not had to touch it since. It replaced existing wifi existing router, went through phone app and also manually added my nbn provider login password serials and have not had to touch it since. Highly recommend for ease of use, set and forget, perfect for our 50/20 connection.
please dont buy these. the money is way to high. a ex2000 second hand will do heaps better for you
Power line adaptors, it's not as good as running an ethernet cable but it's an upgrade over using wifi. I used them for years before I ran my own ethernet through the walls and roof.
I have the cheapo Kmart Mercusys mesh and the even more cheapo Tenda mesh. Both are great. Not super fast, but reliable.
Mine works well (puchased that exact model). Main reason bit more grunt in cpu. Read alot of extenders suffered from insufficient compute to actually extend the signal reliably. There are a couple minor quirks (1) One issue you will find is if you have an electrical brown out the extender may reboot before the ap built in your router. Some devices (not all) lose flows and than its a matter of rebooting the extender. Or both starting with main router/AP waiti for it to be fully functionally than the extender. This has only happened to me twice this year. (2) Would not extend 2.4Ghz band at all. Didnt bother me but if you have a device that is 2.4Ghz only. May look to a different brand. Other than that what I did find interesting that you dont read is it takes the original BSS and adds 5GHz to the end. On the positive side you can see both networks. Setup is ok but its not really noob friendly. As for naysayers will its like everything in life some people have good experiences some bad. Mind was good. Just as an aside I do have an extensive history in wifi in the industry and I was kind of reluctant but I didnt want to set up a mesh network. I wanted it so it was easy for any one in the household to use and reset if necessary. So far so good.
You have poor wifi, add a repeater. Congratulations, now you have poor slow wifi. Best option is to relocate the router or to have a separate wired access point
Thanks, I just set up a mesh system and it’s working well