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No WiFi signal in bedroom despite extender

41 replies

LargeProsecco · 28/09/2021 15:27

Just had Virgin broadband installed & despite buying a WiFi extender, I cannot get a signal in the bedroom (it's through 2-3 thick walls from the router).

I can't move the router closer due to the connection point.

Any ideas?

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 23/10/2021 11:43

We have a wifi extender upstairs. You do have to connect to the extension network though (once you've done it once it automatically connects though)

LargeProsecco · 23/10/2021 12:43

Hopefully I've attached a picture of what I bought.

I'd prefer to buy my own things rather than rent from Virgin at a monthly cost.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far -really appreciated

No WiFi signal in bedroom despite extender
OP posts:
Jarstastic · 23/10/2021 13:14

Another one for powerline adapters. Using the electrician circuit. Use an Ethernet cable.

For a wireless solution I would suggest a wifi mesh system. This is a fair outlay. We went for a Deco system cost close to £300 but we moved our broadband from Sky to NowTV which is cheaper on monthly basis for same infrastructure. Included router not as good for wifi as sky one (it’s an older sky box) but we’ve turned off the wifi on it, we just use it as a router into the Deco system. It also has fantastic parental controls on it included and we are no longer paying £5pcm for sky buddy. So £300 well spent.

FlaviaAlbiaWantsLangClegBack · 23/10/2021 13:24

I had a look at that and it looks as though that should extend your WiFi in the room it's plugged into as well as having an ethernet cable plug.

It is working at all? If you plug an ethernet cable into it?

I have a vague recollection that they only work on the same circuits, so we couldn't have one beside our router and one in the garage. It was about 8 years ago so they may have changed since then though.

LargeProsecco · 23/10/2021 13:48

I think my flat may have separate circuits - it's 50 years old & the electrics are original.

I tried plugging the laptop into the Ethernet cable after pairing them, then charging my phone on the laptop using the iPhone charger. Nada.

OP posts:
KingHiss · 23/10/2021 14:05

The TL-PA4022P Kit only has wired connections, no wireless, but as mentioned won't work if on a different electrical circuit.
You could see if sockets nearer the router work and maybe a wifi powerline adapter will reach far enough.

FlaviaAlbiaWantsLangClegBack · 23/10/2021 14:09

I had a look and it's still an issue
www.tp-link.com/uk/support/faq/406/

Q3.4: Can Powerline adapters work if they are separated by different electric circuits?

A: No. If they can pair in the same room, but the powerline LED turns off when you move one powerline device to another area, this usually means they are plugged into separate electrical circuits, preventing them from communicating. Please try different locations.

Probably the cheapest solution is to run an ethernet wire from your router to the area without a signal and then plug in something like this to create a new wireless network for that part of your house.

TP-LINK TL-WR802N - wireless router - 802.11b/g/n - desktop(TL-WR802N) amazon.co.uk/dp/B00TACCPUW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_glt_fabc_0DZV1YR0EY31P498BT4H?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1]]

FlaviaAlbiaWantsLangClegBack · 23/10/2021 14:11

Dud link, sorry, try this one -smile.<a class="break-all" href="https://amazon.co.uk/dp/B00TACCPUW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_glt_fabc_0DZV1YR0EY31P498BT4H?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum--chat-4361258-no-wifi-signal-in-bedroom-despite-extender" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">amazon.co.uk/dp/B00TACCPUW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_glt_fabc_0DZV1YR0EY31P498BT4H?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

TheUnbearable · 23/10/2021 16:46

We have found the model online and you have not bought a WiFi one you have a hard wired one. You could only use this with an Ethernet cable. You don’t want that one.

The model number you need is one that mentions WiFi. I assume you had the other one from Argos. We are looking at Argos website and a WiFi power-link one is product number 558/5575. TP link WiFi extender booster and 600mbps powerline kit.

LargeProsecco · 23/10/2021 17:08

@TheUnbearable - lovely thank you!

I'll return it again. They will think I am nuts/thick Blush

OP posts:
GillBiggeloesHair · 23/10/2021 18:51

We have a power line adapter, money well spent. Never had any luck with TP Link type devices.

FlaviaAlbiaWantsLangClegBack · 23/10/2021 18:57

If you've already tried it and the ethernet isn't working when you plug it into your laptop then a powerline adaptor is probably not a goer though.

Tommika · 24/10/2021 20:07

@FlaviaAlbiaWantsLangClegBack

I had a look and it's still an issue www.tp-link.com/uk/support/faq/406/

Q3.4: Can Powerline adapters work if they are separated by different electric circuits?

A: No. If they can pair in the same room, but the powerline LED turns off when you move one powerline device to another area, this usually means they are plugged into separate electrical circuits, preventing them from communicating. Please try different locations.

Probably the cheapest solution is to run an ethernet wire from your router to the area without a signal and then plug in something like this to create a new wireless network for that part of your house.

TP-LINK TL-WR802N - wireless router - 802.11b/g/n - desktop(TL-WR802N) smile.]]

Strictly speaking this isn’t an ‘issue’ with powerline, that it can’t cross different circuits It’s a fact of life due to the way it works - the network traffic is sent across the circuit and can be picked up via any socket along the circuit. It’s not physically possible to use powerline from one circuit to the next. (But there could be a workaround)

Some technology options are:
Put your main wifi router in a different location, ideally central. In reality this is rarely an option as your router is limited by the point that your internet arrives in the home, which will be a hole drilled in the wall nearest the outside network.
But it may be possible to move it some distance with a longer cable to the point of entry if the problem is a particular solid wall etc - but that might result in a worse primary connection to the internet

A wifi booster connects to the main router and transmits a stronger signal. This only works in some cases, such as giving just enough extra power to get through a wall.
To a degree you may be able to change the wifi routers operating mode to give a stronger signal

Another option is a wifi repeater. This is typicaly a wall plug that picks up any wifi signals and retransmits it.
You generally place this at a mid point, but not might work by going to an odd corner to effectively bounce the signal at angles - avoiding the problem wall

An option is to add a long Ethernet cable - from the router to the problem room. Then you have a direct connection - but it only works for that one point, and if you have more then you can only do as many as the wifi router has Ethernet sockets

An improved version is to wire up your house with Ethernet. Put an Ethernet socket in a number of rooms, each wired to a hub in a cupboard. You plug one cable from the wifi router to the hub, then the hub transmits along the fixed wires to a network socket and then connect the equipment in that room to the appropriate network socket

The possible workaround for powerline across different mains circuits is:

  1. connect the wifi router to a powerline in a mains socket
  2. find two mains sockets each on different mains circuits but close enough to each other
  3. plug a powerline into each of those sockets,
  4. connect an Ethernet cable between the two powerlines
  5. connect a final powerline socket to your computer This is convoluted but might work
FlaviaAlbiaWantsLangClegBack · 24/10/2021 20:17

I was trying to make the explanation as simple as possible for the OP, I wasn't insulting the design of the powerlines Grin

LargeProsecco · 24/10/2021 22:15

Well, I have a success story!!

I was over at my mum's earlier & she had 2 WiFi extenders from Virgin which hadn't worked for her.

So I bought them home, plugged 1 in to the Hub using the Ethernet cable, paired them up & plugged the other in my bedroom.

Very simple & sorted! Thanks to all!

OP posts:
VladmirsPoutine · 24/10/2021 22:30

I need to bookmark this thread!!

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