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Original poster

Mesh Wifi

16 replies

Iamblossom · 19/10/2020 07:48

Has anyone installed it to improve on the signal they get all around their property, and if so which one did you get and would you recommend? Was it straightforward to install? Did it just use your existing router /network?

Thanks in advance.

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Ginfordinner · 19/10/2020 07:52

Do you mean a Wi-Fi extender?

We have a TP Link plug in extender in our bedroom, and I have a TP Link plug in ethernet cable in my office as I work from home now. They work very well.

OnCandyStripeLegs · 19/10/2020 07:57

TP Deco. The M5 I think. Yeah it improves signal around the house. I think the router plugs into one of them then we have 2 more around the house. It was dead easy to install - it plugs into the existing router - the hardest bit was re-attaching the 35 devices we have to it as they all needed to link to the new wifi name and password. We didn't used to get wifi at the upstairs at back of the house at all and now DS is gaming up there.

It works like a dream, you can adjust what has priority my phone and make up profiles and parental controls and bedtimes/screen times and all sorts. The only thing weve never managed to get it to do is not see the external hard drive back up as some sort of virus attack. Every night it tries to back up and every night the Deco thwarts the attack and joyfully tells me it has done so expecting a pet on the back.

Original poster
Iamblossom · 19/10/2020 09:29

Thanks @Ginfordinner no I have one of those already, it's rubbish here! Grin

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Original poster
Iamblossom · 19/10/2020 09:30

@OnCandyStripeLegs ooh thanks so much will deffo look into this. I read that the reasons extenders don't work is they actually half the signal strength whilst extending it but mesh are actual additional WiFi network points?

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Hohohole · 19/10/2020 09:36

All I know is that they Google mesh won't work with a sky router.

Original poster
Iamblossom · 19/10/2020 11:10

I've actually bitten the bullet and booked for someone to come round and do it all for me on Friday. I thought £80 for the service plus the hardware I require (maybe none if they can get the extender I have working properly) was worth it, after the time it has taken to get to where I am right now!

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species5618 · 19/10/2020 14:11

I see you've ordered a set but I'll just chip in and say I've used the BT mesh system in a friends house. They literally could not get a signal outside of their office to the rest of the house. With 3 extenders (which work with any provider) the signal now broadcasts all around the house including into the loft. Not cheap, but short of wiring into every room it 's been a good solution

Original poster
Iamblossom · 19/10/2020 17:59

@species5618 so are they using a mesh or extenders?

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ivftake1 · 19/10/2020 18:00

We have the google mesh, it's great. We're in an Edwardian house so thick walls etc. Works for us

species5618 · 19/10/2020 20:42

A good question as you see them advertised at quite different prices on Amazon for example.
The ones my friend had were mesh as they used the same SSID as the router SSID and cost about £200 at the time if I remember correctly.
You do see them advertised for around £80 but I suspect they may be just extenders.
I believe - but don't quote me - that if you're with BT you can get a deal on the price.
The ones we used were AC1200 rated which I thought might have been a bit low (for the type of house etc) but were actually fine.

species5618 · 19/10/2020 20:56

Should have said that was in reply to Iamblossom

sosotired1 · 19/10/2020 21:01

I set one up myself by buying an extra two used routers on eBay. It cost about £20 and literally took about an hour to do. You just need to check if your router allows it (I just found the info. and how to do it with a quick google).

Elephantscantfly · 19/10/2020 21:06

We have a BT Mesh used with a talk talk router, much better for us than the tp link system that we used to have. Great signal and doesn’t drop service as you walk around. No buffering/freezing, worth the extra 😀

CruelAndUnusualParenting · 20/10/2020 08:39

I had a BT Mesh, which was great until they released an update which caused no end of problems. It took them 6 months to release a "fix", which didn't actually improve anything. I returned it and replaced it with a Deco M5 set which has been trouble free and provides 100% coverage through the house and garden.

Original poster
Iamblossom · 20/10/2020 10:23

@sosotired1 this got me excited and I fired up the old router but then got bamboozled by the instructions saying deactivate this and reactivate that 🙄🙄🙄

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Original poster
Iamblossom · 26/10/2020 12:56

Would you believe that my wifi extender worked in our garden room once I moved it from a plug on the far wall to a plug on the near wall? The difference being the signal had to travel into the tv and out again on the far wall but didn't on the near wall. This piece of advice cost me £80. 😂😂

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