Boosting WiFi through a slab

Cius

Cius

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Hey Guys

Hoping for some views on an issue I have. We have a two story unit with a thick slab separating the bottom floor from the top floor. The issue I have is that on the ground floor WiFi reception is great but we struggle to get anything upstairs. The signal seems to handle walls fine but not that slab. My wife can happily stream youtube 15 meters from our house on the other side of the complex pool which is a horizontal 15m away from the router but in my bedroom perhaps 6m from the router I get nothing.

What has worked best for people trying to solve this issue? As I understand it there are three main options.

1. Simple WiFi range extender. Those boxes that pick up and boost the signal they get. Not sure if it will work as it also won't have great reception through the slab.

2. Power line based booster system: As I understand it these use your power lines to boost signal and have a device you wire up to your router and plug in at the main router and the booster can be plugged into any wall socket (for me upstairs). This one appeals to me but I have heard it does not work for all electrical systems.

3. A second WiFi router linked by network cable. This would obviously be a solid option but getting the wiring up through the slab would be difficult. Hence me wanting to avoid this option. I hate cabling.

So what would you guys recommend? Also did I miss an option? Any advice on brand etc would also be welcome.
 
Cius said:
3. A second WiFi router linked by network cable. This would obviously be a solid option but getting the wiring up through the slab would be difficult. Hence me wanting to avoid this option. I hate cabling.
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Just get a Hilti drill or hire one. They have drill bits a meter long if needed. The longest concrete drill I have for my Hilti is about 60cm long.
 
Thanks all for the replies. Guess I need to get cabling! I may avoid drilling the slab and instead run it outside, up into the roof, and down from there. Will have to look and see.
 
By far the best option as others have said, is cable.
Failing that Powerline can work but the plug sockets must be on the same phase and no multiplugs or surge protectors in line between the Powerline devices.

Failing that a really big hole in the floor should help to get the wifi upstairs. JK

Maybe you can get a wall mounted AP in the stairwell, that has line of sight to where you need signal upstairs?
 
Done plenty of installs of nr2 in similar houses. Just don't expect gigabit speeds.
Fine for SA internet in general

Nr3 of course is guaranteed perrormance
 
Had the same problem, moved the router closer to the window, in my scenario it was because it was the middle of the house but in a corner of the room under the stairs. So moving it further away it worked much better something about interference.... not sure how but now i can pick up signal other end of property which is also one level higher.
get about 60-70% signal
 
So I am still sitting with this issue but have been hearing a lot of good things about Ubiquity AP's. I assume they just replace my existing router correct? For those familiar with them any particular model I should aim at to boost the signal through my floor slab?
 
Cius said:
So I am still sitting with this issue but have been hearing a lot of good things about Ubiquity AP's. I assume they just replace my existing router correct? For those familiar with them any particular model I should aim at to boost the signal through my floor slab?
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No Ubiquity AP will help in your case. The slab is just too thick for any wifi signal from any wifi technology or vendor to 'solve' the issue.
What about routing a cable along the edges and out through the external wall and then back in to the section you need another AP at?
 
Cius said:
So I am still sitting with this issue but have been hearing a lot of good things about Ubiquity AP's. I assume they just replace my existing router correct? For those familiar with them any particular model I should aim at to boost the signal through my floor slab?
Click to expand...

Not gonna help.
 
OK, did a bit more reading. Even if the AP reaches through the slab its fairly useless as internet is two way and your upstairs device can't necessarily broadcast back to the AP. Hence I am back to running cable.

I can go the long way which will be a serious pain in the neck, or drill through the slab in which case it will be very central at a good spot for an AP upstairs. Just nervous about drilling through the slab.
 
Cius said:
OK, did a bit more reading. Even if the AP reaches through the slab its fairly useless as internet is two way and your upstairs device can't necessarily broadcast back to the AP. Hence I am back to running cable.

I can go the long way which will be a serious pain in the neck, or drill through the slab in which case it will be very central at a good spot for an AP upstairs. Just nervous about drilling through the slab.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't even consider drilling through the slab and potentially compromising the structural integrity.
Go the long way :giggle:
 
Cius said:
OK, did a bit more reading. Even if the AP reaches through the slab its fairly useless as internet is two way and your upstairs device can't necessarily broadcast back to the AP. Hence I am back to running cable.

I can go the long way which will be a serious pain in the neck, or drill through the slab in which case it will be very central at a good spot for an AP upstairs. Just nervous about drilling through the slab.
Click to expand...
Powerline aka Homeplug is a decent alternative generally
 
PsyWulf said:
Powerline aka Homeplug is a decent alternative generally
Click to expand...
I'm in a complex of 72 units, so I suspect I may have very noisy power lines as we are all essentially on the same grid after the municipal box. Hence if even one of my 71 neighbors have one I doubt mine would work. Did consider it but would prefer to test it out before I bought and don't really have access to a set to test it out. Have just read that for electric systems in complex's like mine it seldom works as well.
 
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