Changing routers for better Wifi connection?

[Arex]

Hi, I am a noob in regards to routers and wifi,

So we have fiber installed from Vuma and we currently on a 50mbps line with Vox.
Speed and all is fine when using lan cables or wifi but there is a little trouble connecting to the Wi-fi if we are more than 8+- meters away.
While there may be some walls blocking some signal we were thinking that it might be there router being weak,

Is it possible to change the router into something stronger like those tp link archer modems? (not sure if it is even compatible, just looked up a popular modem name), Basically into something stronger or am I stuck with this modem? or is this modem actually good?

I know that there are those wifi extenders but I'd rather have those as a secondary choice.

 

[Totempole]

You can definitely change out your router for another one. Pretty much any router with a WAN port at the back is compatible. One thing to bear in mind is that Vuma locks the MAC Address of the first router that gets connected to the CPE.

Not a big deal since you can either get it reset with VUMA or just clone the old MAC address to the new router.

I can't really recommend any specific routers, since I'm a little outdated in that regard, but I'm sure there are plenty of good options out there for boosting your WiFi signal.

 

[wetkit]

Why do you need a router?
You already have a Microtik unit.
Perhaps look at an Ubiquity AP.
They have very good radio's.

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

Why do you need a router?
You already have a Microtik unit.
Perhaps look at an Ubiquity AP.
They have very good radio's.

^ This.

Hook up one or two (depending on the layout of your house) of these: https://scoop.co.za/ubiquiti-unifi-dual-band-ac-lite-ap-uap-ac-lite.html

These are very reliable and can be neatly ceiling mounted so they're nicely out of the way.

 

[Arex]

Why do you need a router?

I was thinking the signal on the microtik unit may be weak and I could essentially "upgrade" it to something stronger and more effective.

 

[Henry_S]

I was thinking the signal on the microtik unit may be weak and I could essentially "upgrade" it to something stronger and more effective.

It does have a weak signal. I had the same unit and replaced it with my own router. I went for the Asus RT-AC68U and it has really made the world of difference.

 

[irBosOtter]

I was thinking the signal on the microtik unit may be weak and I could essentially "upgrade" it to something stronger and more effective.

That Mikrotik does have crappy wifi yes, but better to add a AP than to replace the router, think Vox supplied you with that router right?

 

[Henry_S]

Is it possible to change the router into something stronger like those tp link archer modems? (not sure if it is even compatible, just looked up a popular modem name), Basically into something stronger or am I stuck with this modem? or is this modem actually good?

Any router that has a RJ45 WAN connection will work.

 

[ArtyLoop]

You can definitely change out your router for another one. Pretty much any router with a WAN port at the back is compatible. One thing to bear in mind is that Vuma locks the MAC Address of the first router that gets connected to the CPE.

Not a big deal since you can either get it reset with VUMA or just clone the old MAC address to the new router.

I can't really recommend any specific routers, since I'm a little outdated in that regard, but I'm sure there are plenty of good options out there for boosting your WiFi signal.

TP Link Archer is not bad at all, certainly better than a lot of the crap on the market these days.

 

[Henry_S]

That Mikrotik does have crappy wifi yes, but better to add a AP than to replace the router, think Vox supplied you with that router right?

Why? The router is locked down and you cant configure it in any way.

 

[irBosOtter]

Why? The router is locked down and you cant configure it in any way.

Why what? You don't need to config it if you add your own AP...

 

[Henry_S]

Why what?

Why is it better to add an AP than to replace the router?

 

[irBosOtter]

Why is it better to add an AP than to replace the router?

Cause then you have to go through the hassle of getting your own router on the network and Vox does not like that, they want you to stick with their crappy supplied router. If you add your own AP then you don't have to go through the hassle of cloning your MAC, and not all routers can clone a MAC address either.... so easiest will be to just add a AP

 

[Henry_S]

Cause then you have to go through the hassle of getting your own router on the network and Vox does not like that, they want you to stick with their crappy supplied router. If you add your own AP then you don't have to go through the hassle of cloning your MAC, and not all routers can clone a MAC address either.... so easiest will be to just add a AP

I didn't have any hassle at all. I just unplugged the Mikrotik, plugged the Asus in and it worked straight away.

 

[irBosOtter]

I didn't have any hassle at all. I just unplugged the Mikrotik, plugged the Asus in and it worked straight away.

Some people are not that lucky, some are locked down to the MAC address unfortunately.

 

[Henry_S]

Some people are not that lucky, some are locked down to the MAC address unfortunately.

I've got exactly the same CPE as in the OP's photo as well as the Vuma/Vox connection, so it might work for him too.

 

[irBosOtter]

I've got exactly the same CPE as in the OP's photo as well as the Vuma/Vox connection, so it might work for him too.

Same here, mine is locked down though, had to clone my MAC when I changed routers