Help me find the right mesh wifi solution

[hj2k_x]

Good people, I'm hoping someone can assist with a mesh wifi issue I'm having.

Trying to stretch the wifi signal in our house from downstairs (where it is strong) to upstairs (where it is intermittent / non existent) is proving difficult.

I have tried the cheapest mesh wifi solution. These pods from Mercursys:http://www.mercusys.co.za/product/details/halo-s3(2-pack). They were good value - 4 pods for just over 1000 bucks from Takealot. I thought they would relay the signal to each other, so you have one connected to the router via lan cable, then the next one connects to that one, and the next one connects to that in a kind of daisy-chain, but it seems all the nodes connect back to the main node which is connected to the router, so the max distance from the main node cannot be too far otherwise the signal is weak / unreliable.

I've managed to connect a powerline adapter as well. This one here: https://www.incredible.co.za/tp-lin...gAFqqqgQnP2_R1l8ihiPT1WsI-r6C0FBoCZ8cQAvD_BwE. That will give me a mostly reliable wired connection upstairs (currently plugged into a Mi Box) and a slightly more reliable wifi connection upstairs (albeit by connecting to the powerline adapter directly via wifi, not the unified mesh wifi setup)

Long story slightly shorter-I see the mesh wifi solutions range in price up to almost 10 grand for a premium solution. Our house is quite large and old, with thick walls and various things which interfere with wifi signal. Is it worth throwing some more money at the problem and buying a better mesh wifi solution? Any recommendations?

Supersonic (from whom I get my fibre) have some kind of offering involving Plume https://www.plume.com/ which also seems quite pricey and has a monthly subscription fee.

I see there are powerline mesh wifi hybrid solutions available (in the US at least). Anyone try any of those out?

 

[TheMightyQuinn]

Run a cable upstairs and slap a UniFi AP on the end.

Done...

 

[Messugga]

Unifi's mesh solution has pretty solid performance. Of course, not the cheapest.

 

[hj2k_x]

Run a cable upstairs and slap a UniFi AP on the end.

Done...

Like these? https://www.senetic.co.za/ubiquiti/...2VpiGk6SRvA4tcEXnYYz3kOoNWyfo2xoC1EUQAvD_BwE

 

[Geoff.D]

It depends on what your requirements are. The simplest and cheapest solution is a wired network of APs all connecting back to the main router. Perfect for static devices. If you want mobility with no loss of connectivity when devices move around in the home then a mesh is required..
Start with writing down what your requirements are first.

 

[drew137]

I got the TP-Link DECO M4 and it's fine for the price, the web interface is a bit shitty but otherwise good value for money.

Limited admin options as well, so if you like mess about with settings this isn't the system for you...

 

[hj2k_x]

It depends on what your requirements are. The simplest and cheapest solution is a wired network of APs all connecting back to the main router. Perfect for static devices. If you want mobility with no loss of connectivity when devices move around in the home then a mesh is required..
Start with writing down what your requirements are first.

Mobility without loss of connectivity, together with some wired devices which don't move around (like MI Boxes)

The crawl space in the ceiling is kind of hard to access but I guess I could run a long lan cable (when lockdown ends and these can be bought) direct from the router upstairs into the rest of the rooms upstairs...

 

[TheMightyQuinn]

It depends on what your requirements are. The simplest and cheapest solution is a wired network of APs all connecting back to the main router. Perfect for static devices. If you want mobility with no loss of connectivity when devices move around in the home then a mesh is required..
Start with writing down what your requirements are first.

No...it's not.

 

[TheMightyQuinn]

Like these? https://www.senetic.co.za/ubiquiti/...W2VpiGk6SRvA4tcEXnYYz3kOoNWyfo2xoC1EUQAvD_BwE

Rather shop here:

Ubiquiti UniFi | Scoop

UniFi Access Points leverage the UniFi Network Application to provide a robust feature set while integrating seamlessly with other products within the UniFi ecosystem. The wide range of Wifi 5 and 6 access points provides solutions for any installation size with enterprise-level features.

scoop.co.za

 

[TheMightyQuinn]

Mobility without loss of connectivity, together with some wired devices which don't move around (like MI Boxes)

The crawl space in the ceiling is kind of hard to access but I guess I could run a long lan cable (when lockdown ends and these can be bought) direct from the router upstairs into the rest of the rooms upstairs...

If you use the correct Ubiquity solution, you will not need anything else when moving around the house.

One or two of these Ubiquiti UniFi Dual Band AC Lite AP | UAP-AC-LITE and you're golden.

 

[Messugga]

No...it's not.

Yip, a mesh isn't required for mobility at all. How well handover is executed depends on the devices, however.

 

[hj2k_x]

If you use the correct Ubiquity solution, you will not need anything else when moving around the house.

One or two of these Ubiquiti UniFi Dual Band AC Lite AP | UAP-AC-LITE and you're golden.

Connected via lan cable to the main router or connected via WiFi to the main router? Forgive me if these are stupid questions...

 

[AlmightyBender]

No...it's not.

Yip, a mesh isn't required for mobility at all. How well handover is executed depends on the devices, however.

Gents would you mind explaining why not and how to achieve it effectively without a mesh? Wi-Fi noob here and I really don't get this stuff. Networks is my tech Achilles Heel
Maybe the answer will help others as well.

 

[WAslayer]

Gents would you mind explaining why not and how to achieve it effectively without a mesh? Wi-Fi noob here and I really don't get this stuff. Networks is my tech Achilles Heel
Maybe the answer will help others as well.

Well, in terms of hardware to Ike the unifi's suggested here, they have the ability to adopt settings from a single controller device.. so you have two or more of these around the house, connected to your router via ethernet and they will all broadcast the same SSID.. your devices (device depending) can seamlessly switch as it's moved around your house..

Ubiquity also offers an AP that can connect via WiFi to the nearest ethernet connected unifi AP, to expand your WiFi without needing to run cables..

Ubiquity is great..

 

[hj2k_x]

Well, in terms of hardware to Ike the unifi's suggested here, they have the ability to adopt settings from a single controller device.. so you have two or more of these around the house, connected to your router via ethernet and they will all broadcast the same SSID.. your devices (device depending) can seamlessly switch as it's moved around your house..

Ubiquity also offers an AP that can connect via WiFi to the nearest ethernet connected unifi AP, to expand your WiFi without needing to run cables..

Ubiquity is great..

And what about powerline adapters that are also mesh wifi hybrids? Then you wouldn't need to run cables to any of the nodes... Any experience with these? https://www.tp-link.com/za/home-networking/deco/deco-p9(3-pack)/?utm_medium=select-local

 

[WAslayer]

And what about powerline adapters that are also mesh wifi hybrids? Then you wouldn't need to run cables to any of the nodes... Any experience with these? https://www.tp-link.com/za/home-networking/deco/deco-p9(3-pack)/?utm_medium=select-local

I have zero experience with these but, from reading other peoples experiences, they can work okay or be completely horrible.. there is a large dependence on how exactly your DB board is wired up and your plug points etc, that will dictate how well it will work..

In short, I can't say they are good, I can't say they are bad and I definitely can't recommend them either..

 

[hj2k_x]

I have zero experience with these but, from reading other peoples experiences, they can work okay or be completely horrible.. there is a large dependence on how exactly your DB board is wired up and your plug points etc, that will dictate how well it will work..

In short, I can't say they are good, I can't say they are bad and I definitely can't recommend them either..

Fair enough. That's pretty much what I've been reading as well. No idea how this big old house is wired, to be honest...

 

[ElixirCoder]

And what about powerline adapters that are also mesh wifi hybrids? Then you wouldn't need to run cables to any of the nodes... Any experience with these? https://www.tp-link.com/za/home-networking/deco/deco-p9(3-pack)/?utm_medium=select-local

From personal experience, the power line stuff just doesn't work well and the devices are always finicky (I got tired of replacing them and reconfiguring them over and over and over).

I have a Ubiquiti setup (1x cloud controller, 1x 24 Port PoE UniFi Switch and 3 x UniFi APs powered by PoE) + a 3KVA UPS (keeps it all up during load shedding) and have zero connectivity issues. Although not *required*, I will definitely recommend the cloud key if you go with the Ubiquiti setup.

Yeah, you'll need to run ethernet cables, but it's definitely worth it IMHO.

 

[drew137]

I get around 200-300mbps using only the WiFi backhaul on the TP-Link DECO units. The units have 2 x gigabit ports so for those wired devices it was a no brainer.

I had the power line solution and it was kak I assume because the house is pretty old.

Most of the devices are wireless apart from the TX, X-Box and CCTV. So overall even with all the phones and tablets connected still seems to be stable.

 

[Mista_Mobsta]

I recently went with the Netgear Orbi RBK22 (dual) system

Really helped to increase the coverage in the house - I had two AP's (older Asus AC750's) connected to main router via cables but the Wi-Fi coverage was piss poor and I had to frequently reset the AP's as the signal would drop with no explanation.

Also have an older single-story house with many walls and a 1000m2 erf and the wi-fi coverage across the property is great. Only issue I find with this Mesh system is you can't designate a 2.4ghz or 5ghz signal to specific IoT devices (sonoff/shelly etc) so you have to be creative on how to setup these devices.

Best of all, you don't need to have cables between the two ORBIs - only connect Orbi AP to router and add the satellite wherever signal is best.

Granted the interface is a bit lackluster but the remote management is a big plus! Setup is dead easy.