Improving range in house for fibre ?

Wild Cape

Wild Cape

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2020
Messages
185
Reaction score
39
Our fibre router does not get to all the house. We use a TP link for some of the darker spots. However, we have recently laid a good Cat cable direct to the Smart TV. How should I tap off this cable to get better phone wifi reception in this area without disturbing the signal to the TV. Presumably some kind of two way splitter or repeater is needed or small box ?
 
Wild Cape said:
Our fibre router does not get to all the house. We use a TP link for some of the darker spots. However, we have recently laid a good Cat cable direct to the Smart TV. How should I tap off this cable to get better phone wifi reception in this area without disturbing the signal to the TV. Presumably some kind of two way splitter or repeater is needed or small box ?
Click to expand...
Put a WiFi router (AP) next to the TV. Existing cable goes to AP with patch cable from AP to TV.
 
I used an old ADSL router by the TV and some patch cables. You can also pick up some cheap wifi routers for under R300.

We use this one to boost the signal and connect a CCTV via LAN. It's OK but easy to setup and just needs a power cycle once a week.

Takealot.com: Online Shopping | SA's leading online store

South Africa's leading online store. Fast, reliable delivery to your door. Many ways to pay. Shop anything you can imagine: TVs, laptops, cellphones, kitchen appliances, toys, books, beauty & more. Shop the mobile app anytime, anywhere.
www.takealot.com www.takealot.com

1625311106824.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: rh1
Make sure you disable DHCP on any old routers before adding it or it will conflict with your main routers DHCP
 
  • Like
Reactions: rh1
Ok great, I know we have several old internet routers sitting about here, they are not fibre ones though so presume this makes no difference ? Our phones would then need to be linked with this router, would they then automatically alternate with the main fibre router when we in the area away from the TV ?
 
Wild Cape said:
Ok great, I know we have several old internet routers sitting about here, they are not fibre ones though so presume this makes no difference ? Our phones would then need to be linked with this router, would they then automatically alternate with the main fibre router when we in the area away from the TV ?
Click to expand...
It doesn't matter which router, it is basically only a switch with WIFI in this use case.

If there's absolutely no signal the mobile device will reconnect to the closest router, however, if there's some signal even if it's bad and the mobile device is still latched to the bad signal it won't drop on its own to reconnect to the closest router.

That's why a proper mesh access point system is preferable where multiple access points share the same Wifi SSID so you don't even really know which one you're connected to at any given time as you move through the house.
 
ok many thanks, will do the research on a proper mesh system ... we do have another TP link repeater in the back end of the house which seems to automatically take care of the signal when we are down there...
 
It'a a 3 aerial TP link AC 1750. It's about 50m away where it comes into the house from where the Cat cable goes to the Smart TV on the other side of the house ?
 
Wild Cape said:
It'a a 3 aerial TP link AC 1750. It's about 50m away where it comes into the house from where the Cat cable goes to the Smart TV on the other side of the house ?
Click to expand...
Sounds like a big house ;) If budget allows, mesh is certainly first prize. Otherwise a cheap router serving as an AP will do the job well too.
 
Cool, will definitely give it a go and keep you posted....
 
www.incredible.co.za

TP-Link Deco S4 WIFI Mesh System

Wi-Fi dead zone killer No more buffering Seamless roaming Parental control Simple Wi-Fi control Wi-Fi in every corner of your home 2 Years Warranty
www.incredible.co.za www.incredible.co.za

OK just to confirm so this would also replace having an old router at the tv and more ? I could just use one of these base stations connected to the Cat cable at the TV and split with the TV. Our main incoming fibre line is well away from the TV and hence laying a separate outside Cat cable to this side of the house which I now want to tap into. I would then use the others mesh stations in the worst reception areas ? So with the mesh system our phones or devices would automatically find which station is best and we would not have to do anything ? lol

Currently the fibre cat cable just has this junction box to the TV...
 

Attachments

  • a0160ce7-2c5c-4db5-a372-c4063083549f.jpg
    a0160ce7-2c5c-4db5-a372-c4063083549f.jpg
    216.9 KB · Views: 35
Wild Cape said:
www.incredible.co.za

TP-Link Deco S4 WIFI Mesh System

Wi-Fi dead zone killer No more buffering Seamless roaming Parental control Simple Wi-Fi control Wi-Fi in every corner of your home 2 Years Warranty
www.incredible.co.za www.incredible.co.za

OK just to confirm so this would also replace having an old router at the tv and more ? I could just use one of these base stations connected to the Cat cable at the TV and split with the TV. Our main incoming fibre line is well away from the TV and hence laying a separate outside Cat cable to this side of the house which I now want to tap into. I would then use the others mesh stations in the worst reception areas ? So with the mesh system our phones or devices would automatically find which station is best and we would not have to do anything ? lol

Currently the fibre cat cable just has this junction box to the TV...
Click to expand...
Correct. I'm not familiar with the Deco's, but you'll most likely be able to replace the fibre router too.

Trick with mesh, make sure to put any unwired nodes where they have good reception from the other nodes.
 
See below. Mesh is like a router with APs but it switches devices to strongest signal automatically. Various mesh systems. See eg

The AirTies thread

Figured we don't have one of these, so here's my initial review of the AirTies 4920 Triple Pack (TLDR - skip life story and scroll down to pictures :D) Link: https://www.nology.co.za/products/home-wi-fi/airties-ac1600-wireless-mesh-access-point-triple-pack-detail I bought from Smartkit...
r.tapatalk.com r.tapatalk.com

www.linksys.com

Linksys | Networking & WiFi Technology

Experience fast, reliable, secure and easy to use WiFi when you level up with connectivity solutions made for home, business, and enterprise from Linksys.
www.linksys.com www.linksys.com
 
Wild Cape said:
www.incredible.co.za

TP-Link Deco S4 WIFI Mesh System

Wi-Fi dead zone killer No more buffering Seamless roaming Parental control Simple Wi-Fi control Wi-Fi in every corner of your home 2 Years Warranty
www.incredible.co.za www.incredible.co.za

OK just to confirm so this would also replace having an old router at the tv and more ? I could just use one of these base stations connected to the Cat cable at the TV and split with the TV. Our main incoming fibre line is well away from the TV and hence laying a separate outside Cat cable to this side of the house which I now want to tap into. I would then use the others mesh stations in the worst reception areas ? So with the mesh system our phones or devices would automatically find which station is best and we would not have to do anything ? lol

Currently the fibre cat cable just has this junction box to the TV...
Click to expand...
If you don't have enough ports you can get a small 8 port gigabit switch. Run one long length to it and tap TV and AP off the switch.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X