Mesh Wi-Fi system recommendations

A

Agent47

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While planning the stages of my DIY smart home build I realised that the 2 furthest points in my house (kitchen to one side (20m from router) and main bedroom to the other side (16m from router) have wifi deadspots (expected this), I added a old DGN2200 netgear router via a tp-link powerline adapter to the living room to connect my media player, xbox and hikvision cameras (this works okish and i can access my media folders from my pc a fair bit away like this and want to continue to be able to do this) and a netis e1+ to the main bedroom as we use only wireless devices there (this is absolutely terrible).

I am now looking at a mesh wifi system (think I would need 3 units to make this work) and was looking for recommendations please?

Currently considering Tp-link Deco M4 (2 units) with a Deco M3W (1 unit) combo as this can do what I want and its not super expensive?

Thank you
 
"D" said:
(TP-Link Deco Mesh testimonials also included.)
Click to expand...

Don't bother. Maybe the top of the line ones are good but then you're already talking Ubiquiti money.

So don't bother.
 
Agent47 said:
Currently considering Tp-link Deco M4
Click to expand...

WiFi Mesh recommendation

I'm in need of getting more WiFi power into a room at the one end of the house, probably 15m in a straight line. Laying a cat cable is not ideal do mesh it is (hate this ISP issued DLink router anyway). I don't fiddle around on routers so looking for easy setup (PPPoE) and the usual basics...
mybroadband.co.za mybroadband.co.za

Long story short, I went from M4 to Ethernet Over Power and eventually just bought a much stronger WiFi router.
 
I have an AC LR downstairs and an AC Lite upstairs running off an EdgeRouter X SFP with 13 devices connected as we speak. The AC Lite is 2x2 MIMO and the AC LR is 3x3 MIMO and with 6 people in the house we share the airwaves harmoniously.
 
Agent47 said:
While planning the stages of my DIY smart home build I realised that the 2 furthest points in my house (kitchen to one side (20m from router) and main bedroom to the other side (16m from router) have wifi deadspots (expected this), I added a old DGN2200 netgear router via a tp-link powerline adapter to the living room to connect my media player, xbox and hikvision cameras (this works okish and i can access my media folders from my pc a fair bit away like this and want to continue to be able to do this) and a netis e1+ to the main bedroom as we use only wireless devices there (this is absolutely terrible).

I am now looking at a mesh wifi system (think I would need 3 units to make this work) and was looking for recommendations please?

Currently considering Tp-link Deco M4 (2 units) with a Deco M3W (1 unit) combo as this can do what I want and its not super expensive?

Thank you
Click to expand...

Should have added here I have a flat roof - so no hiding stuff in there or running cables in there for the roof mounted Ap's. Never thought I'd want a normal roof this much :(
 
Agent47 said:
While planning the stages of my DIY smart home build I realised that the 2 furthest points in my house (kitchen to one side (20m from router) and main bedroom to the other side (16m from router) have wifi deadspots (expected this), I added a old DGN2200 netgear router via a tp-link powerline adapter to the living room to connect my media player, xbox and hikvision cameras (this works okish and i can access my media folders from my pc a fair bit away like this and want to continue to be able to do this) and a netis e1+ to the main bedroom as we use only wireless devices there (this is absolutely terrible).

I am now looking at a mesh wifi system (think I would need 3 units to make this work) and was looking for recommendations please?

Currently considering Tp-link Deco M4 (2 units) with a Deco M3W (1 unit) combo as this can do what I want and its not super expensive?

Thank you
Click to expand...
deesef said:
Another direction to consider is to purchase 2 Ubiquity AC Lites. Mount then at 1/3 and at 2/3 of the length of the house. These are fantastic devices.
Click to expand...
This^ is probably the best bet.. did the same and just works and works and works and works....
 
Agent47 said:
Any idea on how i will do this in a flat roof setup without random cables everywhere?
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A regular wifi router / switch can be configured as a, .... sorry it is very difficult for me to say this ..... , a wifi extender. You would have to place it close enough to the main router to get a good wifi signal, but far enough away to cover the dead spots. That way you don't need cables between the routers/switches.

Another option is to put cables behind the cornis or skirting. There is normally plenty space back there.

I have also used acrylic caulking to run cables down the corner in a room. No need for bulky trunking and, unlike silicone, it is painable. If you do it really well (if you can caulk a basin well) it will be nicely hidden. I can't caulk very well so I won't embarrass myself by posting a picture.
 
Agent47 said:
Any idea on how i will do this in a flat roof setup without random cables everywhere? Or any chance they are battery operated?
Click to expand...
You can use cornice to hide the cables for 99% of the run.. or, less nice, run along the top of the skirting, with a trunking up the wall to the ceiling where the AP will be mounted..
 
Dairyfarmer said:
A regular wifi router / switch can be configured as a, .... sorry it is very difficult for me to say this ..... , a wifi extender. You would have to place it close enough to the main router to get a good wifi signal, but far enough away to cover the dead spots. That way you don't need cables between the routers/switches.

Another option is to put cables behind the cornis or skirting. There is normally plenty space back there.

I have also used acrylic caulking to run cables down the corner in a room. No need for bulky trunking and, unlike silicone, it is painable. If you do it really well (if you can caulk a basin well) it will be nicely hidden. I can't caulk very well so I won't embarrass myself by posting a picture.
Click to expand...

I sort of have this with the powerline adapter and the netgear router - my issues is (and maybe it because I am stupid as hell with these things) this router has its own ssid and i cannot secure it (maybe beacause the DGN2200 are very old?) so i switched off the wifi but the wired parts work well
 
Agent47 said:
Should have added here I have a flat roof - so no hiding stuff in there or running cables in there for the roof mounted Ap's. Never thought I'd want a normal roof this much :(
Click to expand...
Your rooms have corners? If so, use them
 
Agent47 said:
Any idea on how i will do this in a flat roof setup without random cables everywhere? Or any chance they are battery operated?
Click to expand...

You could do the Ubiquiti Amplifi then, costs more but gets you 99% there.

Otherwise you must have some existing conduits and stuff? Could mount them against the wall as well.

As was mentioned though you only need to get Ethernet (for power) to each unit and not necessarily between them as they can also mesh wirelessly.

Some pictures of your setup or drawings might help.
 
Has anyone had any experience with the MicroTik Audience product as a WiFi router or in a mesh setup
 
I got the new Linksys Velop MX10 mesh routers for my place a while a go and they're fantastic. Coverage is great and reliable. Used to get in excess of 900mbps download speeds on my Wifi 6 devices when we had gigabit fibre during lockdown. Decent app and support too.
 
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