Need a new WIFI router solution

Cius

Cius

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So the free router I got from afrihost is increasingly temperamental and does not seem able to provide more than 8 devices an internet connection. This is not also messing with my inverter as it needs a steady connection to track data on the portal and it keeps getting dropped. Even when connecting to my router via LAN cable it is temperamental and I have to try multiple times to save settings.

So time for an upgrade! I live in a two story house and up stairs gets almost no signal from downstairs through the slab so I have a cable running up there and an old free telkom router as a slave up there that I cannot alter in any way (so only the default SSID's and passwords can be used), but kind of works. Not opposed to replacing it as well if there is a decent option (mesh??) that comes as a package. Would love to have the same SSID throughout my house as now I keep having to manually tell my phone etc to connect to the stronger one when up stairs vs down.

I also want a router with some range as my inverter is outside in the laundry through a few walls. I would prefer to not have to set up a dedicated wifi device for it. The 2.4Ghz band seems to reach that room OK but routers that are highly rated for signal strength would be a plus. I also have my Mi Box close to the main router so dual band would also be a plus with the closer devices being dedicated on the 5GHz band. An absolute requirement is that the router needs to be able to handle 20+ connections. More and more things need to be on the wifi and the current limit of 8 is ridiculous.

So what can you guys recommend that is not breaking the bank?
 
Was in the same situation in December. I also have a two story house and had major wifi issues with the Afrihost router.

Got a TP link Deco M4 with two units. Works like an absolute charm. I have a lot of devices in my house and the two stations eat them up. Pretty much get my fibre line speed in every single room of my house.

https://www.takealot.com/tp-link-decom4-2-pack-ac1200-whole-home-wifi-system/PLID54517085

Once you get it, just use it and turn off your old wifi network to reduce interference.
 
Cius said:
So the free router I got from afrihost is increasingly temperamental and does not seem able to provide more than 8 devices an internet connection. This is not also messing with my inverter as it needs a steady connection to track data on the portal and it keeps getting dropped. Even when connecting to my router via LAN cable it is temperamental and I have to try multiple times to save settings.

So time for an upgrade! I live in a two story house and up stairs gets almost no signal from downstairs through the slab so I have a cable running up there and an old free telkom router as a slave up there that I cannot alter in any way (so only the default SSID's and passwords can be used), but kind of works. Not opposed to replacing it as well if there is a decent option (mesh??) that comes as a package. Would love to have the same SSID throughout my house as now I keep having to manually tell my phone etc to connect to the stronger one when up stairs vs down.

I also want a router with some range as my inverter is outside in the laundry through a few walls. I would prefer to not have to set up a dedicated wifi device for it. The 2.4Ghz band seems to reach that room OK but routers that are highly rated for signal strength would be a plus. I also have my Mi Box close to the main router so dual band would also be a plus with the closer devices being dedicated on the 5GHz band. An absolute requirement is that the router needs to be able to handle 20+ connections. More and more things need to be on the wifi and the current limit of 8 is ridiculous.

So what can you guys recommend that is not breaking the bank?
Click to expand...
Another one. You can mesh them... https://ax3.afrihost.com/
 
konfab said:
Was in the same situation in December. I also have a two story house and had major wifi issues with the Afrihost router.

Got a TP link Deco M4 with two units. Works like an absolute charm. I have a lot of devices in my house and the two stations eat them up. Pretty much get my fibre line speed in every single room of my house.

https://www.takealot.com/tp-link-decom4-2-pack-ac1200-whole-home-wifi-system/PLID54517085

Once you get it, just use it and turn off your old wifi network to reduce interference.
Click to expand...
How would one go about doing this? I also have a Deco mesh system but the original Afrihost connection is still active?
 
Gudnews said:
How would one go about doing this? I also have a Deco mesh system but the original Afrihost connection is still active?
Click to expand...
Once you have your deco plugged into the old router, you need to login to your router's admin page, go to the wifi settings and turn off the wifi from there. If it has 5GHz, you need to turn that off as well.

I am still using the Afrihost router as a router, but it isn't broadcasting anything.
 
I recently migrated to Afrihost and took their free Huawei AX3 router. As it's Wifi 6, the wifi speed is much better than the 3 year old TP-Link router that RSAWeb gave me originally.

The range on the router is however worse and I couldn't pick up the wifi upstairs. Luckily I have an existing ethernet cable running up there. I just bought a Huawei WS5200 from Takealot @ R 499 and it works like a charm. Just plugged it in and works as a repeater upstairs. Luckily did not have to make any changes to settings as that might have challenged my limited IT related skills.

For me this worked out much cheaper than a proper mesh kit.
 
The AX3 should be able to handle more than 8 device connections, are you sure the DHCP range is not limited? That would be first prize in terms of client connectivity.

There is also an option to increase signal strength though getting a 2nd Huawei and meshing them might be better. Have you pinged the afrihost support here for assistance?

Try those 2 and see if that doesn't help before getting a whole new system
 
TP Link AX73

I run two of them as access points atm in your classic three story Dutch house (one ground, one top floor) and the middle floor has decent coverage (same SSID).

I used to run a single one as the main router before the move. Great router to be honest. Combined/clever SSID for both 2.4 and 5GHz is very convenient as well.

EDIT: mind you it's dual band, if you can fork out for a tri band router that's obviously better (AX90).

EDIT 2: Although forking out that much with wifi 7 coming soon...
 
For a good budget router, I'd recommend the Asus RT-AC58U & a 2nd unit for a mesh network. I bought one recently as I needed something with the same range but less power draw than my old Asus & I have had no issues with it thus far. R820 @ Computermania, possibly cheaper if you shop around.
 
Katelknaap said:
I recently migrated to Afrihost and took their free Huawei AX3 router. As it's Wifi 6, the wifi speed is much better than the 3 year old TP-Link router that RSAWeb gave me originally.

The range on the router is however worse and I couldn't pick up the wifi upstairs. Luckily I have an existing ethernet cable running up there. I just bought a Huawei WS5200 from Takealot @ R 499 and it works like a charm. Just plugged it in and works as a repeater upstairs. Luckily did not have to make any changes to settings as that might have challenged my limited IT related skills.

For me this worked out much cheaper than a proper mesh kit.
Click to expand...
If both Huawei routers has the H button on top it'll mesh.
 
Greg_M said:
Recently tried that, but (for some reason) the Deco just wouldn't authenticate with the ISP... :(
Click to expand...
For some reason the Deco's don't allow the Afrihost redirect page to show (where you enter in your OTP). It can be done manually via AH support and you only do it once. Otherwise Deco mesh systems are the way forward IMHO
 
Are these mesh systems really better than running access points and creating your own "mesh".

Unless the mesh you are going with has a wired back haul and available Ethernet ports I doubt it.
 
Hamster said:
Are these mesh systems really better than running access points and creating your own "mesh".

Unless the mesh you are going with has a wired back haul and available Ethernet ports I doubt it.
Click to expand...
Depends on your skill level and willingness to crawl through ceilings etc.

I am an average skill networking DIY wannabe and tried the DIY Mesh system - unless you buy a very specific type of router and know how to configure it as an AP, MESH is just much better. Also consider that for some mesh units, you have a dedicated app whereby you configure the satelite units and monitor/adjust your network as needed...no need to login via IP address etc.
Lastly, MESH units also have MIMO and are basically plug & play and the cost of a decent 2nd hand system is well worth the investment.
 
Hamster said:
Are these mesh systems really better than running access points and creating your own "mesh".

Unless the mesh you are going with has a wired back haul and available Ethernet ports I doubt it.
Click to expand...
Yes. Biggest win for me is the seamless handover between nodes.
 
Speedster said:
Yes. Biggest win for me is the seamless handover between nodes.
Click to expand...
Mesh wins hands down! I've got the el'cheapo tp-link deco's 5 nodes throughout my house , its an older house with double walls, and pretty much have 200+Mbps through out the house

The other upside is no switching between 2.4/5Ghz, its all handled automatically on a single SSID
 
Hamster said:
Are these mesh systems really better than running access points and creating your own "mesh".

Unless the mesh you are going with has a wired back haul and available Ethernet ports I doubt it.
Click to expand...
Obviously existing wired backhaul is going to be the best, but them acting as wireless repeaters works well too.
 
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