Recommendation for Wi-Fi extender?

Post #440,443 by drook 12/7/21 8:50:03 PM 12/7/21 8:50:03 PM Reply	Recommendation for Wi-Fi extender? Currently using the U-verse supplied router in the back room on the first floor. There's one bedroom on the front of the second floor and a desk in the basement that have weak/flaky connection, so I only need one extra point somewhere in the middle of the house. Easy setup and low cost rate higher than super range. Suggestions? -- Drew
Post #440,444 by boxley 12/7/21 9:17:35 PM 12/7/21 9:17:35 PM Reply	cheap wireless router and a long cat5 cable "Science is the belief in the ignorance of the experts" – Richard Feynman
Post #440,445 by drook 12/7/21 9:35:36 PM 12/7/21 9:35:36 PM Reply	Nowhere I can run it Besides, wouldn't that show up as a second network? -- Drew
Post #440,447 by Another Scott 12/7/21 11:31:33 PM 12/7/21 11:31:33 PM Reply	I tried doing things like that years ago. I never could get it working seamlessly. I had 2 network names and it was a pain moving through the house. Mesh stuff is the way to go, but I don't know if you don't want to spend that much now. We got a 3 pack of TP-Link Deco M5 pucks in 2017, and added 3 more in 2018. One is with the cable modem, one is in J's office with an ethernet switch, one is in my office with an ethernet switch, one is in our family room with an ethernet switch for our TV, Chromecast, etc., and a couple more are scattered through the house to improve the coverage in the basement and in a far bedroom. It's not the fastest thing now, but it's seamless and painless. The smartphone app works well. HTH a little. Good luck! Cheers, Scott.
Post #440,449 by drook 12/8/21 12:06:44 AM 12/8/21 12:06:44 AM Reply	Yup, that's what I'm looking for Going to check specs and latest models. Thanks. -- Drew
Post #440,450 by pwhysall 12/8/21 1:39:54 AM 12/8/21 1:39:54 AM Reply	Go mesh, not extender
Post #440,453 by drook 12/8/21 10:14:28 AM 12/8/21 10:14:28 AM Reply	Thought they were synonyms, got a pointer to explain the difference? -- Drew
Post #440,465 by pwhysall 12/8/21 2:32:19 PM 12/8/21 2:32:19 PM Reply	Sure do https://www.signalboosters.com/blog/wifi-extender-vs-mesh-network-whats-the-difference/
Post #440,466 by drook 12/8/21 4:39:23 PM 12/8/21 4:39:23 PM Reply	Cool, just ordered https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MDZ8G4T -- Drew
Post #440,471 by pwhysall 12/9/21 3:10:31 AM 12/9/21 3:10:31 AM Reply	Interested to hear how you get on with it
Post #440,454 by malraux 12/8/21 10:28:14 AM 12/8/21 10:28:14 AM Reply	We have a Netgear Orbi One base and one satellite. I can get 300+Mb on my phone up in the den. Mesh, meaning there's a single network and a back channel is used to relay the extended signals back to the router, which helps bandwidth. Extenders (usually) create two networks and can make slow-downs worse since they typically repeat everything they hear back to the base. Regards, -scott Welcome to Rivendell, Mr. Anderson.
Post #440,455 by drook 12/8/21 10:48:40 AM 12/8/21 10:48:40 AM Reply	I don't understand how "back channel" is different from "repeat everything they hear" But the key point seems to be the term "mesh" in the description. Should be enough to make a selection. -- Drew
Post #440,456 by malraux 12/8/21 10:52:38 AM 12/8/21 10:52:38 AM Reply	Dedicated vs. using the common bandwidth Repeaters double up on bandwidth usage by, well, repeating over the public channel to the base. Back channel is dedicated to remote usage and doesn't eat up the public channel. Note: Not all mesh has a back channel. Regards, -scott Welcome to Rivendell, Mr. Anderson.

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