Which plug in wi-if extender is best to install for Plusnet Hub 2?

[#1]

I’ve just switched from BT FFTP broadband to Plusnet moving from 70 to 140MBPS at a cheaper rate. I thought I could connect my BT wi-fi disk to the Plusnet hub to extend the range. This hasn’t worked, I’ve tried all the options, but it won’t connect. This means we can’t watch Sky Q upstairs and the wi-fi connection is weak upstairs. 
I’m happy to buy a new plug in wi-fi extender, but would like to know the best option please? Many thanks, Chris

[#2]

@Cm42749 

Can't help with extenders but have you considered getting someone in to run an external ethernet cable terminated at wall sockets. This would give you a solid starting point upstairs and is not technology dependant.

Not the cheapest option but it might add value to the house.

Brian

[#3]

Similar problem, our bungalow is traditional build of brick and block with router in our home office at one end, no signal for lounge at the other. Devolo was hard to set up and failed in about 18 months, nephew had similar experience, replaced with TP Link and we're very satisfied with result on 80/20 FTTP. TV was iffy on wifi although extender is beside it, use short ethernet cable and can watch 4000 TV while browsing our two iPads. (Don't ask ...)

If you can install cable as suggested I would do so, can't be bothered messing about with wifi through walls etc.

[#4]

@Cm42749  Welcome to the Plusnet Community Fora.

All WiFi extenders will work after a fashion (apart from the BT satellite designed to only be compatible with BT Smarthubs), as will powerline converters. The fact that you have a Plusnet hub is irrelevant.

As has been said, to get a reliable high speed connection you should go for Ethernet cabling with a wireless access point upstairs should you need a wireless connection.

Moderator's note:
Thread moved from Full Fibre to My Router

[#5]

I too live in a traditional bungalow, circa 1950s. Bungalows tend to have a larger footprint than a similar house with the same number of bedrooms.

My solution which has been very successful was to mount an ‘extender’ – in my case my previous TP Link router in the loft as central as possible, connected to the modem/router via an ethernet cable. The result is a good WiFi signal everywhere inside and a useable signal in the garden.

This of course depends on if you can route a network cable to the loft easily and what power you have available there. The point is the signal generally only has to pass through the plasterboard ceilings rather than (in my case) solid BRICK walls.

[#6]

Thanks for your suggestions. I’m looking for a plug in solution, equivalent or better than the BT disc which worked ok. Plusnet don’t have an equivalent device to boost the signal and I don’t wish to run any Ethernet cables, just find the best wi-fi extender that a Plusnet user has successfully installed to resolve a similar problem. Hopefully there’s someone out there who has solved this issue and which plug in extender did they use?

[#7]

What sort of "BT disk" did you have?

Also what sort of BT router did you have and did BT want it back?

You may be able to make the BT system or part of it work with the Plusnet fibre service. 

[#8]

If the BT system can't be made to work I might look at either 

• TP-Link Deco M5
• Linksys Velop WiFi 6 AX4200

You want a mesh system, the number of units depends on size and construction of the property.

Older Linksys units are fairly cheap secondhand at CEX.

I've found the Apple Airport units also work well as a mesh and can be found fairly cheaply.

[#9]

Thanks Mark for your help and answering my question

[#10]

It is best to use a wired backhaul connection between mesh nodes, any drop of speed due to weak wireless signal will be reflected on the remote node. The speed of devices connected to the remote node can not be any faster than the backhaul connection link.

[#11]

I've got the BT Hub with 2 discs which is fine for the house but not the garden room.

The room has foil lining so almost nothing gets in.

My solution is the Develo Magic 2 system. It takes the data from the hub to the room through powerline. In the garden room it broadcasts a wireless signal. I have set it to use the same wireless ssid and password as the main house.

It just works and as a bonus the speed is better than the house. Probably because it is wired through to the room and then has no other wifi competition.