best mesh kit to use with router 2

[#1]

thanks veryone - thats really helpful

I will try and make it work

cheers

[#2]

Maybe I'm being stupid, but the title of the post says "Mesh". An actual MESH network is very different from a "let's just add another access point to the network".

If you just "add another AP", then the device's (let's call it a mobile phone) current wifi link has to have almost died before it will switch to another AP... you'll get this if you walk around your home.

As I understand it (and please correct me if I'm wrong), a "mesh" is more dynamic, more agile, so if you start to loose signal, and another AP is stronger, it will move across to the second AP, much quicker (and before you start to lose bandwidth) than if you were just running independent APs. 

(technical point: when you link to a wifi AP, the phone will use the best speed it can at the time. If the signal gets worse (you walk away from the AP), the bandwidth will reduce, if the signal gets better, then the throughput will go up) 

[#3]

I'm not correcting you. I just have my own questions (prompted by your potential stupidity ) Just exploring the technical meanings of 'agile' and 'dynamic'.

How does a wirelessly connected end device ascertain that that it is operating in a 'mesh' rather than an assembly of wireless access points and chose to move? Or does the mesh force the end device to another of its own access points? And how?

[#4]

I'm still trying to get my head around the whole way mesh networks work, but, you are right, an endpoint device just thinks it's talking to a simple AP. Or DOES it? Do modern devices (=phones) have 'extended wifi protocols' that make them work better with a mesh network? That would mean that for older devices, the wifi signal strength to a mesh is no better or worse than simple APs. But as devices get replaced, they can possibly do more clever stuff.

[5 years ago you might have asked "why would I buy an AP with 5GHz, phones don't support it"... well, now they do.]

Of course, a lot of the 'intelligence' can be in the mesh itself, rather than the device (kinda like GSM phones handing off between cells: the network did the hard stuff, the phone just 'did what it was told')

The big problem is that good clean tech-speak is hard to find. Over at https://www.netgear.com/uk/hub/technology/wifi-extender-vs-mesh-wifi/ it says "As you can see, the difference between the two is that Wi-Fi extenders are used to rebroadcast your home router’s Wi-Fi signal. The main drawback is that your devices will not switch between Wi-Fi broadcasts automatically and you experience a disconnection while switching manually. Mesh Wi-Fi uses multiple nodes to create a single, big and seamless Wi-Fi network that covers your whole home. Your devices will connect to the closest node automatically and without any disruptions as you move around your house." (Not seeing anything there about "when will my phone jump from using one AP to another, within the mesh)

Then over at https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Nest-Wifi/Can-I-point-a-device-to-a-specific-mesh-point/m-p/8..., it's saying: WiFi devices decide which access point to connect to and when to switch between them. Google/Nest WiFi does provide client devices with some extra information that can help them make better decisions, but many devices don't support the standards that are used to provide that information. Those devices are on their own, and they can end up getting "stuck" to an access point that still works even when a better option is nearby. You may get them to switch by turning their WiFi off briefly (or just rebooting them). 

So, that's sort of supporting my idea above: more modern wifi protocols allow the wifi network to 'share its experience' with the phone. I read somewhere on my search that there are technical settings (probably hidden from us mere mortals!) that define the signal levels at which a device would flip over to a different AP.

It seems that https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11s IEEE_802.11s (which is all about mesh networks) mandates the use of something called "HWMP" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_Wireless_Mesh_Protocol, whilst also allowing vendor-specific stuff. Have fun digging further!

But, of course, the phone isn't PART of the mesh, it just needs to connect and be able to jump around the network. And I'm seeing little info about that side of things. (If anyone finds a good article on this, do share!)

At home, I have 2 wifi's (actually different SSIDs), one upstairs, one downstairs, and I regularly find that my phone / tablet is on the furthest (and weakest) wifi, because that's where I was 10 minutes ago. 

[#5]

yes I agree with your comment

I have 2 challenges 1) getting an access point so that wifi works in my office (above garage) , 2) having a mesh system in the house itself

so apologies for not being clear enough

[#6]

So, from what I read everywhere, if you have a non-mesh router, then to get a proper mesh, you start by turning off the wifi in the existing router, and install a completely separate "mesh system". And for you, that would include one in your office. (The Plusnet Router does NOT support mesh... other routers do, eg BT. It's more a software thing than a hardware thing)

yes, you could save a bit by installing a non-mesh unit in the office, you could end up with your phone still attached to THAT AP when you are back in the house.

So, if you've decided to make the big step of "all mesh" then how to connect? Well, if there's ANY Wifi signal that could reach between "closest corner of house" and "the office", then the mesh will work: the nice thing about implementing a mesh is that the remote AP only needs to reach ANY other AP, and not the central one, to work.

Another thing to consider is to install (or have installed) a network cable between SOMEWHERE in the house (where you can plug in to another mesh AP) and your office. Depends on how far the office is from the house.

Make sure you fit the AP's high up, so not obscured by furniture: imagine they are a lamp bulb, and you're trying to get the light to go as far as you can. So on top of a cupboard, rather than on a low table.

Hope that helps from a more practical perspective!

[#7]

I am a newcomer to Plusnet, having recently signed up to the Full Fibre 900Mb package. I have read several threads about poor WIFI signal from the Hub 2 router, so thought I would share my experience.

I must admit I was disappointed when I received to Hub 2 router, as it is clearly a rebadged BT router, similar to the one that gave me many headaches a few years ago. Sure enough, once connected I immediately experienced poor WIFI signal. I received just over 900Mbps through an ethernet cable, but WIFI was only 450-550Mbps when sat next to the router and only 18-35Mbps in the lounge (room next to router location). The signal would also drop to zero a couple of times each day. Thankfully, based on my BT experience, I did not waste my time making phone calls to complain but switched the router to a TP-Link Archer AX55. This immediately improved the signal. I have 1.1Gbps through ethernet cable and 890Mbps over WIFI in the same room as the router. In the lounge, the signal is consistently above 250Mbps, so issue resolved.

I have now further enhanced connectivity by installing two TP-Link extenders (RE705X) to create a Mesh network, which now covers the whole house and garden, including my garage, greenhouse and shed, where I often spend my time.

For anyone considering swapping the Hub 2, the process is very simple. Just follow the instructions from the Plusnet website or watch the video to ensure you configure the WAN port correctly. The Mesh network upgrade was the easiest of all, as the extenders did everything automatically after pressing the WPS buttons on the router and extenders.

I am now very happy with my fibre broadband and look forward to many years as a Plusnet customer.

[#8]

I bought some Deco S4s and it has changed the speed amazingly

it all works and is fast so I am happy:)

[#9]

For the record,I'm with @paul_blitz  Mutiple Access points do not constitute a mesh network.

[#10]

Provided configured correctly the TP-Link AX55 and RE705X form a TP-Link one mesh wireless network which I imagine @7963wayne did.

[#11]

@Dan_the_Van  I agree, given the RE705X is advertised as a mesh extender therefore the units actually talk to each other.

[#12]

That's exactly what I did @Dan_the_Van , and it works a dream. It is very easy to set up, which is a big plus for most users.

[#13]

Reading the specs of the units bought,  both @7963wayne  & @dykesy611  have chosen well….