We moved into a larger house last week, and our kids are now 'suffering' from poor wifi upstairs. I replaced the wireless router (located in the basement, where the tv is), and speeds in the basement and main level are generally pretty good. I've been thinking about getting a wifi extender to help out. Has anyone here used one before to get better reception? What's been your experience?

Yes and it was a huge difference. I can’t remember the brand. I’ll look when I get a chance.

Before investing in a repeater, try moving your router to the center of the house, instead of the basement.

My Dad would tell me to suck it up and play outside. Your kids may be old enough to solve that problem themselves.

Someone who knows more will be along shortly. My WiFi problem was solved when ATT installed a fiber connection. Prior to that speeds were incredibly slow and there were dropped connections. ATT always suggested it was my equipment. No problems for the last year.

Had similar issues and installed a grid system. Hasn’t been an problem since. Went with the Linksys Velop system..

quote:

Originally posted by CQB60:
Had similar issues and installed a grid system. Hasn’t been an problem since. Went with the Linksys Velop system..

Help me understand what a grid system is? Is it better than a wifi extender?

Long story short, get a wireless access point not a wifi extender or mesh network.

I added a wifi extender, and got lucky when I bought one that could be configured as either an extender or an access point.

At first, I hooked it up as a wifi extender and located it a tad beyond midway between the router and the desk in my home office. It bumped me up in speed at least 5x, but:

it had a different name so I had to switch wifi networks.

I was getting 1/3 of the speed that I was paying for from my ISP

I got to thinking that there is a gigabit RJ-45 outlet in my office that was already hard-wired to RJ-45 ports on my wireless router. I pulled out the instruction manual to the wifi extender to read about the wireless access point option. I got it plugged into power and the RJ-45 and set-up was quick and easy. My last action was to rename its SSID identical to my my wireless router, but specify which channels it would use. Then I logged onto my wifi router and specified that it would use different channels. The benefits:

I'm getting triple the speed that I had when I used the same device as a wifi extender. In my office, I'm now getting the speed I pay for from my ISP.

I don't have to change my laptop or iPhone's wireless network connection as I move around the house. It seamlessly grabs the strongest signal.

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Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.

WiFi signal can be affected by multiple factors.
Assuming no client issues, interference issues or configuration/hardware issues first.
Moving on to attenuation (signal too far) or degradation (signal is broken up by walls, objects etc) then:
1. Consider repositioning your existing AP/router if possible.
2. The best choices for large facilities are:
a) multiple AP's (best performance - more expensive option)
b) Mesh system - best alternative to multiple AP's - some cost, easy to install, lower through put/performance.
c) extender - cheapest, worst performer, easy to install.

You have to think of a WIFI signal similar to a "speaker".
The farther away or if objects are between you and the speaker - the worse it sounds.
Same with WIFI signal.
It is better to have more devices (if feasible) that are properly configured and optimally placed than one device blasting full power.
Lower power (transmission) and more devices with have a dramatically improvement in reliability of the signal and or performance.
Plenty of other factors but above focuses on physical devices.
YMMV

As usual, schulzie hits the nail right on the head. One thing he didn't mention is that the strength of the signal coming from the end device's (phone/tablet/etc.) raidio is as important as the strength of the signal of the WiFi Access Point's radio. This is often the limiting factor WRT bandwidth. The "cure" for this is location, minimizing distance between the end device and its servicing AP.

Recently just switched providers and moved my home office. I installed an Orbi as my access point. Bought the one where I placed one on each level. Very happy with the overall performance

So when network nerds wire up their homes, most choose professional gear by Ubiquiti. It's really quality stuff, but expensive and complicated.

Ubiquiti also has a setup for home, called Amplifi that has their quality but braindead simple installation. You plug in the main box, a nice looking cube that has a nice screen on the front. Then you get 2 remotes, that you just put somewhere else in the house. I have one out in the detached garage, and another remote upstairs in the front of the house. It then just works great, I love this gear.

Get a google mesh network. Fixed all my issues, but a little spendy.

My bet, one strategically positioned wired access point (WAP) on your main floor would likely solve your WiFi issues. I have a single WAP installed on the ceiling in the center of my 2600 square foot single story, and have excellent WiFi everywhere in the home and pretty much everywhere in the yard. A good WAP is ~$75-$100 and the cost to install if you can't do it yourself.

add another AP where needed. run real cable to it. problem solved. everything else is just a bandaid.

quote:

Originally posted by Jamess1:
Recently just switched providers and moved my home office. I installed an Orbi as my access point. Bought the one where I placed one on each level. Very happy with the overall performance

That’s the one we have. Works great.

I should’ve stated meshed. Mesh WiFi is…
an interconnected series of nodes that ensures complete signal coverage to all your devices. Velop’s Intelligent Mesh Technology focuses the WiFi signal strength based on your current location within your home.

quote:

Originally posted by 4x5:

quote:

Originally posted by CQB60:
Had similar issues and installed a grid system. Hasn’t been an problem since. Went with the Linksys Velop system..

Help me understand what a grid system is? Is it better than a wifi extender?

quote:

Originally posted by CQB60:
I should’ve stated meshed. Mesh WiFi is…
an interconnected series of nodes that ensures complete signal coverage to all your devices. Velop’s Intelligent Mesh Technology focuses the WiFi signal strength based on your current location within your home.

quote:

Originally posted by 4x5:

quote:

Originally posted by CQB60:
Had similar issues and installed a grid system. Hasn’t been an problem since. Went with the Linksys Velop system..

Help me understand what a grid system is? Is it better than a wifi extender?

Mesh is certainly an option in his scenario, but its important to remember that each time your traffic jumps from node to node, your bandwidth will be cut approximately in half. Some Mesh systems include a back haul channel you can wire with an ethernet cable to restore part of this lost bandwidth, but at that point, I'd opt for POE WAP(s) mounted to the ceiling instead.