Wi-Fi extender recommendations - UK

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Mick

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Visited a domestic customer immediately before Christmas where the complaint was poor wi-fi coverage. The obvious solution here would be a couple of powerline wi-fi extenders. However, for no particular reason, it's been probably around fifteen months since I last fitted any of these and I'm wondering if folks here had any recommendations - preferably something readily available here in the UK. I think the last ones I fitted were Devolo. They worked, but didn't strike me as outstanding. Suggestions - even of what to avoid - welcomed. FWIW - cost is an issue, which is why I'm not suggesting a mesh or similar alternative, and simply relocating the existing router to a better location is a non-starter due to the rewiring etc that would be involved.
 
I'm not a fan of old fashioned "wifi repeaters/extenders". They do carry the old "speeds are cut in half with each hop"..and then yet again..with each wireless client.

Modern approach to this is "Mesh" systems...especially those that use a dedicated 3rd radio just for the backhaul (wireless uplinks). Barely any drop in throughput with these.

Not sure which brands are avail across the pond, but Netgears Orbi pro systems dominate this category for residential.
 
I've heard some poor things about Devolo and Tenda (and seen bad performance in both on occasion). I had some bad experiences with TP-Link many years ago but i recently tried them again after some recommendations on here and the ones i have in my house at the moment seem to be working well. I've had them since March and transfer speeds seem pretty good and no drop outs that i am aware of. When asked i now sell/recommend TP-Link. The cost is higher than some other brands, but many of these devices, as always, you get what you pay for. I think i paid ~£100 for TL-PA9020PKIT.
 
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YeOldeStonecat said:
I'm not a fan of old fashioned "wifi repeaters/extenders". They do carry the old "speeds are cut in half with each hop"..and then yet again..with each wireless client.

Modern approach to this is "Mesh" systems...especially those that use a dedicated 3rd radio just for the backhaul (wireless uplinks). Barely any drop in throughput with these.

Not sure which brands are avail across the pond, but Netgears Orbi pro systems dominate this category for residential.
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Appreciate all you've said, but Orbi is beyond budget here. This is a very lightweight user - email, bit of web browsing - so I'm really looking for a 'cheap and cheerful' solution.
 
Looks like something that will work for a few weeks. In the end one gets what they pay for is my mantra.
If you install some budget solution, I bet the simple onsite visit will become tiresome for a meager initial charge.

Nighthawk
 
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frase said:
Looks like something that will work for a few weeks. In the end one gets what they pay for is my mantra.
If you install some budget solution, I bet the simple onsite visit will become tiresome for a meager initial charge.

Nighthawk
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I know that - you know that. But the client has yet to learn ;) The nighthawk looks a possibility, though. I am seeing her next week and will try and sketch out the options - and their consequences - a bit more fully.
 
NJW said:
The problem with any one-piece range extender is that it has to be within range of both the source and the client. Powerline works round corners.;)
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Yes very true I rarely use them, POE devices I would recommend would be Netgear or TP-Link though from past experience. Stay far away from Tenda devices, it's like the Aldi of tech.

These models would do the job -

TP-Link Kit
 
I stay away from almost anything Netgear these days. Once they had me start creating online accounts just to access a local router I'm installing was the last time I used their stuff. I lean towards TP-Link stuff for residential. Good bang for the buck.
 
Mick said:
Visited a domestic customer immediately before Christmas where the complaint was poor wi-fi coverage. The obvious solution here would be a couple of powerline wi-fi extenders. However, for no particular reason, it's been probably around fifteen months since I last fitted any of these and I'm wondering if folks here had any recommendations - preferably something readily available here in the UK. I think the last ones I fitted were Devolo. They worked, but didn't strike me as outstanding. Suggestions - even of what to avoid - welcomed. FWIW - cost is an issue, which is why I'm not suggesting a mesh or similar alternative, and simply relocating the existing router to a better location is a non-starter due to the rewiring etc that would be involved.
Click to expand...
I have just recently started using these in homes, one was over 7,000sq ft and it only took two of them (had an ideal open upstairs situation) and no complaints:
TP-Link Deco Mesh WiFi System(Deco M5) –Up to 5,500 sq. ft. Whole Home Coverage and 100+ Devices,WiFi Router/Extender Replacement, Anitivirus, 3-pack
 
alluseridsrejected said:
I have just recently started using these in homes, one was over 7,000sq ft and it only took two of them (had an ideal open upstairs situation) and no complaints:
TP-Link Deco Mesh WiFi System(Deco M5) –Up to 5,500 sq. ft. Whole Home Coverage and 100+ Devices,WiFi Router/Extender Replacement, Anitivirus, 3-pack
Click to expand...
Thanks but as I said earlier, cost is an issue here. I'm aware of the limitations etc of using extenders...what I'm trying for here is the most appropriate solution, not the best, given the client's circumstances and the nature of the building - which, I should probably have said, is of clunch construction under thatch. That's why I think some sort of powerline-based solution is going to be favourite. Thanks, all, for your helpful suggestions.
 
Mick said:
Thanks but as I said earlier, cost is an issue here. I'm aware of the limitations etc of using extenders...what I'm trying for here is the most appropriate solution, not the best, given the client's circumstances and the nature of the building - which, I should probably have said, is of clunch construction under thatch. That's why I think some sort of powerline-based solution is going to be favourite. Thanks, all, for your helpful suggestions.
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Is the building on one single electrical breakout panel? You'll need that for power line to work. Is the construction for all walls, interior and exterior, clunch style? Size of the building? Are they using the ISP provided WiFi? I replaced some ISP provided devices with UniFi AP's. Couple with Airmax, the rest with UniFi AC's. In all cases the covered area at least doubled in size. Fortunately I use a UniFi AC at home. So I'd just take it over with the injector to test signal strength.
 
Markverhyden said:
Is the building on one single electrical breakout panel? You'll need that for power line to work. Is the construction for all walls, interior and exterior, clunch style? Size of the building? Are they using the ISP provided WiFi? I replaced some ISP provided devices with UniFi AP's. Couple with Airmax, the rest with UniFi AC's. In all cases the covered area at least doubled in size. Fortunately I use a UniFi AC at home. So I'd just take it over with the injector to test signal strength.
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Hi Mark.

The building is all on one ring/one earth, so that isn't a problem. It's completely clunch* apart from one partition in an upstairs room and is a couple of farm workers' cottages knocked into one. I should say around 1800 - 2000 sq ft total - no more. Unifi isn't quite as popular over here - you can find it, but it's uncommon to see it used in a domestic setting. If I was going to just try and boost the existing signal, I'd probably suggest something from the Draytek range to replace the ISP modem/router but I think even that would be outside of budget. As I said earlier, this is a very lightweight user who just happens to like wandering about with a laptop. So I think powerline of some sort is going to be the answer. If we can get 'two bars' in every room, that'll probably be enough!

* At least, I think it is. It's a seventeenth century building, probably only held up by cobwebs and dust, so I don't want to start poking around too much :)
 
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