Options for extending WiFi network

boromike85 said:
The router I have is a Virgin Superhub or whatever they call it. I can't plug the router into the box under the stairs directly because it has to be next to the Virgin panel on the wall in the living room which is a short fibre optic cable. I'll try ethernet from modem to the port on the wall in the living room and see if I get anything out of any of the others in other rooms.
Click to expand...

A photo of the box under the stairs would be helpful.
 
RedAsABeetroot said:
A photo of the box under the stairs would be helpful.
Click to expand...

https://imgur.com/a/xXzsKsd

There are 2 boxes. 1 is the Virgin input into the house I think. No external connections, this outputs to the wall panel in my living room.

The other looks like an ethernet switch of some sort. You can see the grey ethernet cable not attached to anything. Should that go into a router or into the ethernet socket on the wall below the box and then my router into the ethernet socket in my living room.
 
The box in the picture is for an Openreach fibre connection (see the link below). I'm assuming that this was from the previous resident if you're with VM.
https://www.bt.com/help/landline/lights-on-the-openreach-modem

You would need to work out where all of the cables go in your house from the RJ45 sockets (the 2 behind the grey coiled cable) as it doesn't look if they are numbered. I'm assuming that you have plenty more of them scattered round in other rooms. If you haven't got this information w-fi may be the easiest option short term.

If you're not using that Openreach modem do you need it powered up?
 
RedAsABeetroot said:
The box in the picture is for an Openreach fibre connection (see the link below). I'm assuming that this was from the previous resident if you're with VM.
https://www.bt.com/help/landline/lights-on-the-openreach-modem

You would need to work out where all of the cables go in your house from the RJ45 sockets (the 2 behind the grey coiled cable) as it doesn't look if they are numbered. I'm assuming that you have plenty more of them scattered round in other rooms. If you haven't got this information w-fi may be the easiest option short term.

If you're not using that Openreach modem do you need it powered up?
Click to expand...

It's a new build. Came connected for both Openreach and Virgin. I've had a good look and we only have ethernet ports in the 2 downstairs rooms, plus these under the stairs.

I almost definitely don't need it turned on if it's just BT and not doing anything.
 
I'm on Virgin and when I rang and moaned about the performance of my wifi they sent me a pair of signal boosters for nowt. Apparently "as part of my package" I get them for nowt. (I'm on the 200Mb/s broadband and XL telly whateve they currently call that), might be worth a call seeing as you don't have ethernet to bedrooms.
 
Muttley said:
I'm on Virgin and when I rang and moaned about the performance of my wifi they sent me a pair of signal boosters for nowt. Apparently "as part of my package" I get them for nowt. (I'm on the 200Mb/s broadband and XL telly whateve they currently call that), might be worth a call seeing as you don't have ethernet to bedrooms.
Click to expand...

Did you even read the OP?
 
Update - would just like to thank people for the advice and recommendations on here. After reading reviews I ended up going for TP link deco mesh system. Easy to set up and it has made a massive difference. I can even now get full wifi at the bottom of the garden. So far so good.
 
Been a very interesting bread this based on so many working from home

can any of you techy guys advise whether I should get a 2 or 3 unit system please? Do I need a unit downstairs next to the router as well as one upstairs and one in the loft, or Is 2 enough to get better coverage upstairs and in the loft i.e. Not one downstairs near the router

for those that have purchased, so they come with all the cables and stuff you need?

i can't quite figure out how these work, I don't want to be running Ethernet cable all over the house, I'm really looking for a wireless solution

Cheers
 
Artie Fufkin said:
Been a very interesting bread this based on so many working from home

can any of you techy guys advise whether I should get a 2 or 3 unit system please? Do I need a unit downstairs next to the router as well as one upstairs and one in the loft, or Is 2 enough to get better coverage upstairs and in the loft i.e. Not one downstairs near the router

for those that have purchased, so they come with all the cables and stuff you need?

i can't quite figure out how these work, I don't want to be running Ethernet cable all over the house, I'm really looking for a wireless solution

Cheers
Click to expand...

I bought a 3 unit system. I did have the option with this one of going for the two and then adding a single unit later if required. There are some that don't sell single units so watch out for that if you go down that route.

I plugged one into my router using the ethernet cable provided. The other two just need to plugged into a normal power socket and they find each other to setup the wireless mesh.
 
  • Like
Reactions: A
I have a 3 unit Tenda MW6 system. As above, you can have 2 and fine for most, but 3 sets you up with better coverage. One has to go near your router, one can go in the far end of the house, and one in-between. This will give you excellent coverage throughout, otherwise the one at the far end of the house will be getting a weaker signal from the further unit.

You don't need any cables other than a network cable to your router, which usually comes with it. The others will just be power cables. They usually come pre-paired. You can plug ethernet into the units if you want a wired connection to that unit (useful for Sonos for example, to create SonosNet)
 
  • Like
Reactions: A
Excellent, thank you gents. Think I will go for 3 units as my wife has her office set up the loft and I'm in a spare bedroom so we need good coverage in 3 floors. Just got to decide which one now, there's only £20 difference on Amazon
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top