Off Topic : Plug n play wifi extender?

[Tig170]

Apologies for the slight off topic : Just got a new broadband provider (to Vodafone from BT) : Whilst I've discovered a neat trick in that I've renamed (and password) all the BT wifi stuff to Vodaforn wifi, I'm still a little short? .i.e. our house has thick walls / complex for us to see everything from one router, so the question is: Are there any such devices which will allow plug n play wifi entension, from a generic router??

 

[dsimpkins]

Yes, there are devices that provide a wifi extension. They basically act as a repeater (picks up signal from the router, and rebroadcasts it, and vice versa for the laptop/phone/tablet) They're not the best, and personally I would look at a mesh wifi setup. They have more than one radio transmitter/reciever built in, so can use one set of radios as the backbone of the network, and any devices connect via another set of radios. If you have a few family members with multiple devices, and also smart devices in the house, then a mesh is the way to go.

 

[Tig170]

Perfect! - for today I just added a RJ45? cable betewwen the ONT and the new router (which is now in the middle of the house) - it sort of works!!

 

[gazza487]

As above you can get WiFi repeaters (think big glade plug in). I’ve never had much success. There is another type which is Powerline networked - sends data over the electricity wires and can with be another access point for the WiFi or just a wired connection. I’d say avoid (there is a threat where in a strange turn of events it stopped my car charging - seems to be an issue sometimes with MG).

Mesh does work - sky q does it but sometimes you can still run into signal issues. The “real” way is with cable and if you need it to remain wireless there are a few options - POW powered standalone access points like unifi or setting a cable router into access point mode to rebroadcast the signal.

 

[dsimpkins]

As above you can get WiFi repeaters (think big glade plug in). I’ve never had much success. There is another type which is Powerline networked - sends data over the electricity wires and can with be another access point for the WiFi or just a wired connection. I’d say avoid (there is a threat where in a strange turn of events it stopped my car charging - seems to be an issue sometimes with MG).

Mesh does work - sky q does it but sometimes you can still run into signal issues. The “real” way is with cable and if you need it to remain wireless there are a few options - POW powered standalone access points like unifi or setting a cable router into access point mode to rebroadcast the signal.

Unifi kit is very good. My cable router is set in modem mode (so its wifi is turned off), and then connected to first node (wifi access point) in my mesh network. The other two nodes then communicate with the first node on a dedicated radio to avoid interference or congestion. The mesh then broadcasts WiFi to any devices that need to connect to it on a different set of radios, again to avoid congestion and interference.

Also very easy to set up via app on phone, start with first node, then add second, then third. Can add more if house large enough/demands more.

Wired network to connect nodes is better, but not always the most practical. Never tried networking over electrical power lines, as I know how to run and terminate network cabling, I don't see the point. However at home, a mesh is far more convienent (unless I was renovating the entire house)

 

[pollenface]

Not exactly plug and play, you have to configure them to select which wifi network to extend and then give your extended network a name & password

I have two TP link 205's and I configured one to extend from the other

 

[Gadget Geek]

If you have an old router from a previous provider, you can configure it to act as a wifi extender. I configured an old SKY router and it worked great.

 

[siteguru]

An alternative solution is powerline adapters ... plug one in to a 3-pin socket near your router, then plug a WiFi version in to another socket where you want the WiFi extended.

 

[mystreet]

An alternative solution is powerline adapters ... plug one in to a 3-pin socket near your router, then plug a WiFi version in to another socket where you want the WiFi extended.

Some members found that the car would not charge on a home charger if a poweline was used. Something to do with not having a clean signal.

Go mesh setup. I use the BT Whole Home system.

 

[gazza487]

Some members found that the car would not charge on a home charger if a poweline was used. Something to do with not having a clean signal.

Go mesh setup. I use the BT Whole Home system.

It was me.

It would fail to start a scheduled charge (on the charger). It worked fine for months but as soon as the earth path was fixed on the powerline circuit (there was a broken earth which was repaired) all the craziness started. Ended up having to lay cat6 cable and remove the powerline. Extra heartache as the powerline was convenient as it went over a buried line approx 50m down garden.

 

[siteguru]

To be fair, @Tig170 doesn't mention at all about connecting his EVSE to the extended WiFi network.

 

[gazza487]

To be fair, @Tig170 doesn't mention at all about connecting his EVSE to the extended WiFi network.

To be fair the powerline issue was unrelated to the EVSE connecting to the network extended or not. Just having them on in the house caused the issue, don’t want others having the same issue.

 

[siteguru]

To be fair (again) ... I'm using a powerline adapter in my house and don't have any such issue, so it's not an ubiquitous problem.

 

[Ruislip Resident]

I have a Deco Mesh set up. One connected to the router and 3 more around the house. One at the back of the house to throw the signal to the end of the garden and into the garage (I have various smart plugs controlling lights etc and an Alexa echo in there) and one on each of other floors ( I have a loft conversion). All works seamlessly.

One quirk is my Hypervolt 2 chargepoint does not like Deco Mesh so I just wifi connect direct to the Virgin router ( ie not via the mesh wifi). It's only a few feet away so the signals plenty strong enough.

 

[emmrecs]

To be fair (again) ... I'm using a powerline adapter in my house and don't have any such issue, so it's not an ubiquitous problem.

Ditto here! Though my Rolec charger communicates via mobile data rather than WiFi.

 

[Gomev]

To be fair the powerline issue was unrelated to the EVSE connecting to the network extended or not. Just having them on in the house caused the issue, don’t want others having the same issue.

To be fair (again) ... I'm using a powerline adapter in my house and don't have any such issue, so it's not an ubiquitous problem.

Couldn't give a hoot about being fair , but the powerline issue was a big deal several years ago for many, myself included. The lack of clean signal in the electrics upset the onboard charger/communication thingies whatnot. Oh and mine was/is a Rolec EVSE. Also affected the granny, couldn't charge with that with a powerline attached. Turned it off, eventually removing it and instant success everything worked again.

 

[gazza487]

Couldn't give a hoot about being fair , but the powerline issue was a big deal several years ago for many, myself included. The lack of clean signal in the electrics upset the onboard charger/communication thingies whatnot. Oh and mine was/is a Rolec EVSE. Also affected the granny, couldn't charge with that with a powerline attached. Turned it off, eventually removing it and instant success everything worked again.

I was the same but a Vchrgd7 - part of the problem is with all the wiring being unshielded, different earths around etc it can cause issues (there is also a faction of society who want them banned it transpires - amateur radio particularly). I digress. Just for the sake of OP my advice is to avoid and go for another solution.

For me it would be cabled with alternate access point, then mesh network, then WiFi only repeater (in that order).

 

[Wendwell]

Happy to recommened a compact TP-Link extender that plugs directly into an electrical socket. Just one extender has delivered Wi-Fi to a two-storey four bedroom house that is much longer than wide and where the router is situated at one end. Set up easy enough.

 

[Geriatric Joe]

If you can buy different devices to extend the wifi signal and than take back to the shop the units you are not not happy with for a refund than you have picked the best Extender fit for purpose in your surroundings. Good Luck.