Mesh WiFi Networks (6E/7)

Sonic

Sonic

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Anybody here run a Mesh WiFi Network in their home and have any recommendations?
As I have FFTP, I'm thinking of binning my BT Smart Hub and setting up a Mesh Network instead with something like the TP-Link Deco XE75 (3pk), which is WiFi 6E Tri-Band; or maybe the Deco BE65 (3pk), which is Wifi 7 Tri-Band. Unfortunately, the latter is a bit bloody expensive (£600 versus £360 for the XE75) and being 'new technology', I've found several posts on the internet saying that it can suffer from drop-outs.
All of our smart devices and both of our desktop PCs are wireless, so maximising WiFi throughput is my priority. Currently my AIO is connected via a LAN cable into a BT WiFi Disc in direct line-of-sight with the BT Hub. It's a whole lot faster than my AIO's internal WiFi card, but it still max's out at 350Mbps. I'd like to get as close as I can to 1Gb WiFi transfer speeds and make proper use of the full fibre connection. 🖥️ ⚡
 
I run Starlink and the WiFi built into their router is terrible, so, via an ethernet hub, I run Deco Mesh units (four in total) and find them to be pretty decent.
It's these - Mesh via Amazon. Very easy to install via an app. Can connect from a remote mesh via ethernet to no.1 son's PC and still run WiFi to laptop. Pleased with them TBH and no blackspots around the house
 
chopper602 said:
I run Deco Mesh units (four in total) and find them to be pretty decent.
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Thanks. I've seen those Deco units and they're certainly at a decent price point - the only 'con' I have with them is that they are Dual-Band (2.4Ghz & 5Ghz) so don't have a 6Ghz frequency with which to maximise throughput. The 6Ghz can also be used for Backhaul, although I may make use of a couple of BT powerline adapters for that ...
 
Had google but got bored of dropping performance in our House so now with cheap Decos - if you remember to boot them frequently enough, the performance is much better.
using 3pcs Deco TP-Link Deco X10.
 
I'm another one that uses the TP-Link Decos. They definitely have helped with signal around the house. I bought them in lockdown when the 2 of us both had to work from home in different rooms, and haven't really thought much about them since as they just work.
 
We have an Netgear Orbi with two satelites. Had them over five years now with no issues at all. Seemed pricy when we bought them, but we had a big Amazon voucher to use and that pretty much covered the whole price :)

And this reminds me.. I need to research FFTP!!
 
I have a Unifi network, using the UDR (Unifi Dream Router) and a couple of U6 Pro access points and a USW Flex switch, very easy to set up and been excellent.
 
chopper602 said:
I was promised superfast broadband by the last government !
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That ‘promise’ can be found in the same chapter as “the cheque is in the post”, “honestly, it won’t hurt” and “absolutely, just the tip” 😇
 
Sonic said:
That ‘promise’ can be found in the same chapter as “the cheque is in the post”, “honestly, it won’t hurt” and “absolutely, just the tip” 😇
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Are you on a full fibre 1Gb service, and when tested are you getting the speed 24/7.

Speed is helpful, but doesn’t always help. Are all the user devices 1Gb (I doubt it), most won’t really notice any advantage to having a full fat 1Gb wifi service if TV’s, audio, home wifi enabled stuff like ring and cctv are choked by the user device limitations.
 
Chris Mc said:
...most won’t really notice any advantage to having a full fat 1Gb wifi service…
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Yes, I appreciate that. It’s really only for our 2 PCs; each will have their own Deco and be connected to it via an RJ45 cable; the two ‘satellites’ will then connect wirelessly to the third ‘master’ Deco, which will be connected via RJ45 directly into the FFTP wall box. This should give the best speed at the PCs.
The SmartTV, Satbox (aso) are connected on RJ45, via a 6-port switch to the router/hub. All of the other devices can fight it out between themselves for bandwidth on the 2.4 and 5Ghz channels… 😉
 
Sonic said:
Anybody here run a Mesh WiFi Network in their home and have any recommendations?
As I have FFTP, I'm thinking of binning my BT Smart Hub and setting up a Mesh Network instead with something like the TP-Link Deco XE75 (3pk), which is WiFi 6E Tri-Band; or maybe the Deco BE65 (3pk), which is Wifi 7 Tri-Band. Unfortunately, the latter is a bit bloody expensive (£600 versus £360 for the XE75) and being 'new technology', I've found several posts on the internet saying that it can suffer from drop-outs.
All of our smart devices and both of our desktop PCs are wireless, so maximising WiFi throughput is my priority. Currently my AIO is connected via a LAN cable into a BT WiFi Disc in direct line-of-sight with the BT Hub. It's a whole lot faster than my AIO's internal WiFi card, but it still max's out at 350Mbps. I'd like to get as close as I can to 1Gb WiFi transfer speeds and make proper use of the full fibre connection. 🖥️ ⚡
Click to expand...
I think you should ask yourself if switching to Wifi 7 makes sense at the moment - how many devices in your home even support it to warrant the switch? Instead of future proofing at a high cost now, you could hold on until it's more widely adopted and meanwhile do something more cost effective like running an ethernet backhaul to your mesh network and maybe even connect your stationary devices via Ethernet as well.
This way you'd reduce wireless congestion and ensure that the wireless network covers whole home with top speeds. Ethernet cable is cheap, running it is the problem 😅

Alternatively you can run backhaul network on powerline adapters - but from own experience it is limited to around 200-350 Mbps, depending which sockets I use, short of advertised 1000 Mbps :ROFLMAO: In my case it drops out once a month as well, and requires unplugging the adapters...
 
Yeah, running Ethernet cables is just not an option - way too much hassle with flooring, walls and the rest of it. I'll sit on my hands and wait until WiFi7 stuff becomes more available next year, then go for some cheaper/discounted 6E units which'll do for the two of us ol' codgers - my Train Sim World and Wifey's Horse Training videos don't exactly strain our bandwidth. ;)

Thanks to all who took the time to answer. Sonic Out.
🫳"
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