Tell me about wifi boosters/extenders - clueless

pfpf

hi,
we have an original old white NowTV box that works great in the living room (router/modem upstairs).
we decided to "upgrade" to a newer black box as it navigates so much faster. problem is the wireless reception to the black box is terrible (its in the same spot as the white box) and makes watching it impossible, I have no idea why its worse.

anyway, I don't really want to go down the power line route as the router end is pretty hard to get to and theres already too much plugged in there. so that leaves me with a booster?

as I know nothing about it I have picked this out from amazon to ask about:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Extender-Wireless-Amplifier-IEEE802-11N-Integrated/dp/B01M8FBYLP/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1488489324&sr=8-14&keywords=wifi+booster

is that the kind of thing I would need?
does it boost wireless but also give me a wired option even though the unit actually receives the signal wirelessly?

I would love some advice and recommendations.

thank you.

were

For starters, this booster must receive a good signal to transmit a good signal, so possibly not good for longer distances. Also the cheaper ones cant transmit and receive at the same time so you only get half the bandwidth, but this is often more than plenty for internet.

This is about 4 times the price, but it is what I would get, and is a homeplug which you do not want and us wifi/wired at the other end https://www.amazon.co.uk/Passthrough-Configuration-Beamforming-UK-TL-PA8030PKIT/dp/B00X59GJGC/ref=pd_bxgy_147_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=EXAHZYWPXC477G4KSWSM

ThinkingOutLoud_2

I had a similar device and it was sometimes great and sometimes flaky. Maybe some are better than others.

Your best bet if you will reconsider is a power line with a pass through. They need to go into mains, but saves using / losing another socket. I have this now and it works fast and reliably.

grumpycrab

pfpf wrote: »

I would love some advice and recommendations.

Being MSE, I suggest going back to the whitebox as it works.

DCFC79

Could you move the router so its closer to where the Now TV box is ?

Have you checked the wifi channel isnt congested although you do say the white box works fine so maybe the wifi channel is fine.

pfpf

grumpycrab wrote: »

Being MSE, I suggest going back to the whitebox as it works.

brilliant. that's what we've done for now.

pfpf

DCFC79 wrote: »

Could you move the router so its closer to where the Now TV box is ?

Have you checked the wifi channel isnt congested although you do say the white box works fine so maybe the wifi channel is fine.

no to moving router.
the other thing I have no idea what it means. the white box works fine and on checking it states "excellent" for wifi signal. put the black box in same spot and it reports "fair".

flashg67

I know you don't fancy them, but powerline is the way to go IMHO, even better, one with wireless and a pass through to save sockets. They work great for me - I work from home using a vpn with no problems.
I did try an extender once and it was hit and miss.

ThinkingOutLoud_2

flashg67 wrote: »

I know you don't fancy them, but powerline is the way to go IMHO, even better, one with wireless and a pass through to save sockets. They work great for me - I work from home using a vpn with no problems.
I did try an extender once and it was hit and miss.

Exactly my experience.

OP I think the new black box can use 5Ghz wifi. The old only 2.4Ghz. Sometimes 2.4 can deliver wider signal. I don't have NowTv of any kind - but maybe you can set the new box to use 2.4ghz ?
See second post here - https://community.nowtv.com/t5/NOW-TV-Box-black/Can-t-Connect-on-5Ghz/m-p/332856/highlight/true#M985

DoaM

That's assuming the OP's router includes 5GHz WiFi and that the black box is connecting on 5GHz by default. (In my experience most WiFi devices will default to 2.4GHz and have to be configured to use 5GHz if available).

It could also be that the black box has a different design, so the WiFi antenna is in a different place (in the box) compared to the white box. I have found over the years that (depending on the WiFi devices), the positioning of the router and/or receiving device can play a big part in how good a signal devices can receive.

OP - does your router have external Wifi aerial(s)? Can you try re-positioning the aerial(s) or router or black box? (Just turning them slightly can make a difference).

psychic_teabag

pfpf wrote: »

anyway, I don't really want to go down the power line route as the router end is pretty hard to get to and theres already too much plugged in there. so that leaves me with a booster?

The powerline adapter doesn't have to be right by the router - you could run an ethernet cable from the router to another socket in the vicinity.