Re-purposing an old router

Owain_Moneysaver

rmg1 said:

I've got the following from the router help page:-
Board version - F@ST2704N

2 obvious problems with that router - the ethernet ports are only 100Mbps, not Gigabit, and it only has 2.4GHz wifi, no 5GHz. It won't work as a repeater or bridge, you can connect it with an ethernet cable and turn it into an access point, but your devices won't auto-switch between access points - for that you'll need a mesh network. To get into the 'expert' settings on that router try http://192.168.1.254/expert_user.html https://community.plus.net/t5/My-Router/Turning-a-Hub-Zero-into-an-Access-Point/td-p/1687008 https://community.plus.net/t5/Tech-Help-Software-Hardware-etc/Quick-Question-Re-2704n-as-access-point/td-p/1272457

Robisere

Your new Plusnet FTC (Fibre) router will be a Plusnet Hub One, same as mine. I had a problem moving into our new apartment and getting a good signal across two rooms and a hall, so I bought these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01N3YCC7R/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Relatively expensive, but easy to set up and they gave me Ethernet connection. They work by using the power socket circuits in your home. Plug one adapter into a power socket near the router (NOT an extension!) to connect to your new router with a Cat 5e Ethernet cable and another into a power socket (again, not an extension) near the computer. Connect a Cat 5e Ethernet cable from the adapter to the computer. (There are Cat 5e cables supplied in the adapter boxes)

Turn on the adapter connected to the router by pressing the button on top of the adapter and watch the 3 LED lights. When they show all green, go immediately to the second adapter and repeat the procedure. When that shows 3 green lights, it's all working and you will have Ethernet speeds at the computer. The procedure is simpler, faster and easier than it sounds.

It works very well for me, but a word of warning: my apartment block is quite modern and the wiring is fairly new. An old house with poor wiring may not pass a good signal, with any adapter or extender. Also, work out roughly how long each Ethernet cable will have to be, to reach the router from the first adapter and the computer from the second one. There are cables in the adapter boxes, but one or both may not be long enough.

I am probably going to get others saying that there are cheaper alternative adapters. Yes there are and I have used them. They ran very hot and lost function. These Netgear ones are slightly warm to the touch and just keep working. I repeat, they are not cheap, but they are the best solution I have found. So much so that I have bought two more, to connect my TV, which keeps dropping out and buffering with Wireless. In short, you get what you pay for.

arciere

Owain_Moneysaver said:

rmg1 said:

I've got the following from the router help page:-
Board version - F@ST2704N

2 obvious problems with that router - the ethernet ports are only 100Mbps, not Gigabit, and it only has 2.4GHz wifi, no 5GHz. It won't work as a repeater or bridge, you can connect it with an ethernet cable and turn it into an access point, but your devices won't auto-switch between access points - for that you'll need a mesh network. To get into the 'expert' settings on that router try http://192.168.1.254/expert_user.html https://community.plus.net/t5/My-Router/Turning-a-Hub-Zero-into-an-Access-Point/td-p/1687008 https://community.plus.net/t5/Tech-Help-Software-Hardware-etc/Quick-Question-Re-2704n-as-access-point/td-p/1272457

FastEthernet (100 Mbps) is not a problem per se. The internet connection is slower than 100 Mbps, so unless you need a Gigabit connection between your home devices (like a media server), you won't notice the difference.
WiFi roaming can be achieved with anything, doesn't need to be mesh. You only need to have the same SSID, same password, same encryption and authentication and then the devices will be able to roam.

rmg1

Hi all

Apologies, been a bit busy with work (yup, I'm still working from home) and only just got back to this.

I've had a look around for homeplugs but I'm just confused with everything that's out there.
Can anyone give any recommendations for decent kit that has WiFi (rather than just Ethernet) and are (preferably) pass-through so I don't lose a socket?

I don't want to spend silly amounts of money but I don't want to skimp and get some carp.

grumpycrab

rmg1 said:  kit that has WiFi (rather than just Ethernet) and are (preferably) pass-through so I don't lose a socket?

Passthrough powerline WITH wifi are over £100.  I suggest get a pair without passthrough and buy an adapter(s) from your preferrred onepound shop.    Sugegsted powerline kits.... cheap and cheerful from known brands
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Powerline-Starter-Homeplug-Adapter-Wireless/dp/B00C5IA4TW/
http://www.amazon.co.uk/TL-WPA4220KIT-Powerline-Broadband-Configuration-UK/dp/B01LXOZ4EN

rmg1

Thanks for that.  Have you got any recommendations as to which would be better?
I can see there's not much difference in price but not many other differences.

rmg1

I've finally got some powerline adaptors and fitted them.  Now for silly question time......
They've currently got a different network name and password, would I be better off making them the same as the one on my router or will it not make any difference?
I've found my phone (especially) wants to hang on to the weaker router signal instead of moving to the stronger signal from the powerlines.  Will changing the new network to the same as the router one get rid of that problem?

grumpycrab

I suppose the first question is does powerline fix your orignal problem? I don't know how phones decide when to switch to stronger wifi signals but there's no reason why you shouldn't change the default wifi adapter ssid and try it (I hope the instructions are good!)

rmg1

The powerlines have most definitely fixed the original problem (and then some!).
It's just the SSID that's causing me annoynace now.

I'll change it over and see how it goes.

::edit::
Changed to SSID and wifi password to match what's on the router but my phone is still clinging to the weaker signal.  Back to the drawing board

::edit 2::

It does help if you read the instructions.   The adaptors do a "wifi cloning" using the WPS button which is now doing exactly what I wanted it to do.