Is the "BT Add-on disc for Whole Home Wi-Fi" worth it for £10 a month extra?

Cashew

I'm thinking of signing up with BT Fibre 2 and ditching Virgin Media as the connection keeps dropping out a few times a day.
With BT, there's an option to add on the Whole Home Wi-Fi thing for £10 a month extra.
Is it worth it? I will be using the internet away from the router so would like a strong connection?
But £10 a month will add up over time - £120 a year etc.
Is there a third-party option that is as good or is it best to go with BT?
Can I cancel it or am I locked in for 12 months etc?
Thanks

matelodave

You could get your own mesh setup which would cost you less in the long run and you'd still own it if you went to another provider. Plenty around, just have a search on t'interweb - check here https://uk.pcmag.com/wireless-networking/87178/the-best-wi-fi-mesh-network-systems or just look on Amazon - like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/BT-Seamless-Connection-Everywhere-Complete/dp/B07RRWL39N/ref=pd_vtp_147_6/261-0685055-2887822?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07RRWL39N&pd_rd_r=41f6e629-f46d-41c4-be64-99ec96d30525&pd_rd_w=QhowV&pd_rd_wg=osMAz&pf_rd_p=18bc5366-21e6-460e-84bc-9a61ea576c49&pf_rd_r=K11600C649ZHR0HGJT53&psc=1&refRID=K11600C649ZHR0HGJT53

The BT router and any discs are now only supplied on loan so you'd have to return them if or when you change suppliers

Also be aware that most BT "deals" are for 24 months with the benefit of an automatic uplift in charges or 3.9% + RPI every March.

JJ_Egan

How bad is your connection away from the router .

Is it on the best channel ??

Victorthe2nd

You should definitely explore setting up your own mesh, maybe before doing anything. I use Viigin (have done for donkey's years) Perhaps I'm lucky but I find them excellent in terms of service provided and support. They're also usually happy to negotiate fees. Anyway.....I bought 4 BT Whole Home discs, connected one to the Virgin router, places the others where I wanted a stronger signal and now use the BT WholeHome wifi. It's a bit of a faff as every gadget needs reconnecting to the WholeHome service, but I now have great wifi across my home and well into the garden, including a garage conversion we had done. It's a personal choice if £10 a month is better than a lump sum to put the discs in - but that may not be too much, it all depends on the number of discs you need and where your dead spots are.

jon81uk

You can buy the discs outright BT Whole Home Wi-Fi (088269) | BT Shop

vacheron

I use them, they work well, I bought a pair for £80 2 years ago so have no idea why BT would consider £10 per month for one a good deal?

Neil49

I'm with BT and have set up a mesh network to improve the signal around the house as I had a couple of dead zones. I'd considered the Whole Home option but the mesh option allowed me to position the units to obtain a good signal throughout the house at a cost of less than 1 years additional cost to BT. 

There is a big range of mesh products around which provide differing speeds, coverage and connectivity. The links already provided should guide you. 

Cashew

JJ_Egan said:

How bad is your connection away from the router .

Is it on the best channel ??

No idea! It seems to drop for every device, no matter where they are. But it's hard to say as most times we don't notice it, unless we are on a call, then the connection to the call ends which is very noticeable. 

Cashew

Victorthe2nd said:

You should definitely explore setting up your own mesh, maybe before doing anything. I use Viigin (have done for donkey's years) Perhaps I'm lucky but I find them excellent in terms of service provided and support. They're also usually happy to negotiate fees. Anyway.....I bought 4 BT Whole Home discs, connected one to the Virgin router, places the others where I wanted a stronger signal and now use the BT WholeHome wifi. It's a bit of a faff as every gadget needs reconnecting to the WholeHome service, but I now have great wifi across my home and well into the garden, including a garage conversion we had done. It's a personal choice if £10 a month is better than a lump sum to put the discs in - but that may not be too much, it all depends on the number of discs you need and where your dead spots are.

Thanks. I am reluctant to leave Virgin as its been good apart from these occasional drops in WiFi connection.
I can't find a phone number for Virgin to talk to anyone to resolve the issue. The number for support is all automated and doesn't provide any solutions for this issue.
I have a Netgear extender but I guess that's not the same thing as a mesh?
With our current setup (without using the Netgear extender) It doesn't seem to be an issue of being far from the router. The WiFi just seems to "disappear" every now and then and if someone is on a call, then it's a real problem.
Most of the time, I see it happen on my phone, as the Wi-Fi icon disappears for a short period, but because the phone switches to mobile data, it's not a problem. But now we're working and schooling from home, we need solid WiFi on our computers for calls.
I've signed up with BT so will use the 14-day cooling-off period to see if their service is better.
 vacheron said:

I use them, they work well, I bought a pair for £80 2 years ago so have no idea why BT would consider £10 per month for one a good deal?

Thanks. I will see what they're like then buy them and cancel the rental (unless I've locked myself into a long contract!).

PaulW922

I have found the discs form BT work very well (an extender is not really comparable as that just creates a second, slower network) - but I bought mine on eBay. They are now mine regardless of who my broadband supplier it. I would not pay a monthly rental TBH