Lit Fibre - Alternative Router 27 September 2022 at 3:46PM in Techie Stuff 8 replies 618 views

skyking_comms

I have recently moved to Lit Fibre for their 100mb connection. The service is great, but the router they provide (MitraStar MGS2028E-2) has a weak wifi signal, and we struggle to get a signal upstairs. I don't want to pay an extra £5 per month for their mesh unit. Also the router only has 2 LAN ports, whereas we need 4 ports.

Can anyone recommend an alternative router that I could purchase?

shiraz99

The TP-Link Archer's are pretty good

https://www.currys.co.uk/products/tplink-archer-ax10-wifi-cable-and-fibre-router-ax-1500-dualband-10222018.html

debitcardmayhem

What is your budget, I have ASUS mesh, but if you can set your isp box into modem mode then you can pick many router only boxes

skyking_comms

Thanks for the replies. I'm not the most technical person, so please bear with me. 

Lit have provided 2 boxes.. the MitraStar MGS2028E-2 (wireless router) and also a XG-99C (Assume the Optical Unit).

If I was to get the TP-Link archer would I still need both the boxes Lit have provided?
If so would it be the MitraStar that I need to put into modem mode?

The house I live in has thick walls as it was built in the 1930's so need a wireless router that is known for a strong signal in my type of house. Ideally want to avoid having to purchase and return wireless routers to find one that works for me. 

Thanks 

onomatopoeia99

The transmission power of the wifi on a router is limited by OFCOM, they will all be the same.  Some might have better antennae, but you also need to remember that the devices connecting to the wifi will still have the same transmission power whatever router you have.

For extra ethernet ports you can just plug in a network switch.  Something like a Netgear GS105 that Argos and many others sell would be fine.

shiraz99

Have you tried connecting your "hard to reach" devices via the 5ghz band rather than 2.4GHz, if they're not already doing so (assuming they're capable). You may need to rename the SSIDs from the router side to distinguish between the two.

shiraz99

skyking_comms said:

Thanks for the replies. I'm not the most technical person, so please bear with me. 

Lit have provided 2 boxes.. the MitraStar MGS2028E-2 (wireless router) and also a XG-99C (Assume the Optical Unit).

If I was to get the TP-Link archer would I still need both the boxes Lit have provided?
If so would it be the MitraStar that I need to put into modem mode?

The house I live in has thick walls as it was built in the 1930's so need a wireless router that is known for a strong signal in my type of house. Ideally want to avoid having to purchase and return wireless routers to find one that works for me. 

Thanks 

The ONT is what terminates the fibre from the outside, you will always keep this. I don't see any reason why you can't replace the existing router entirely, as long as the new one supports PPPoE.

debitcardmayhem

shiraz99 said:

Have you tried connecting your "hard to reach" devices via the 5ghz band rather than 2.4GHz, if they're not already doing so (assuming they're capable). You may need to rename the SSIDs from the router side to distinguish between the two.

Surely you mean 2.4ghz not 5ghz , better penetration but less speed

shiraz99

debitcardmayhem said:

shiraz99 said:

Have you tried connecting your "hard to reach" devices via the 5ghz band rather than 2.4GHz, if they're not already doing so (assuming they're capable). You may need to rename the SSIDs from the router side to distinguish between the two.

Surely you mean 2.4ghz not 5ghz , better penetration but less speed

No, I meant what I said. It might sound counterintuitive but unless the distances are big (over 30 metres) you'll quite often get a better connection using a 5ghz band. At the end of the day it's worth trying it out, if nothing else.

I have similar, 1920s property with solid walls and there's one upstairs area where my office is that really struggles to get a good wifi connection but having purchased an external dual band USB adapter which I turned off the 2.4Ghz band the connection to my laptop is now perfect.