Broadband provider for big, old house?

pad101

Hi, looking to switch from Vodafone to a new broadband provider.

Currently on Vodafone super wifi with extenders but looking to switch to bring down the cost and so we can extend the mesh network as Vodafone only limits you to 3 and the house has quite a few dead zones.

my question: which provider works the best with mesh networks? Should I be looking to add my own router (something I think is tricky with Vodafone) to improve speeds (if that is even possible!)?

due to get full fibre in the area in the not to distant future so would rather stick to a 12 or 18 month contract. Looking around is Now broadband any good? Easy to customise the setup?

thanks

mluton

Buy your own hardware / mesh setup, extend as needed with extra access points, take the no frills router from the BB supplier.

The WIFI coverage is nothing to do with the BB service, whichever supplier you use.

pad101

mluton said:

Buy your own hardware / mesh setup, extend as needed with extra access points, take the no frills router from the BB supplier.

The WIFI coverage is nothing to do with the BB service, whichever supplier you use.

Thanks. Any recommendations for router or mesh system?

Jonboy_1984

How big is this house? At work we can typically cover 15,000 sq foot warehouses with a couple of access points (typically wired back to router admittedly).

pad101

Jonboy_1984 said:

How big is this house? At work we can typically cover 15,000 sq foot warehouses with a couple of access points (typically wired back to router admittedly).

Lol. Not that big . Just old with big thick walls so plenty of dead spots

glennevis

pad101 said:

mluton said:

Buy your own hardware / mesh setup, extend as needed with extra access points, take the no frills router from the BB supplier.

The WIFI coverage is nothing to do with the BB service, whichever supplier you use.

Thanks. Any recommendations for router or mesh system?

You don't necessarily have to move from Vodafone. I didn't have any trouble adding my own router to my Vodafone router.

HaroldWhistler

pad101 said:

mluton said:

Buy your own hardware / mesh setup, extend as needed with extra access points, take the no frills router from the BB supplier.

The WIFI coverage is nothing to do with the BB service, whichever supplier you use.

Thanks. Any recommendations for router or mesh system?

You can set up a Mesh system with "nodes" around the house. It all depends on the incoming speed into the property. Generally speaking, this might be a good guide:

1. Powerline: If incoming internet speed is 50Mbps or below, you could simply buy a set of Powerline adapters such as the TP Link models found on Amazon. There are models also labelled as a Mesh Powerline set. 

2. Wireless backhaul: If the internet speed is up to 300Mbps, the older BT Whole Home Wifi discs could work out well (you don't need to be a BT broadband customer).

3. Wireless backhaul: If the incoming internet speed is up to 500Mbps, systems like the Amplifi Alien (2 of them) or Asus Zen XT8 2 pack. There are also TP Link Deco Mesh systems which some seem to be happy with. 

4. Wired backhaul: Any internet speed up to 900Mbps, if you can use ethernet cables (wired backhaul) between each node around the house, then something like two Amplifi Aliens would be a good bet, or else an Asus XT8 2 pack.

5. Wireless backhaul: Internet speeds up to 900Mbps, if you want to go for a fully wireless system (so the "backhaul" is wireless without wires in between each node), then you could go for a system like the Asus XT12 2 pack, or the Netgear Orbi RBK853 systems both of which have dedicated wireless bands for communication between the nodes.

I would personally suggest waiting on "Wifi 6E" Mesh systems as Wifi 7 systems are starting to come out and would only really benefit those with 6E devices. A good "Wifi 6" Mesh system should put you in good stead if Full Fibre is on its way.