Improving WiFi reliability and speed

[Wilki6467]

Could do with help regarding my broadband connectivity in the house. We have Plusnet fibre extra broadband coming into the house with a tp Link powerline adapter to my sons upstairs bedroom where he connects his xbox via Ethernet. The Powerline adapter has stopped his moaning about lag but the problem is the rest of the house the WiFi is terrible it seems to connect but just doesn’t load say on my iPhone or streaming tv. I’m after a way of getting him a stable connection for his games but also making the WiFi the best it can be so I can steam live tv when I want etc. Any ideas what I can do for the best ie is buying a new better router a good idea.
Cheers for you’re help


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[blueball]

You could add extra powerline adapters to your existing setup and place a WiFi Access Point somewhere else in the house? These are my current favourites https://www.4gon.co.uk/ubiquiti-unifi-ac-lr-p-6642.html or you could plug the AP directly into your existing router.

[Wilki6467]

Would that help the reliability of the signal so to speak I’m pretty much a beginner in this I’m not very up on computers. The signal is full strength on my phone it just doesn’t do anything a lot of the time if you get what I mean. Also forgot to add my router is under the stairs in a cupboard along with a boiler which probably won’t t help but that’s where the phone line comes in cheers


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[oldboy47]

I had problems over multiple sites wanting multiple connections at each site. The physical nature of each site (old buildings, new buildings, open spaces, etc) all had issues using the supplied router from the broadband company (mostly BT hub5). On advice swapped out the router for a netgear modem and separate netgear triband router. On some sites I also installed additional wifi extenders/access points to improve signal coverage (mostly Edimax or netgear) as well as powerline extenders on one site. All sites enjoy good bandwidth for all devices, wired and wireless.

[Wilki6467]

Is that an easy thing to do swapping the router is it a case of unplug old plug in a new or I take it you need to somehow program it cos I’m not the most competent on computers.


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[Hoonigan]

Something like this: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/DIR-882-A...s%2A=0&ie=UTF8

Should improve your WiFi performance hugely. Obviously, check what the script is with swapping out your particular modem/router but it was very easy with Virgin Media.

[usered]

You ca get a wifi extender like this 1: TP-Link TL-WA850RE N300 Universal Range Extender, srry cant post links just yet.

[Wilki6467]

Is changing the router just a case of unplugging old isp router and plugging in new one or do I have to change some setting etc on new one? If so is it difficult for someone who’s not very good on computers to do? Also would I continue to use a powerline adapter to the Xbox from the new router or would everything just be ok on WiFi with a better router
Cheers for you’re time


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[jimborae]

For somebody not technically competent (no offence), i would recomend BT Whole Home wi-fi discs. Set up is super easy and an app on your phone takes you through all the set up process and tells you where best to put the discs. You dont need to change your router, just switch the wi-fi off on own router and let the BT discs handle the wi-fi.

Basically a mesh home wi-fi network is the way forward as others have alluded to and I think home BT discs are the cheapest easiest way to do it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/BT-seamless...90293197&psc=1

Review here:
https://www.expertreviews.co.uk/bt/1...-mesh-wireless

[Wilki6467]

Those bt things look like a good idea will they be good enough for my son on the Xbox can’t be doing with him whinging about his game lagging cos he spends his life on it
Cheers for the advice


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[jimborae]

Those bt things look like a good idea will they be good enough for my son on the Xbox can’t be doing with him whinging about his game lagging cos he spends his life on it
Cheers for the advice


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Yes but he can carry on using the homeplug.

[PC-LAD]

I've had issues with my network reliability with TalkTalk for 2 years now after 4 hubs and 6 engineers I decided to pull money out of my pocket and bought a standalone router and modem. All issues fixed and everyone in the house is happy for the £60 investment that I will deinstall when I move out https://forums.hexus.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Dareos]

before you go messing with the wifi get a network speed test first

plug a laptop directly into the router with an Ethernet cable, disconnect any other Ethernet cables from the unit, if possible turn off wifi.

www.speedtest.net

find out what sort of bandwidth you actually have.

post it here, we'll ask more questions then give some advice

tbh it might just be a case of changing the wireless channel, try 1, 6, 11 and test speeds on each one, can get speedtest app for phone for testing wifi connections.

[Wilki6467]

Thanks for everyone who took their time to reply I took the plunge and bought the by whole WiFi seems to have done the trick for what I wanted WiFi now seems much better and I can stream tv while my lad plays xbox no worries cheers for you’re advice people


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[SAMJOSEPH]

Thank you for the responses. It's helpful.