Mesh Wi-Fi or other setup for home network?

[dja4260]

I have a 2400~sq ft, 4 bedroom (All bedrooms on 2nd floor) stick built home with a 800~sq ft finished walk out basement. My 600 MBPS cable internet provider feeds a modem to a central location in my basement. I cannot move the modem location. I don't have the ability to run CAT cable around the house. I have multiple devices on all floors that require a wireless signal.

What would you be shopping for with maybe a $200 budget? Am I being to cheap?

Mesh system, router w/ extender, etc!

Thank you for your help.

TP-Link Deco X55 is an example of a Mesh system that I'm considering?

 

[John Galt]

I really like my Eero mesh system. Base unit (connected to the Verizon fiber optic box) is in the back Family room and the second Eero is in the front of the house. The third is located on the third floor of the house. I have about 25 devices in total on the system. I pay for 300/300 and get that from the bottom two Eero’s, the third floor unit it gives me 150/100 which is really plenty. My home was built in the 1880’s and has tin ceilings which affects the mesh connection.

I should add that you probably don’t need to keep using the modem supplied by your internet provider. When I switched to Verizon the plan came with a modem. That modem sits in the box it came in. The base Eero mesh system Ethernet cable plugs into the Ethernet port where the supplied modem would have plugged in. The Eero is the modem and the WiFi bridge all in one.

https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-eero-...mzn1.fos.74097168-0c10-4b8a-b96b-8388a1a12daf

 

[Urshurak776]

+1 on a mesh system. By far the best option. I also have the Eero 6 system. Had google wifi mesh before that. Worked good, but when we moved to a 2 story 3100 square foot home, needed something faster. Works great even in back yard. Two sons that game (PC, XBOX, PS5) plus we stream everything. Ring cameras and doorbell. I work from home a lot, Zoom/Teams meetings with video, etc. No problems.

Edit: If your internet package is 500MBs or less, Eero 6 is great. If more than 500MBs, get the Eero 6+.

 

[Mainia]

I installed this one in my daughters 2000 sq ft house. Works great and has Trend Micro bad site filtering too for lifetime/free. Minimal zero days on the hardware. I have older Asus Mesh at my house. Love it!! I never have drop out issues. She has the tri band and I have the dual band. Again, rock solid. Firmware update it easy and seamless, you only have to push the check button in the Asus App to check it. I got sick of babysitting my $3,000 rack security server setup and am "flying" with Asus for the last 3 years. I would say spend the extra $50 for the tri band as one can use for the back end data transfer between the two for faster data transfer. Bey longevity to not re buying later.


https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-ZenWiFi-AX-Whole-Home-Tri-Band/dp/B083Q45V1V?th=1

.

 

[2002 Maxima SE]

I have a 2400~sq ft, 4 bedroom (All bedrooms on 2nd floor) stick built home with a 800~sq ft finished walk out basement. My 600 MBPS cable internet provider feeds a modem to a central location in my basement. I cannot move the modem location. I don't have the ability to run CAT cable around the house. I have multiple devices on all floors that require a wireless signal.

What would you be shopping for with maybe a $200 budget? Am I being to cheap?

Mesh system, router w/ extender, etc!

Thank you for your help.

TP-Link Deco X55 is an example of a Mesh system that I'm considering?

I recently (yesterday) heard a news story that TPLink was caught up in espionage by lax security in their wifi network products. I haven't read more into it.

https://www.pcmag.com/news/us-lawmakers-demand-probe-into-tp-link-claiming-spying-risks-from-china

I went with Google (now Nest) mesh about 6 years ago. It's a game changer over vendor wifi/router units or plug in wifi range extenders. I've got three pucks that give good performance spaced across the house on coaxial. We had Fibre at the old house and the system had even better performance.

870 Mbs Down/25 Mbs Up - puck on the router (1G service)
I believe the furthest puck gets 25 to 40 Mbs Down.

The pucks even out disruption, setup is very straightforward without tons of options and diagnosis of pucks via the app is intuitive. We do not use the Google DNS.

 

[y_p_w]

I don't know about TP-Link these days. But for $200 and whatever sales tax, you should be able to get something that works well. Perhaps add another unit later if there are dead spots.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/eero-6-ax1800-dual-band-mesh-wi-fi-6-system-3-pack-white/6433419.p

I wouldn't necessarily worry about ultimate speeds. The only way you're ever going to be able to use the maximum speeds is with wired equipment. Wireless is about convenience over ultimate performance, since a lot of devices are portable and most people don't want to bury too many cables in walls. Then you'd need to play around with location and see what the signal strength is.

I guess you'll need to find the sweet spot for placement. Even with the source internet in the basement I would think ideally you'd want to at least place the base unit as high as possible - perhaps on a high shelf or mounted high on a wall. I take it that a wire in the basement wouldn't be an issue? At least with the eero units, there are adhesive wall mounting brackets that aren't too expensive. They're not very heavy and I suppose you can always replace the adhesive if it gets weak.

 

[John Galt]

The eero I have is about the size of a big muffin. Easily fits in one hand base and mesh are all the same size and model number, interchangeable.

 

[y_p_w]

I'm just curious, but was this relocated to the wrong forum?

 

[dja4260]

Why was this moved to the test forum? This is not a test....

 

[y_p_w]

Why was this moved to the test forum? This is not a test....

I was thinking it was more appropriate for the Computers forum where most of the questions on networking and connectivity usually go. I'm guessing just a mistake in which forum to move the topic to.

 

[cbear]

I have a 2400~sq ft, 4 bedroom (All bedrooms on 2nd floor) stick built home with a 800~sq ft finished walk out basement. My 600 MBPS cable internet provider feeds a modem to a central location in my basement. I cannot move the modem location. I don't have the ability to run CAT cable around the house. I have multiple devices on all floors that require a wireless signal.

What would you be shopping for with maybe a $200 budget? Am I being to cheap?

Mesh system, router w/ extender, etc!

Thank you for your help.

TP-Link Deco X55 is an example of a Mesh system that I'm considering?

If your house was built in the last 20 years, there's a chance the phone lines were run as CAT5e. Might give you some options for hardlines.

Eero 6e Pros have worked very well in my experience. Seen many TP Link Deco installs, customer's seem to like them, and they usually have favorable reviews. Orbi is another good one. The biggest flaw on installations I've seen is people place the secondary unit too far from the main unit. and then they have poor performance.

 

[dja4260]

If your house was built in the last 20 years, there's a chance the phone lines were run as CAT5e. Might give you some options for hardlines.

Eero 6e Pros have worked very well in my experience. Seen many TP Link Deco installs, customer's seem to like them, and they usually have favorable reviews. Orbi is another good one. The biggest flaw on installations I've seen is people place the secondary unit too far from the main unit. and then they have poor performance.

You're correct that I did have CAT5 cables in the bedrooms. They ran through the baseboards... I cut the heads off and puttied the holes up about 6 years ago...

 

[Rand]

at that price point a consumer grade mesh is your only option
unifi could be done for <300 express and u6plus
but more like 430 for what I would recommend.
cloud gateway u6-LR + u6plus .. although a single u6-lr might cover your whole location depending on wall materials etc.

For consumer products
I'd probably goto costco and buy something that is not tp-link.

 

[dja4260]

at that price point a consumer grade mesh is your only option
unifi could be done for <300 express and u6plus
but more like 430 for what I would recommend.
cloud gateway u6-LR + u6plus .. although a single u6-lr might cover your whole location depending on wall materials etc.

For consumer products
I'd probably goto costco and buy something that is not tp-link.

Thank you for the feedback. Well, before I read this, I went to Costco.com and bought a TP-Link... I don't mine spending more money if I can see the benefits. I have 3 kids and we stream from multiple devices. I need wi-fi coverage to reach my detached workshop for the garage door opener and Roku stick on my TV out there.

Here is my purchase: https://www.costco.com/tp-link-deco-ax5000-mesh-wi-fi-3-pack.product.4000175264.html

 

[alarmguy]

I recently (yesterday) heard a news story that TPLink was caught up in espionage by lax security in their wifi network products. I haven't read more into it.

https://www.pcmag.com/news/us-lawmakers-demand-probe-into-tp-link-claiming-spying-risks-from-china

…

In the interest of accuracy, this comes from the link that you posted.
“The lawmakers haven’t uncovered any direct evidence of TP-Link aiding Chinese state-sponsored spying“

The Chinese state sponsor spying invades equipment manufacturers from all around the world not just TP link but includes USA manufacturers.

Our spy agencies do the same thing and have invaded Apple iPhones of our allies heads of states and presidents.

What I’m saying is a consumer listening to politicians talk you really don’t have to be concerned about them invading your home because there’s nothing you could do about it if they wanted to. Just my feelings.
Honestly, I would be more concerned about Google and Amazon products.

 

[2002 Maxima SE]

There's a more recent article on CNET. I'm a bit sensitive to the matter due to having personal information caught up in several breaches. All you can do is make an informed decision and prepare for any potential issues.

https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/...-routers-this-year-how-worried-should-you-be/

 

[Donald]

Can you get CAT6 cable from base router to the areas you feel should get an access point?

A mesh is always a store and forward and wired access points are always the best as solution.

But if the house is built and not easy way to run CAT6 then a mesh might be the best solution.

 

[alarmguy]

I think way too many people think too highly of themselves to think TP Link is after you.
We used to burn witches in this country for the same reasons I am reading here. When it fits their way of thinking, all of a sudden politicians are the smartest people on planet earth.

No evidence TP Link is involved on spying on you. By the way, it only makes sense to go after the biggest company.
I agree, the Chinese and Russian states are after the USA. But that goes for all electronics. INCLUDING major USA manufacturers of Internet equipment compromised. SO you can spend more think you for false reasons that you are secure but that is a fallacy.
Does ANY one read through the links posted here?

"A ban is more about TP-Link's ties to China than a known technical issue
The cybersecurity experts I spoke with all agreed that TP-Link had security flaws, but so do all router companies."

All good just feel the need to post for the followers of unread information.
BTW- your Social Security Number, name, birthdate, address is already on the dark web along with everyone else. You are a fish in the ocean, they cant use all that information on all 350 million Americans, never mind everyone else in the world. They go after big names with huge pockets, corporations and our infrastructure.

*LOL* I mean who are we kidding? All your information is exposed, from your dentist to your cell phone provider to your credit card company. I mean more than 1/3rd of you got letters in the mail from "Change Health Care" about their data breach alone, that is one health care processing company, 1/3rd or more of the country in one breach every aspect of your life is out there, ATT, T-Mobile, US treasury just a pinhead of breaches. Yet we all still clamor for must lower cost Chinese EVs to come to our shores and we buy low cost Chinese produced TVs, Doorbells, Cameras, Computers (including the one you are using)

https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/14/2024-in-data-breaches-1-billion-stolen-records-and-rising/

 

[tmorris1]

You're correct that I did have CAT5 cables in the bedrooms. They ran through the baseboards... I cut the heads off and puttied the holes up about 6 years ago...

It wouldn't be hard to re-terminate those to use for ethernet. That would be your best option. Then you could wire your wireless access points.

 

[tmorris1]

I think way too many people think too highly of themselves to think TP Link is after you.
We used to burn witches in this country for the same reasons I am reading here. When it fits their way of thinking, all of a sudden politicians are the smartest people on planet earth.

No evidence TP Link is involved on spying on you. By the way, it only makes sense to go after the biggest company.
I agree, the Chinese and Russian states are after the USA. But that goes for all electronics. INCLUDING major USA manufacturers of Internet equipment compromised. SO you can spend more think you for false reasons that you are secure but that is a fallacy.
Does ANY one read through the links posted here?

"A ban is more about TP-Link's ties to China than a known technical issue
The cybersecurity experts I spoke with all agreed that TP-Link had security flaws, but so do all router companies."

All good just feel the need to post for the followers of bad information.
BTW- your Social Security Number, name, birthdate, address is already on the dark web along with everyone else. You are a fish in the ocean, they cant use all that information on all 350 million Americans, never mind everyone else in the world. They go after big names with huge pockets, corporations and our infrastructure.

*LOL* I mean who are we kidding? All your information is exposed, from your dentist to your cell phone provider to your credit card company.
https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/14/2024-in-data-breaches-1-billion-stolen-records-and-rising/

All true, but there is also nothing wrong with knowing you are dealing with a Chinese CCP backed company.