Large house - router mesh system with ethernet over powerline advice

[joecool]

hi,

Situation - large home with 1 router - I want to replace it with a mesh router system that supports ethernet over power line.
I used TP-Link Deco Powerline Hybrid Mesh WiFi System(Deco P9) - before, but I hate the iPhone forced setup.

I would like something with similar features - 3 wifi mesh routers that support Ethernet over powerline as a backbone.
Something that can be fully configured via good old local web interface and perhaps even better and stronger - with external antennas.

Recommendations ?

 

[Lost_Troll]

Look at Netgears orbi mesh router system. Everyone I know that has one, likes it.

Link: Orbi Mesh WiFi 6E Systems, Satellites & Routers - NETGEAR

I should add that MikroTik has a mesh system as well.

Link: MikroTik Routers and Wireless - Products: Audience

 

[joecool]

none of those have Ethernet over powerline as a backbone of linking them

 

[Lost_Troll]

none of those have Ethernet over powerline as a backbone of linking them

Yes, I know, as it outdated technology that most manufactures have stopped making in favor of faster systems like the ones I posted.

 

[Calenhad]

You may have to get powerline ethernet adapters if you want to use a newer mesh setup. But then you might end up with the backhaul bottlenecking your wireless speed. A mesh setup with a dedicated 5GHz channel for backhaul should also work fine.

External antennas are not an indication of signal strength btw. A good access point can have 6+ internal antennas and provide excellent signal strength.

 

[thewan]

TP-Link decos, a majority of them at least, yours included, have a web interface:
(expand the "This article applies to" your Deco P9 is in that list)

https://www.tp-link.com/support/faq/2641/

the only other hybrid mesh powerline i could find on the internuts is the Asus ZenWiFi AX Hybrid.

ASUS ZenWiFi AX Hybrid (XP4)｜Whole Home Mesh WiFi System｜ASUS Global

ZenWiFi Systems blanket your home with WiFi, for seamless roaming with no dead zones. They only take a few steps to set up, and offer easy, hassle-free management. Their modern design blends with any style of home.

www.asus.com

Fortunately being an ASUS, it has the ASUS web interface which i believe is one of the best in the industry.

Unfortunately, the powerline is crap, as anyone knows, but if you have no choice due to your house, it should be your only option.

Asus ZenWiFi AX Hybrid (XP4) Review: 1st Powerline AiMesh | Dong Knows Tech

In more ways than one, the new ZenWiFi AX Hybrid (model XP4) is Asus's Powerline alternative to its entry-level ZenWiFi AX Mini (XD4).

dongknows.com

If you really need powerline, getting separate ones might be the only way to go since its the only way you get the latest av2000 standard powerline. Whether it improves much over the older standard no one knows, since each individual house is different, but reviews are not that favorable.

Yes, I know, as it outdated technology that most manufactures have stopped making in favor of faster systems like the ones I posted.

Not everyone can hack/destroy and change the type of material their walls are made of like you can. So no they are not outdated until wireless friendly walls or houses with pre routed cable ducts become the standard in build code. Although yes admittedly the number of manufacturers have dwindled to basically 2 making AV2000, TP-Link and Netgear.

edit: ok i found d-link still makes them too so maybe 3.

 

[joecool]

Thank you - I have ASUS router myself and their web interface is excellent.
The ASUS ZenWiFi AX Hybrid (XP4) - look promising, more expensive and come in pair compared to the DECO P9

 

[lemonadesoda]

I have experience of "big houses". Having to use multiple wifi APs to get coverage. That requires running cable, powerline, or mesh.

You might find that a better AP solves all your problems. I solved a similar challenge like this:

Ubiquiti Unifi AP AC Pro, connected to router via short cable, covers 80% of house
additional Ubiquiti Unifi AP U6 Lite in cellar, connected via one long wire with PoE, takes cover up to 100% of house. I chose to wire it. But it could equally work as a wireless repeater or mesh.

The above covers a 350m2 house, 3 floors, concrete and brick. No dead spots in any important areas.

My biggest tip - separate modem/router from wireless APs. Avoid all-in-one solutions.

 

[helpplease]

hi,

Situation - large home with 1 router - I want to replace it with a mesh router system that supports ethernet over power line.
I used TP-Link Deco Powerline Hybrid Mesh WiFi System(Deco P9) - before, but I hate the iPhone forced setup.

I would like something with similar features - 3 wifi mesh routers that support Ethernet over powerline as a backbone.
Something that can be fully configured via good old local web interface and perhaps even better and stronger - with external antennas.

Recommendations ?

Hi joecool, I have the same problem as you. What 'mesh over powerline routers/boosters' did you end up buying? Are you happy with them? Would you mind sharing the brand and model with me please? Many thanks.

 

[Waldorf]

@joecool
wanted to make the whole location (not just the house) from a friend covered with wifi,
all decent mesh for 3 units was above 2-300, and selection limited (island).

connected 3 powerline adapters (TPlink gigabit AV1000) to feed basement router and 2 APs (Wavlink 600 or 1200AC, ethernet for data only) mounted outside,
those even cover "upstairs" in areas where the existing modem/5Ghz router drops.
2.4 used for wifi (same name, just different channels for each broadcaster),
5Ghz as backup (living room where the modem is) and additional connection to the APs.

​

 

[remixedcat]

I have experience of "big houses". Having to use multiple wifi APs to get coverage. That requires running cable, powerline, or mesh.

You might find that a better AP solves all your problems. I solved a similar challenge like this:

Ubiquiti Unifi AP AC Pro, connected to router via short cable, covers 80% of house
additional Ubiquiti Unifi AP U6 Lite in cellar, connected via one long wire with PoE, takes cover up to 100% of house. I chose to wire it. But it could equally work as a wireless repeater or mesh.

The above covers a 350m2 house, 3 floors, concrete and brick. No dead spots in any important areas.

My biggest tip - separate modem/router from wireless APs. Avoid all-in-one solutions.

2nding this and ubiquitis are great for the price they even have on-ap spectrum analytics as well and they can help with site planning. Ubiquiti also has thier wifiman app as well that can scan all wifi in the area and you can pick channels that are less congested. I had to redo my channel config last month cuz had a neighbor interfere. good site planning is essential.

also it's best to have 2 or so smaller coverage area APs and have them in non overlapping channels you'll spread the CPU usage evenly on the APs and have better performance, and good coverage.

Having one cranked to the max AP puts more CPU strain and lower performance as well as being more susceptible to interference from neighbor APs. having the coverage turned down to just enough and then adding another AP with the same coverage and doing some scans and channel and signal strength planning really helps.

Also using ones w PoE help cuz all you need is 1 cable to em. with those mesh things they still need a power cable but they don't have as good performance as 2 or so PoE wired APs since they are basically fancy repeaters so speeds get halved from the max marketed speed. You can get PoE injectors for very cheap if your switch doesn't have PoE. But you can get PoE switches for under 100USD pretty easily.

 

[Waldorf]

except that planning goes out the window if places around you have set theirs to change (regularly) based on other broadcasts,
or turning off stuff when not using (places with high energy cost and ppl not home for days),
and regular changes the ch you can use.

poe isnt an advantage of APs, i can do the same with mesh,
but will then have a smoother experience going from one area of coverage to another and not losing signal/
having to reconnect every time.

 

[remixedcat]

It's best to test the radius of coverage you implement. Mesh might seem smoother but sometimes the handoff doesn't even work. I've tested it with aerohive aps in that kinda mode and the bandwidth was way lower than in standard AP mode. Also you can configure many APs to auto channel too

 

[Waldorf]

oh sure, i was just adding it, as sometimes ppl spend not even one min online, quickly reading a single thread,
and not knowing any better get the "worse" solution for them.

i lived in a variety of owned/rented places and usually took care of the "IT" stuff,
with fixed channels on everything, until my recent work change (managing a property),
with an apartment block and several (large) homes all having multiple AP/mesh,
rotating channels to the point where i gave up, and used auto to prevent drop in perf every now and then.


and given same everything else, most [refer range over speed, as long as its "usable".