Suggestions on how I can boost wifi coverage in my house

[therealnickb]

What brand/model hardware did you guys use? I'm looking at Ubiquity but the reviews on its set-up sound daunting.

[Uncivil Engineer]

Like you ISP isn't doing that for you already. LOL

Is simple enough to setup your own local caching dns server. Usually I recommend it because you can just create you own zone or use .local to name your own machines. Then your dns will go to root servers. But again rarely is that encrypted so your isp can still track and log or possibly spoof. If your isp is really that hostile you might think about setting up your Nat router to forward everything to a good VPN. ExpressVPN has a good no logging policy and even guides on how to setup your router to forward so traffic.

[Uncivil Engineer]

The ubiquiti stuff really isn't hard to setup. The only thing is it requires you to setup a machine to be there controller. Where it runs Java based web app. It will run on Windows or any small server. A cheap easy way is to setup a raspberry pi running Linux and install the controller software on it. The pi can easily run the controller software and it will have enough power to do much more. Eg file/print sever. Local dns. Just about any light weight sever stuff you need. They also use very little power and have passive cooling so leaving it on isn't a problem.

[RBShooter]

The ubiquiti stuff really isn't hard to setup. The only thing is it requires you to setup a machine to be there controller. Where it runs Java based web app. It will run on Windows or any small server. A cheap easy way is to setup a raspberry pi running Linux and install the controller software on it. The pi can easily run the controller software and it will have enough power to do much more. Eg file/print sever. Local dns. Just about any light weight sever stuff you need. They also use very little power and have passive cooling so leaving it on isn't a problem.

Thanks for the input, but that's outside my wheelhouse unless there's a turnkey product I can buy and keep with my switch, printer, router, etc. Otherwise I may just buy a flexi 6-footer bit, do additional network cable drops from my attic, move my switch to the attic, and call it a day.

EDIT: Hmmm... https://dougrathbone.com/blog/2018/0...n-raspberry-pi looks cheap and not exactly rocket surgery. I may be able to handle this.

[therealnickb]

Not sure I'd want any electronics in the attic. At least mine. It gets too hot up there.

[240z]

These Work Great

What's the best way? Switching modems isn't an option until I kick Frontier to the curb.

It's a 1-story mid-1950's 1,650 sqft'er, with button-board plaster walls. Frontier FioS service is supposed to be 200/200.
My Frontier router is 10 ft from the north exterior wall, and I'd like to get better coverage for the three bedrooms at the opposite side of the house that are at the south exterior wall.

I have FiOS and my ONT is in the attic. I also have unused Cat6 and coaxial cables feeding from my current router location up to in to my attic, and I have power up there.

Can I place a booster/repreater/extender gizmo up in my attic by the the rooms on the opposite side of the house? Better yet, which gizmo is best for my application and will said gizmo have a network port, so I can run a line down in to my garage as well? Do I get another wireless router and use it as some kind of bridge, connecting it to my Frontier router?

Any good and practical advice would be greatly appreciated.

I have a set of these in my house. One near the modem in the main part of the house, the other on the garage ceiling:

https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Deco-Whole-System-2-Pack/dp/B0797D6853/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=tp-link+deco&qid=1586029806&s=electronics&sr=1-3

Stupid simple setup and the price is pretty good too. The only downside is they do not run POE, but if you have power, you are good to go. It literally took me 5 minutes to setup the first unit and maybe 10 for the second, but only because I had to climb a ladder, mount it on the ceiling and run the power connection to the plug.

I would use the Ethernet you have to the attic to run a hard-wired connection between the main unit and the attic unit (this is called a backhaul connection). It will work ok without that as they will use wifi, but it is faster and a more solid connection when hard-wired.

Note that they do not have a provision to mount to anything, but you can buy mounts for them pretty cheaply.

[RBShooter]

Not sure I'd want any electronics in the attic. At least mine. It gets too hot up there.

Gets hot in mine, too. Apparently there are "industrial" rated switches that designed to operate in environments up to 70-C. The cheapie ones will supposedly operate in environments up to 50-C (122 Fahrenheit). Pretty sure my attic hits 122+ on a typical summer day.

I have a set of these in my house. One near the modem in the main part of the house, the other on the garage ceiling:

https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Deco-Whole-System-2-Pack/dp/B0797D6853/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=tp-link+deco&qid=1586029806&s=electronics&sr=1-3

Stupid simple setup and the price is pretty good too. The only downside is they do not run POE, but if you have power, you are good to go. It literally took me 5 minutes to setup the first unit and maybe 10 for the second, but only because I had to climb a ladder, mount it on the ceiling and run the power connection to the plug.

I would use the Ethernet you have to the attic to run a hard-wired connection between the main unit and the attic unit (this is called a backhaul connection). It will work ok without that as they will use wifi, but it is faster and a more solid connection when hard-wired.

Note that they do not have a provision to mount to anything, but you can buy mounts for them pretty cheaply.

very interesting...will read the reviews. Thanks!

[hermosabeach]

Are you a Costco member? Have the Costco visa?

Costco extends factory warranty
Costco visa adds another year or too

Buy a mesh system

If it works- easy


If not return to Costco - also easy

[NoHeavyHitter]

I bought a Netgear WiFi extender that plugs into a wall socket. It made quite an improvement. It's also worth experimenting where to plug it in for best results. In my case, I wound up having it plugged in, in a location that I wouldn't have thought would work very well, so experiment around.