WiFi 6 routers/extenders anyone?

[drmarkf]

Not sure if this is the right place for this, but we’re getting irritated with the lack of seamless WiFi transition around our house.

The kitchen and breakfast room has a wireless-proof stainless steel roof so an extender is required (and we have a legacy wiring layout so extenders via that don’t work). Although connections and speeds are OK, devices tend to hang on to the TPLink extender network, which obviously reduces the connection speed compared with a direct link to the Virgin Hub3 router. Spotting that and switching manually is getting to be a right pain...

I suspect this might be solved with a more recent extender, but I know about Mesh router-extenders and I’ve read about the new WiFi 6 standard mesh routers. Both of those systems would require more investment than just upgrading the existing extender (assuming any exist that would provide a more seamless service), but does anyone have any thoughts on the choice between them, and which systems work reliably?

We have normally around a dozen assorted devices connected via wireless, but this can rise to 16 - 20 when the family stays. My desktop, the printer and the Virgin V6 TV box are directly attached via Ethernet to the Hub3, and I know how to switch that to modem mode.

Many thanks for any thoughts.

[Phill D]

I complained about the same problem recently too and someone on here said that virgin have an app that tests your WiFi and will send out free extenders if there is a problem with coverage. I haven't tried it out yet myself but will do when I get round to it.

[drmarkf]

Many thanks for that: I'll investigate. It obviously wouldn't do any harm to try, as it's free! I'll let you know how I get on.

[Ian]

My new SuperHub 3 is working well but its advanced configuration options for DHCP management are less comprehensive than the old router. I have one range extender at the back of the house that provides coverage in the kitchen and onto the patio outside. Upstairs can be a bit patchy depending on your location.

[drmarkf]

Yes, the consensus from my more techie friends locally is that the Virgin gear is a bit challenged if its asked to do both modem and wifi functions, and that one of the Mesh system options should give us faster and more reliable connections. I'll see if the free Virgin extender cures it, but if there's any doubt I'll get a Mesh from one of the reputable suppliers.

[OM USer]

I'm not sure what you mean by a legacy wiring layout. We use netgear powerline (i.e. wi-fi over mains) to reach the loft area and the only common connection is at the fuse box. Our setup is actually 3 wi-fi routers (1 on each floor counting the loft) with the top 2 router's wan connection going into a powerline box and another powerline going into the ground floor router lan connection giving us a completely isolated and secure local area lan. The ground floor router wan output and security cameras are sent to the virgin hub so that the cameras can be viewed when we are out (from the 'phone app) and the internal lan is secure even if the virgin hub is compromised.

[Walti]

I'm using BT (No Virgin round here) and have some of their free extenders so I have coverage throughout the house and garden! I would try Virgin first to see if they do something, if not then these come highly recommended:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Linksys-WHW0303-UK-Tri-Band-Extender-Whole-Home/dp/B01N5M9NNB/ref=asc_df_B01N5M9NNB/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=232043227663&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6286224801717249244&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9044906&hvtargid=pla-353864001359&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

[drmarkf]

Many thanks for the comments.

I've tried two powerline systems in the past and couldn't get a connection between the two parts of the house where it's needed. I haven't investigated further, but I'd rather not waste any more time on that.

Yes, a couple of people whose opinions I trust have recommended that Linksys system or an alternative from TPLink should the Virgin idea not work, so barring any further revelations I'll follow that road.

[moggi1964]

I sold all my powerline stuff which kinda worked but not reliably.

We use BT and I bought the Whole Home disk setup a couple of years ago. Mostly reliable (occasional drop out from one disk when others are fine). We have the main disk and three additional disks around the house (TV box plugs into one; audio streamer plugs into another and computer plugs into the third plus each extends the wireless of course). I like having the App so I can see at a glance which disk/s are not connected to the network.

Hopefully the Virgin extender option works out for you.

[RobEW]

I'm no expert but found a solution that works for me. We have a Virgin Superhub whose signal failed to reach parts of our house reliably. I spent a while looking at powerline and other systems, and eventually settled on this (free to me) solution. I used an old router and configured it as an access point located more centrally; reconfigured the superhub as modem only, and wired the access point to the superhub using a long ethernet cable.

[AMc]

FWIW - I've been living in houses that wouldn't cover with WiFi since "g" kit wasn't actually a certified standard.
For some time I've used old routers with the DHCP switched off as switches with Access Points.
If you set the same SSID on all the devices serving as WiFi access points then most things like phones and laptops will "roam" between then fairly seamlessly.
I do have a dead spot in one room I renamed the closest access point SSID so I could manually select it - there seems to be some problem between two similar but not super strong connections where the iPhones switch between them without much consistency.
I was lucky that as part of our renovation we fitted underfloor heating - that meant with the floors up I could run CAT6 wiring everywhere - so the Access Points are hard wired to each other and anything that doesn't move is also hard wired (TV, games consoles, desktop computers).

Powerline devices don't work on multiple phases (or so I read) and we have 3 phase so they're a non starter in some circumstances.

[blu-by-u]

Your Telcos are so good that they provide extenders. Here, I get our own. The router, after the initial unit, if that goes south after 1 year, we have to get our own replacement

[drmarkf]

Yes, in the past year we've had our VirginMedia router and TV box upgraded for free, and although Virgin get a load of stick here in the UK about customer service, our experience is quite good. Downtime in the past few years has been extremely small (the last I noticed was around 3 months ago for a few hours, when they had to replace some equipment at our local cable connection box).

They've improved the online and app-based self-test and wizard support for a start, and that deals with most things. The only other point to remember is that although the dial-up support is fine as long as you're clear something has broken and you want a replacement/upgrade and you know what to say for the script to lead you promptly to what you want, if the cause is not fatal but more mysterious you're much better posting in the web-based Forum. You don't have to hang on the line, and there are a lot of knowledgeable and helpful amateurs there. Eventually a Virgin rep will join in if a query isn't sorted promptly, and again I've found them helpful.

On the negative side they're merging with O2, and I suspect that'll call a halt to any significant cable upgrades until they've sorted out the business side of that.

Still, we consistently get over 200Mbps down and over 20 upstream, which matches our contract, so I'm not complaining.

[AMc]

Virgin keep ownership of their boxes - the BT Openworld resellers don't. They'll either give you the first one for nothing or sell it to you for the cost of post and packaging.
If it dies after the contract ends then in my experience they attempt to fleece you for another one but will capitulate and send you another for P+P again if you threaten to go elsewhere.

[blu-by-u]

When there is a choice and competition.
Unfortunately, The is a lack of that here I am looking forward to some healthy competition. BUT then here don't have it. Only 1 fiber player, the rest of the "suppliers" lease the fiber from them. So it's about the same cost and services Nothing extra.
Even our mobile, there are 3 major players but they seem to have an agreement and nobody is undercutting. We all pay the same rate and services.

[Gwyver]

Mark,
Have you considered getting a decent router? Synology make some very good ones (eg SRT2600ac) which have excellent range & facilities. It also works with mesh routers (extenders) though it is very powerful so you might not need them. These routers don't include any ADSL/VDSL modem function so you'd need to keep your Virgin hub to make the WAN connection.
If you decide to change your router be sure to choose a make which provides long term support & firmware updates. This market is littered with kit which has serious security flaws and a total unwillingness from their manufacturers to provide fixes.

[Internaut]

Likewise, we have a free extender from BT. The BT app guided us to the best place in the house to place it.

[drmarkf]

Brief update: I was just about to order a Virgin WiFi extender when I spotted Amazon were having a flash sale on some of the TP-Link Mesh WiFi hubs, so I’m now the proud owner of a 3-unit Deco S4 system.

After following some clear advice about the setup process in a review of the system on Amazon from a Virgin customer, everything worked first time, and the whole house and a third of the garden is now seamlessly linked.

There’s a very noticeable overall speed increase (especially in what were borderline areas before, but detectable everywhere), and the Deco App actually works in all aspects (like setting up guest networks, activating WPS and checking device connections etc), unlike the intermittently-useless Virgin one.

So, I’m content. Many thanks for the input.

[Phill D]

I thought the Virgin extenders were free? did you try one of them first or was their reputation not good?

[drmarkf]

A 25% discount on a proper Mesh system that came with very good & consistent Amazon feedback won the day. There’s a lot of threads on the Virgin community page moaning about various aspects of the WiFi, and even if I had gone for the free extender it wouldn’t have upgraded the speed generally, and the app still wouldn’t have worked properly.
So I’m just using the Virgin Hub3 as a modem.