Thread: Parts of the house get crap wi-fi

We have a fairly large 20's bungalow. Matched lined, lots of doors, big big brick chimney in the middle of the house. We struggle with wi-fi on the second story and in the rooms farthest away from the router. Can I use wi-fi extenders to get better service in those areas? The router is a orcon supplied unit. Am I better off to invest in a more full on router? I know very little about this stuff.

Sort of router will be a big thing with it for sure. What sort of router have you got? Throw a picture up if you're not sure. Getting a serious one should solve the problem pretty quick, and you can pick up some great ones on trademe. Extenders are certainly an option, but would always recommend a better router first.

I have never learned how to post photos, but the router is a non descript free unit as supplied to us by orcon. It has no arials. Just wondering what I should be looking for. Do they make V8 ie big grunty mother routers with enough radio signal to give you cancer or do I need wi-fi extenders to reach the nether regions of my place.

we had this problem with a providers router. complained to them that it was crap and they tried to sell us an upgrade from their basic free one. i said "UM NA", you give me the one that works all over the house or I go elsewhere for a provider. low and behold, got the good one for free. didnt even have to sign on for a longer plan

I cant get wifi in my bedroom but can pick it up half a k away from the house down the road and on the farm, I reckon jesus just dosent want me to look at pictures of naughty ladies

There are all sorts of options. Location and equipment are usually the biggest issues. Centrally located is best but not an option here so I ran cable under the floor and have an access point at the other end of the house to the router. If you don't want to run cable you can get devices that will modulate the signal on top of your mains so you can use the mains wiring to get the data to an access point.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/...8d56313f920bc9

The worst place for wifi in my place is downstairs in the garage at my reloading bench.
So I'm forced to concentrate on that and not pornhub etc.

Originally Posted by gadgetman

There are all sorts of options. Location and equipment are usually the biggest issues. Centrally located is best but not an option here so I ran cable under the floor and have an access point at the other end of the house to the router. If you don't want to run cable you can get devices that will modulate the signal on top of your mains so you can use the mains wiring to get the data to an access point.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/...8d56313f920bc9

The router is adjacent to the fiber connection. Real noob here but don't think I can shift it elsewhere. Are these things in your link the goods?

Better routers can only do so much, range extenders slow it down. Apparently "Mesh Wi-Fi" is the beez kneez.
like this... but you will need two! Not cheap.

https://www.mightyape.co.nz/product/...RoCPqgQAvD_BwE

Easiest option would be to get a dedicated wireless access point and run a ethernet cable to the other end of the house.
Hopefully will be semi plug and play. $150 to $200 + the cable
Be careful though as on trademe people call routers "access points"
Something like this should do the trick. You can spend more but unless you have more than a couple of people using it at once streaming netflix you shouldnt have a problem.
https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NET...-AC1200-300867


I have used an old router before as an access point (free or $20ish off trademe). But that involves a fair few setting changes to make it work.

I can't comment on the ones that use the mains to transfer the signal. But the kit linked before will still require an access point.

Originally Posted by septic

The router is adjacent to the fiber connection. Real noob here but don't think I can shift it elsewhere. Are these things in your link the goods?

Yes. I've installed similar units into big houses where running cable was impractical. Everything needs to be on the same phase which is the usual set up in a house.

They used to use the same thing on the power grid years ago. Not sure if still done.

https://www.tp-link.com/la/products/...L-WPA4220.html

Yeah those things are excellent, my parents are still using the earlier models, 12(?) years later. Just make sure you're not plugging them in to a multi box, best to use a single plug.

Now if you want to give the entire neighbourhood cancer, and become America's new target for more freedom, check this baby out https://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/...6c6f9a33a12c8f You'll be able to access your Wi-fi from the moon.

i cabled the whole house in cat 6 cable as it was being built. 12 outlets spread out including every tv point. i sat my wireless modem high up on a shelf in the garage outside the earthed metal media cabinet. i get great wifi throughout the house but i know i can plug an extender in anywhere and go even further.
plenty of cat 6 left in anyone in chch wants some

Wifey was using Spotify in her Pilates studio - end of the house.
Was forever dropping out.
Got a cheap $75 range extender and she's happy.
Unit is plugged into a power point in an above garage ceiling storage area we had done during house build 4 years ago, closer to her studio.
No problems with dropping out, even if I'm streaming 'TVNZ On Demand' in the lounge or I'm listening to Spotify at the reloading bench, in the metal shed, across the yard.
Some of our Apple products swap to the strongest signal they can pick up, Android products have to be 'told'.