Router recommendations

[Distinctly Average]

I recently changed broadband supplier and they provided me with a Linksys Velop router. Turns out its WiFi is a bit crap. I bought a second one for £10 and added it as a second one in a mesh but it hasn’t improved anything.

 

SonI am looking to bung the ISP router in bridge mode and use a third party unit instead. So looking for lower cost recommendations. Not a big house and previously the Sky router covered it well enough. Any suggestions appreciated.

[CasualExtremist]

You seem certain this is a device issue and not a new ISP issue. Did you switch to the cheapest plan? Might have you as lowest priority internet servicing.

Main thing you need to determine/clarify is if internet speed is an issue even when signal strength is strong or if signal strength is the issue.

 

Easiest way to begin figuring that out is stand right next to the Velop router (or even connect via ethernet if possible), see if the internet is working properly (similar to old ISP speeds), and report back here with your findings.

[TudorFinalBosz]

What do you mean the Wifi is crap? But is the router getting the speeds from the contract in cabled mode?

If so, then you could get a separate AP unit, run a cable from the router to the AP and place it in a spot that can give you enough range for the target area.

You didn't mention any budget, so you could just search for whatever fits your case from the local supplier for Ubiquity or Mikrotik. Their routers and APs are quite good and very configurable.

[Distinctly Average]

57 minutes ago, CasualExtremist said:

You seem certain this is a device issue and not a new ISP issue. Did you switch to the cheapest plan? Might have you as lowest priority internet servicing.

Main thing you need to determine/clarify is if internet speed is an issue even when signal strength is strong or if signal strength is the issue.

 

Easiest way to begin figuring that out is stand right next to the Velop router (or even connect via ethernet if possible), see if the internet is working properly (similar to old ISP speeds), and report back here with your findings.

Wired is fine and I get the full 1gig connection to all wired devices. It is the wifi signal that is weak. Saying it is weak is a bit of an understatement. I can walk 3m away to the next room and signal is lost. Yes, I have tried moving the router around etc. it really is terrible. 

[Distinctly Average]

42 minutes ago, TudorF said:

What do you mean the Wifi is crap? But is the router getting the speeds from the contract in cabled mode?

If so, then you could get a separate AP unit, run a cable from the router to the AP and place it in a spot that can give you enough range for the target area.

You didn't mention any budget, so you could just search for whatever fits your case from the local supplier for Ubiquity or Mikrotik. Their routers and APs are quite good and very configurable.

I’ve never heard of Mikrotik. And yes, I did mean the wired connection is fine, I am getting the full 1gig service over that.

 

Having said that, I am now a bit miffed at my ISP. I got home to find none of my wifi devices were working. So I logged on to the router and found that after me asking them for advice they remotely changed the names of my WiFi network, appending the 2.4 with _2.4ghz and the 5 with _5ghz. Thus resulted in all my wifi connected devices being kicked off the network, including my car charger. So my car wasn’t charged (I am on a smart tariff). The ISP didn’t bother telling me they had or were going to do this.

 

So yes,  a separate router or AP is what is needed. I have tried all the usual settings on the Linksys Velop MX5600 that could affect speed. 
 

I don’t want to spend a fortune on an AP or Router, under £200 if possible. And the Velop router doesn’t provide PoE

 

I do work in the IT field, mainframe and enterprise storage hardware mainly so am out of touch with what is available in the consumer arena.

[Eigenvektor]

26 minutes ago, Distinctly Average said:

I’ve never heard of Mikrotik.

They're rather well-known in business space. They are quite affordable for what they offer, but not necessarily simple to configure.

[manikyath]

just grab yourself one or more decent access points. if the wired router bit is working fine i'd leave those as is, and get some propper hardware for the wifi.

 

also PoE+ injectors are fairly affordable these days, if you dont want to run a power cable to the AP, you dont necessarily have to invest in a PoE switch.

[Donut417]

2 hours ago, Distinctly Average said:

Saying it is weak is a bit of an understatement. I can walk 3m away to the next room and signal is lost. Yes, I have tried moving the router around etc. it really is terrible. 

That could be an environmental issue. Such as the building materials of you home. For example brick and concrete are known for blocking WiFi signals. OR it could be interference on the band your router broadcasts on. 2.4 Ghz for example is used for Bluetooth, wireless keyboards, Cordless phones etc. 

[Distinctly Average]

31 minutes ago, Donut417 said:

That could be an environmental issue. Such as the building materials of you home. For example brick and concrete are known for blocking WiFi signals. OR it could be interference on the band your router broadcasts on. 2.4 Ghz for example is used for Bluetooth, wireless keyboards, Cordless phones etc. 

As I mentioned, all previous routers have been fine. Nothing has changed except the router and ISP. I honestly believe the Linksys is just not very good at WiFi.

[Distinctly Average]

1 hour ago, manikyath said:

just grab yourself one or more decent access points. if the wired router bit is working fine i'd leave those as is, and get some propper hardware for the wifi.

 

also PoE+ injectors are fairly affordable these days, if you dont want to run a power cable to the AP, you dont necessarily have to invest in a PoE switch.

Thanks. Any recommendations? Ubiquity and TP Link seem to be the easiest to obtain near me.

 

I have checked for a PoE injector. Looks like it is the only way to power many APs as they don’t seem to have and DC input. 

[Distinctly Average]

2 hours ago, Eigenvektor said:

They're rather well-known in business space. They are quite affordable for what they offer, but not necessarily simple to configure.

Don’t seem to be easily obtainable here in the UK. I looked at a couple of suppliers and they all seem to either have no stock or only supply to commercial customers.

[Distinctly Average]

16 hours ago, manikyath said:

just grab yourself one or more decent access points. if the wired router bit is working fine i'd leave those as is, and get some propper hardware for the wifi.

 

also PoE+ injectors are fairly affordable these days, if you dont want to run a power cable to the AP, you dont necessarily have to invest in a PoE switch.

I managed to get a Ubiquity wifi 7 AP for a decent price. Installed it today but still resting in the same spot as the ISP one and the service is massively improved. When I get time I will mount it properly but for now I can actually move about without loosing service.