Need a real router and mesh

[Toryscum]

Hi

Been using the "Smart" Hub Pro for a few months now and come to the conclusion it's less than rubbish. 

There is no real QoS, no ability to change DNS and the awful range extenders are equal to tin cans with a bit of string. 

Can anyone suggest a decent router, preferably with mesh extenders so I can send these back?  I have super thick walls and need mesh via power line network to get the signal around the house. 

Your thoughts would be gratefully received.

Mick

[JimM11]

@Toryscum Have a look at the Asus range, they have a powerline combined mesh, do NOT put your hopes up for powerline solving problems though, can be as bad as wireless issues. Sample below just do your research.

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

[Toryscum]

Cheers

I used the tp-link power line mesh for a few years and with one of their routers and all worked well, but like you say they don't always fix the issue. 

The EE extenders are really poor and I need something that will work!!

[Northerner]

Hi @Toryscum 

Eero.

Thanks 

[JimM11]

@Toryscum Cannot comment on the Pro or it's Smart Wireless product, as an ISP supplied product it is aimed at getting connected ideally with the minimum off fuss, after that it is down to the user to fine tweak it as best they can. If you are finding that it is not suitable and you have the ability then few choice's now posted for you to look at.

Not for the Forum to recommend one over the other...👍

[Toryscum]

No, but can suggest working solutions - the EE Smart Hub Pro is not a solution.

[JimM11]

@Toryscum You will find some user's out there that absolutely love it, whether just the router or even combined units. Have no need for a Pro so really cannot throw any light on it's performance....

[bobpullen]

@Toryscum - what  problems are you experiencing with the extenders?

---

@Toryscum wrote:

I have super thick walls and need mesh via power line network to get the signal around the house. 

---

If you have the extenders wired via Powerline as the above suggests (not something I'd personally recommend as you'll struggle to get much more than a  few hundred mbps through the electical wiring), then I'm assuming your problem can't be related to the  wireless backhaul connection? For device connectivity to the extender  itself, the units are pretty well-specced 2x2/4x4/4x4 tri-band devices so surprising to hear it's so bad for you.

[Toryscum]

Seriously, the walls need a power drill to even put up a picture hook.  This place will survive a nuclear blast!

There are pro's and cons to both approaches but I've used the EE kit and 3 extenders for a 6 months and drops out all the time, not good for two people working from home and son back from uni gaming and watching tv.  It's not fit for our purpose.

We had an EE engineer visit and admitted the extenders were not much better than extenders of 10 years ago, they don't like thick walls.  Happy to swap the router, non-configurable DNS means I need a pi with DHCP and DNS, a waste of a resource.

Hey ho  

[bobpullen]

---

@Toryscum wrote:

We had an EE engineer visit and admitted the extenders were not much better than extenders of 10 years ago, they don't like thick walls.

---

Can't say I agree with the former statement. A decade ago marks the launch of Wi-Fi 5 which saw througput  in the realms of  a few hundred mbps . These days,  it's not too difficult to push well north of 1Gbps with the right equipment.

There's only so much that can be done from a range perspective though, as the power output  is regulated and can only be dialled  up so far.

The Pro extenders won't connect wirelessly back to the hub too well where thick walls are concerned. They use 6GHz for this and it's pretty poor at penetrating obstacles. That shouldn't be a concern in your scenario though if you're  using Powerline  to link them up.

... non-configurable DNS means I need a pi with DHCP and DNS, a waste of a resource.

---

I suspect configurable DNS will come at some point as it's an option on the Smart Hub Plus.