Wi-FI 7 Backhaul

[2pies]

Hi. I have just upgraded to a new EE broadband package (existing customer with 500Mb/s FTTP) which will come with the Smart Hub Pro and an extender. Its likely that I will need a 2nd extender as I need Wi-Fi coverage at the bottom of the garden for a converted shed that has a streaming device (Apple TV). So I have a question about backhaul (the way in which each mesh device talk to eachother).

Can you mix wired with wireless backhaul i.e. can the Smart Hub Pro communicate with Extender 1 (Ext1) using Wi-FI, but Ext1 is wired to Ext2? I currently have a different mesh network (Plume) that strongly advise against doing this. It technically works, but casues lots of instability in thet network and constantly tries to "optimise". See the following documentation they provide:
https://support.plume.com/s/article/Does-hardwiring-pods-improve-WiFi-performance?language=en_US

I'm curious to know whether this is a generic position across all mesh networks or if it is specific to Plume.

I'm confident that the Hub can communicate with Ext1 as it will only be about 15m away and traverse a single wall, but Ext1 and Ext2 will be much greater distance away and travese 2 walls. So I need to know whether I need to run an ethernet cable through interior walls, or around the house, from the Router to Ext1, if I also want to run a cable from Ext1 to Ext2.

In short, which of these scenarios is supported:

R ----------- Ext1----------Ext2 (all wireless backhaul)

R------------Ext1_______Ext2 (amixed backhaul)

R_________Ext1_______Ext2 (all wired backhaul)

Thanks

[JimM11]

@2pies If you wish to maximise the wireless Wi-Fi speeds, then you would be better to run individual Ethernet to each of the smart wireless extenders from the Pro router, cable backhaul is always going to be better no matter what... Be aware that the 2.5Gb/s nic on the router and also the smart wireless extenders are very fussy about the Ethernet cable also.

[2pies]

Yes, I realise that wired is always best. But that means running a cable around the entire perimeter of the house or punching holes in interior walls and tacking them to skirting. It looks messy. If I have to do it, I will, but wife won't be pleased!

[JimM11]

@2pies Wiring up 2 wi-fi extenders to each other you are not creating a wired backhaul as such, just trying to push the data from the router wirelessly to extender 1 then down the cable to extender 2, not the ideal method for connecting up a system, just give it a try and see what happens, not sure if anyone on the Forum would have ever tried such a paired method you will soon find out if the 2nd extender can communicate to the first and onwards too the router. 

[2pies]

Thanks. I've run a cable from the Extender in the garden all around the house to the Hub and its working well. I'm waiting to receive another Extender, which I will wire up too. Not ideal to have long cables running around the house but its important to have a good connection for my work PC and the teenagers PS5

[JimM11]

@2pies Good that it's working out cable wise, also nothing worse than a teenager when the PS5 is acting up, dad can you fix the internet it's *@^! or words to that effect, and cables are always an issue when you cannot hide them, just wait till the wife takes the hump one day, darling it's a benefit for all, start prepping the response!