TRYING to extend my Wi-Fi - This is NOT how to do it! This TP-Link WiFi 6 Range Extender SUCKS
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- Опубліковано 25 лип 2024
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00:00 Introduction & Titles
00:25 Warning / Disclaimer
00:59 What are we going to do?
01:46 Introducing the TP-Link WiFi 6 Range Extender AX1800
03:35 Unboxing the TP-Link WiFi 6 Range Extender AX1800
06:51 Baseline Tests - My Current WiFi 6 setup!
08:38 Setting up the TP-Link WiFi 6 Range Extender AX1800
11:09 Installing the TP-Link WiFi 6 Range Extender AX1800
11:36 Testing the TP-Link WiFi 6 Range Extender
13:24 What have we learned today?
15:12 GAME OVER! - Розваги
![Testing the TP-Link OneMesh Network [Speed] [Roaming] & more](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ojnBVDbFhGw/mqdefault.jpg)
Perhap being a bit hard on it Kip!
Basically it's an extender, so if you were near the coverage limit of a wifi signal, using an extender can 'extend' that coverage. Yes there did seem to be a reduction in signal strength but that might be down to the unit being in a different location from your first (main router) test at your desk.
A more accurate test might be to work out where the signal fom main router actually cuts off then place the extender at roughly a halfway point and see what extra range it provides. Of course walls, floors, electrical interference are alway going to be a challenge!
Ultimately these devices are always going to be a compromise. The best way to extend a wifi signal is with an access point connected with an ethernet cable to the main router - not always an easy solution but does provide maximum signal strength available.
what I would try to do is use ethernet cable to the closest room to you if not in your office, and connect over wifi that way, but there again I am still on old fashioned technology for internet speed while I do have Virgin running right outside my property, I am not going to pay for that, and use mobile internet instead, but if I move then don't want the hasstle of contracts.
Thanks for making this video it saved me money, I was thinking about getting it.
Glad I could help!
Hi am trying to recreate your pc build do u still have the sahara cpu cooler and did u have to update motherboard bios to work with ryzen 7 thanks great videos in the Sahara P75 built
I don’t.. I switched to a black case so needed a black cooler. Plus the CPU worked fine in the Motherboard out of the box!
Hi Kip (and everyone else), I live and work abroad in a rented villa. This is relevant because I generally wouldn't undertake such a project in a house that doesn't belong to me. However, as a consequence of numerous failed attempts to use range extenders etc, I bought a small server cabinet second hand, 200m of cat 6, some back boxes, a crimping tool etc and a whole load of 1/2" trunking. I then set about running the cable all around my house so that I now have hardwired internet in the bedroom, lounge and my workshop. I run the trunking on the tiled floor along the skirting. I can honestly say this is the best project I have ever completed. I have migrated away from wifi - I have a wifi network with one extender so that I can use wifi for mobile phones etc but honestly I genuinely think wifi and all its associated extenders etc is a not fit for purpose proposition. Any house I move into for any length of time or buy, cable will be going in.
Yes.. completely agree, our house DOES have some cabled networking - however not to my studio - yet!
@@kiphakes Also, ironically as I have just slated wifi, I can now use VLC on my phone and watch all my media around the house and generally shift files from one machine to another without apprehensively watching the status bar knowing that it is going to fail eventually.
Some might not want to have trunking running round the floor and to be honest I wasn't that keen on it. However the positives heavily outweigh the cosmetics and of course, if you have your own house you can run the cable between the outside wall and the plaster board.
As others have said, Mesh is the way forward. I have got an ASUS Zen Wifi XD4 AX1800 Mesh system (twin pack - base station and node but you can get triple packs too) and it is superb. So good in fact that I don't even need the node in the area where I had the dead spot because the base station is so powerful! I'm with Virgin on 250Mbps and comfortably get that on all my WiFi 6 devices. And it is so stable too, in the 12 months I've had it I've only had to reboot it 2 or 3 times and that was mostly because of the Virgin connection playing up.
As others have said, switch your ISP's router to "modem mode" or "pass though mode" - basically turning off all router functions so it just acts as a connection between your [new] router and your internet connection. One thing to note though is if you use a node, ideally it should be wired into your network via ethernet to get maximum speed out of it, otherwise it will share the wifi bandwidth to/from the base station with all wifi devices connected to your network therefore potentially reducing the speeds your devices will get. If you get a Tri-band mesh system, these have a dedicated band specifically for the wireless connection between a base station and node therefore meaning your wifi speeds to all devices are unaffected. The Asus one I have is dual band but they do make a tri-band version.
At least you are honest Kip, great video.
Kind regards,
Johnny
I got a cheap extender from China a few years back because I wanted WIFI in my shed and it does work but it's not fast but better than nothing.
What I found was that if I place it low to the floor it won't work very well it needs to be higher.
Thanks for the warning Kip, anything that is connected through the mains supply is very dubious though 🤔
Haha.. I mean you’d be hard pushed to find anything that doesn’t plug into the mains! 😂
I use the deco whole home wifi mesh system. Works great for me.
Awesome! What kinds of speeds are you getting?
My internet is not fiber unfortunately, so my upload and and download speeds aren’t comparable to your setup. The wireless connection is almost on par with the wired and the range has approximately tripled.
There is also a think called a Powerline extender that uses your house wiring to act as an ethernet cable. Maybe just as for another video you could look into that as well. Just be sure the house electrical panel hasn't been divided into some sub-panel to accommodate a thing like an Inverter for solar power.
Yep... That's what I use already :) I've got a video on those too! :)
I was going to suggest a mesh WiFi. But someone beat me to it lol
I use Google's mesh WiFi and it's brilliant. No dead spots and speeds are always top notch... Highly recommended
Just buy mesh WiFi system & add more units for wider coverage. Extenders run as separate networks that you have to manually connect to. Mesh is one network & uses the closest access point to boost your devices connection. I use tp-link m5 with 2 nodes (access points) indoors & an x50 poe outdoors. TP-link is backwards compatible.
Top Tip Andrew! Will definitely look at it! What speeds do you get?
@@kiphakes My isp is Virgin Media, their router is in modem mode (Wi-Fi off to stop cross network interference). The first deco is connected via Ethernet and acts as router in bedroom. I’m connected via WiFi to satellite node in lounge. Download is 274Mbps. Upload is roughly 10% (28Mbps). I’m only guaranteed 200Mbps!
@@kiphakes
I made the same mistake as you! I bought a “range extender” thinking it would use my original network name and password. Instead, it creates a “sub network” that you have to connect to manually. A mesh uses one network name & password across all units. Therefore, transitioning to the unit with the strongest signal automatically. I even have a unit in the garden (deco x50 outdoor) powered POE Ethernet.
There are a number of videos on UA-cam about extenders v mesh. It’s where I get most of my inspiration from.
It would be interesting to know if you had the extender in the right place. Have you tested the signal strength in the hallway without it plugged in? Is your phone connecting to the 5g band - could be using the 2.4 for some reason. The Web app should be able to tell you what bands devices are connected to. Is there a troubleshooting guide with the thing? Go on give it another go!
Or buy a mesh system... they are genuinely amazing.
Haha. Genuinely I spent so much more time on this than you saw on the video. It was connected on 5G - and realistically the socket on the landing is mere metres away from the desk I record at. It’s gone now! Might look at mesh stuff in the future!
what's the app name at 08:00?
I can’t remember offhand- it’s not on my phone any more!
it is not just tp-link but all brands range extender sucks. This was at time where you wanted to add wifi at a deadzone with limited performance without hardwiring access point which is the best option at the time. But nowadays its much easier to get a MESH wireless system and get consistant speeds.
Mesh seems the way forward then!
i got a PT Link extender a few year ago it was a load of rubbish it never did work propperly en the end it went with a load of other think to the charity shop
I don’t blame you!