Question WiFi extenders, do they work?

[tinpanalley]

I've got a modem with WiFi-6 (HH4000 on Bell Fibe in Canada for those that know the device) but because of where it sits in my den, it has trouble sending an adequate signal down the hall to where the dining room and kitchen are because it's a bit of an elbow out of the room and down the hall that I think ruins its ability to get to the other side of the apartment.

But luckily there is a power outlet right in the middle of the hall, so is there a good extender for this kind of situation that is favoured by the community or is any one brand just as good as anything else? We're talking about a 9-13m distance total from the modem to the dining room/kitchen and the outlet is about halfway down that hall.

Thanks!

 

[tinpanalley]

Err you have your own ONT?

Yeah, it was installed in my apartment.

 

[sdifox]

Yeah, it was installed in my apartment.

You should be able to use the older ont then.

 

[tinpanalley]

You should be able to use the older ont then.

You lost me... I have FTTH. The ONT is the little white box that takes in the cable from outside and feeds your home from which you get the cable that goes into your modem, right? Or no?

 

[sdifox]

You lost me... I have FTTH. The ONT is the little white box that takes in the cable from outside and feeds your home from which you get the cable that goes into your modem, right? Or no?

ONT is an optical network terminal, one end is fiber and the other is Ethernet. But you may have a combo device that also integrates router and wifi.

When you said you have your own I assumed it was not the HH4000 rented from Bell xd.

 

[tinpanalley]

ONT is the fiber equivalent of a cable modem.

Ok, so the ONT is the HH4000. So I can get any modem then that is like the 4000 and has the same simplex port?

 

[sdifox]

Ok, so the ONT is the HH4000. So I can get any modem then that is like the 4000 and has the same simplex port?

You would need to buy an ONT and a wifi router. What do you mean simplex port? The HH4000 is an ONT + wifi router combo device.


I am assuming you have one of these things?

https://www.amazon.com/Consenstar-Ethernet-English-Interface-Standard/dp/B07KPK9X8W/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=ont%2Bgpon&qid=1634873314&qsid=139-3268270-6282743&sr=8-4&sres=B08PV665YZ%2CB07KPLTGYW%2CB074Y6GD68%2CB0775DC6RT%2CB0994W3284%2CB079JD7F7G%2CB00R2AZLD2%2CB07H42QXF1%2CB07H4VJHB9%2CB07DY16W2Z%2CB0723599RQ%2CB07BRZ2KW5%2CB07YMFZ28Q%2CB0752FD3XJ&srpt=NETWORKING_ROUTER&th=1&psc=1

 

[tinpanalley]

You would need to buy an ONT and a wifi router. What do you mean simplex port? The HH4000 is an ONT + wifi router combo device.
I am assuming you have one of these things?

No no, I don't have anything. I just have a HH4000. And this is admittedly getting off the main topic, I just thought why not avoid the HH4000 altogether and get my own modem and AP combo that can probably be better configured for my use. Just a thought.

 

[sdifox]

No no, I don't have anything. I just have a HH4000. And this is admittedly getting off the main topic, I just thought why not avoid the HH4000 altogether and get my own modem and AP combo that can probably be better configured for my use. Just a thought.

Well you need an ont box that bell is willing to let you hookup. Then a router plus the ap for the back.

 

[mxnerd]

https://www.reddit.com/r/bell/comments/oshbrb

https://www.reddit.com/r/bell/comments/qap1f2

But according to this, just use PPPoE to log online using your own router, and your own router will get a a public IP.

https://community.ui.com/questions/How-setup-Dream-Machine-with-Bell-fibe-with-or-without-de-home-hub-4000/bdc7b217-14a5-4191-afbb-6b21d6e13cd2

 

[tinpanalley]

Well you need an ont box that bell is willing to let you hookup. Then a router plus the ap for the back.

Ok, that's what I had read. You won't be able to connect your own modem. The only option I'm reading is to simply add a router to the Bell Modem/Router and disable its WiFi so you can use the on your own router.

My other concern is (which I'm learning slowly about with you guys) that I don't like the idea I just learned about where an extender has its OWN SSID as well. So now you have to switch SSIDs every time you move in and out of those parts of your home. That's extremely impractical. I need a solution that cuts that out, that's all sorts of crazy.

 

[tinpanalley]

But according to this, just use PPPoE to log online using your own router, and your own router will get a a public IP.

https://community.ui.com/questions/How-setup-Dream-Machine-with-Bell-fibe-with-or-without-de-home-hub-4000/bdc7b217-14a5-4191-afbb-6b21d6e13cd2

Geez.. ok, so adding a router to the main HH4000 makes a mess. So really, the easiest thing is to run ethernet to the other side, and hook that up to an AP of some kind like the TP-Link @sdifox showed me.

 

[sdifox]

Geez.. ok, so adding a router to the main HH4000 makes a mess. So really, the easiest thing is to run ethernet to the other side, and hook that up to an AP of some kind like the TP-Link @sdifox showed me.

The two I linked are routers that have an AP mode

 

[mxnerd]

You have no reason to use HH4400 a pure modem unless you want to access your home network from outside. Use HH4000 as usual, buy an AX router and put it in AP mode, place it in the kitchen/dining room area and link them up. The signal on each side will not reach the other end anyway, signal switch on and off with mobile devices will not be an issue using the same SSID unless you still want the signal in the hallway. If that's the case, I still recommend a mesh system.

 

[tinpanalley]

signal switch on and off with mobile devices will not be an issue using the same SSID unless you still want the signal in the hallway.

Not sure I understand this. So you're saying there won't be signal in the hallway? Sorry, I read this several times before asking, I'm just not understanding it.

(Sorry, I'm being a pain in the behind to both of you with so many questions)

 

[sdifox]

Not sure I understand this. So you're saying there won't be signal in the hallway? Sorry, I read this several times before asking, I'm just not understanding it.

(Sorry, I'm being a pain in the behind to both of you with so many questions)

As long as you setup the second AP somewhere with line of sight from the hallway you'll get signal in the hallway.

Assuming you setup your device to connect to both ssid, it should switch automatically. You may have to switch manually in the hallway if you walk from front to back and stop at the edge of the HH4000 range.

 

[tinpanalley]

As long as you setup the second AP somewhere with line of sight from the hallway you'll get signal in the hallway.

Assuming you setup your device to connect to both ssid, it should switch automatically. You may have to switch manually in the hallway if you walk from front to back and stop at the edge of the hh4000 range.

Ok...so HH4000 with another device connected via ethernet is still going to produce one SSID for each device? If that's the case I want to avoid that.

 

[sdifox]

Ok...so HH4000 with another device connected via ethernet is still going to produce one SSID for each device? If that's the case I want to avoid that.

Why should it matter? You can use the same SSID and same password if you like (on different channels), but they are two distinct connections. You can also turn off wifi on the HH4000 and use a mesh system. Just make sure to get one that does not demand to be the router as well. Like the Google one.

 

[tinpanalley]

Why should it matter? You can use the same SSID and same password if you like (on different channels), but they are two distinct connections.

Of course I have no experience with this, but it would seem that every time you go back and forth with a device connected to WiFi you'll have a moment where you'll have to stop and switch to the other SSID and that that will get old fast. So in the middle of a conversation I'll have to disconnect and reconnect? Every time I walk down the hall? If I move back and forth listening to something or watching a game on a tablet I'll have to swap WiFi signals?

You can also turn off wifi on the HH4000 and use a mesh system. Just make sure to get one that does not demand to be the router as well. Like the Google one.

Well, this may be something to look into then but I have to be honest the entire concept of a mesh system makes no sense to me. I'll need to watch some videos or something to understand that.

 

[sdifox]

Of course I have no experience with this, but it would seem that every time you go back and forth with a device connected to WiFi you'll have a moment where you'll have to stop and switch to the other SSID and that that will get old fast. So in the middle of a conversation I'll have to disconnect and reconnect? Every time I walk down the hall? If I move back and forth listening to something or watching a game on a tablet I'll have to swap WiFi signals?
Well, this may be something to look into then but I have to be honest the entire concept of a mesh system makes no sense to me. I'll need to watch some videos or something to understand that.

Connection switching is automatic. Even mesh there is handoff between APs but it will be more seamless than distinct APs.

Or move up to Ubiquiti setup xd.

 

[tinpanalley]

Connection switching is automatic. Even mesh there is handoff between APs but it will be more seamless than distinct APs.

Depends on the device. I have some devices that just going from 2.4 to 5Ghz can cause big slowdowns that cause you to have to turn off WiFi and turn it on again. And yes these are ENORMOUSLY first world problems and once or twice is fine but stopping to reset things gets annoying fast every few days, or, oh we better not go back to the living room because it makes NHL.TV or whatsapp or whatever freak out...
Mesh is pricey. I understand it better now that I found a good video online. I didn't get how it was any different from extenders. If an extender can't send me a signal to a certain place then how is a mesh system gonna do that any better, was what I didn't get. And I'd need one that had one node for right next to the HH4000, one in the hall and that would probably do it for the most basic coverage that would probably improve it fine for our purposes. Just need to look at brands etc now.

 

[sdifox]

Depends on the device. I have some devices that just going from 2.4 to 5Ghz can cause big slowdowns that cause you to have to turn off WiFi and turn it on again. And yes these are ENORMOUSLY first world problems and once or twice is fine but stopping to reset things gets annoying fast every few days, or, oh we better not go back to the living room because it makes NHL.TV or whatsapp or whatever freak out...
Mesh is pricey. I understand it better now that I found a good video online. I didn't get how it was any different from extenders. If an extender can't send me a signal to a certain place then how is a mesh system gonna do that any better, was what I didn't get. And I'd need one that had one node for right next to the HH4000, one in the hall and that would probably do it for the most basic coverage that would probably improve it fine for our purposes. Just need to look at brands etc now.

That just mean you need better devices I think most of your problem is because of the horrible wifi on the bell box.

You can setup mesh with hardwire backhaul and it would work better.

You don't have an old wifi router lying around? Most can be turned into AP and you can test that way before buying hardware.

I think I have half a dozen in the basement...

 

[tinpanalley]

That just mean you need better devices I think most of your problem is because of the horrible wifi on the bell box.

TRuth be told, I do have some older devices, bad at switching WiFi channels that are simply too good and important as devices to stop using them. My laptop is 10 years old and it still outperforms the laptop of almost everyone I know who comes to me for help trying to speed theirs up or "fix it". I'm not gonna get rid of it because it gets a little delayed swapping Wifi signals.
Yes, the Bell WiFi is clearly worse than what they claim. But what other choice is there for FTTH at more than 1Gbit.

You can setup mesh with hardwire backhaul and it would work better.

You mean a mesh setup where the first node and second nodes are ethernet connected but not ethernet connected to the modem? I'm looking at this with WiFi5 or the 2-node version with WiFi6. Why amI not concerned about WiFi6? Until I got the HH4000, streaming sports to a tablet was never an issue with only WiFi5 on the previous HH3000. And if I'm being honest, I don't think I have noticed having WiFi6 at all. Not in the things we use WiFi for which is basically... use our phones for browsing. The only thing that has become an issue is getting to the other side and trying to keep Signal or some streamed game running fine.

You don't have an old wifi router lying around? Most can be turned into AP and you can test that way before buying hardware.

I did, but we got rid of previous routers because, sad or not as this may be, we never imagined we'd ever live in a place this big.

 

[sdifox]

I say pick up a router and just set it up as AP.

 

[tinpanalley]

I say pick up a router and just set it up as AP.

I hear ya. That does have its merits. Financially and signal strength wise. But that switch is annoying even with the same SSID name. Plus your device at any moment could attach itself to the 'other' one first. That kind of stuff bugs me. But I hear where you're coming from.

 

[sdifox]

I hear ya. That does have its merits. Financially and signal strength wise. But that switch is annoying even with the same SSID name. Plus your device at any moment could attach itself to the 'other' one first. That kind of stuff bugs me. But I hear where you're coming from.

Seamless transition cost more money. You could try just one unifi AP placed in front room but lined up to hallway, it may be good enough. You can try to find a spot that gives you wifi coverage for the whole place with just one AP.

UBIQUITI UAP-AC-LR Unifi AP AC Long Range : Amazon.ca: Electronics

UBIQUITI UAP-AC-LR Unifi AP AC Long Range : Amazon.ca: Electronics

www.amazon.ca

Or the pro. These are WiFi 5 though. 6 cost even more.

UBIQUITI UAP-AC-PRO Unifi AP AC PRO Wireless Access Point : Amazon.ca: Electronics

UBIQUITI UAP-AC-PRO Unifi AP AC PRO Wireless Access Point : Amazon.ca: Electronics

www.amazon.ca