topic Re: Poor coverage... swap hardware? in Broadband

Poor coverage... swap hardware?

ScottWarren68 — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 10:37:32 GMT

We have been working with 4G hotspotting on our phones for years. So I'm new to all this broadband stuff... please excuse my ignorance.

I've just had fibre installed and the wifi can't even make it through one of the stone walls in our old farmhouse. I've already run Cat 6 cabling to a couple of areas of the property but what hardware should I use.

Also, should I swap out the 'free' Sky router?

If so, do I need additional account and loggin details for the new router/routers?

Re: Poor coverage... swap hardware?

Chrisee — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 10:48:35 GMT

@ScottWarren68 if your home has solid stone internal walls you will struggle to get wifi kit to work a s wifi signals simply dont pass through dense material. There are solutions but they are not cheap simply replacing the Sky hub with a third party router is unlikely to over come what are the laws of physics. The best solution is to run ethernet cables to each r oom but that can be expensive job.

Assuming the electrical wiring in your home is in decent nick powerline networking with built-in wifi access points might work for you as this uses the mains wiring. Otherwise a whole home wifi set up might work these have multiple satellite units which I would pkace in the hall and landing and hope enough signal gets into the rooms on each floor.

Re: Poor coverage... swap hardware?

ScottWarren68 — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 12:24:25 GMT

Thank you very much for your reply Chrisee

As I said, I've already had an electrician run Cat6 to two seperate parts of the building. Is there a maximum number I can run and is this dictated by the 'box' you have? The free Sky one seems to have 4 ports?

Also, what would you recommend fitting at the end of each cable? A friend suggested UniFi Express.

And do I need some sort of reference/account number when I'm trying to set all this up?

Thanks again

Scott

Re: Poor coverage... swap hardware?

TimmyBGood — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 13:38:28 GMT

@ScottWarren68 wrote:

Is there a maximum number I can run and is this dictated by the 'box' you have? The free Sky one seems to have 4 ports?

The number of ethernet ports can be expanded almost infinitely using ethernet switches.

Also, what would you recommend fitting at the end of each cable? A friend suggested UniFi Express.

Ubiquiti hardware is really intended for SMBs and enthusiasts: it's not the simplest to set up and administer.

And do I need some sort of reference/account number when I'm trying to set all this up?

No: this is all outside the remit of an ISP, so nothing from them applies.

Re: Poor coverage... swap hardware?

ScottWarren68 — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 13:42:48 GMT

Any recommendations given the level of ignorance I'm displaying? LOL

Re: Poor coverage... swap hardware?

TimmyBGood — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 14:31:50 GMT

@ScottWarren68

The only hardware requiring no configuration at all would be Sky wireless boosters which match your Hub model: while these aren't supposed to be sold, some have inevitably leaked online.