WiFi coverage solution required

[Scott+bros]

Hi all,

We have Sky Broadband Superfast in addition to Sky Q with main box + 3 Mini boxes. None of the Sky Q boxes either Main or Mini are cabled together.

WiFi coverage on our 1st floor is poor and in our loft conversion on 2nd floor is now unusable. 

There is not a possibility of running any cables so very much relying on wireless solutions. 

Question to the community if you'd be so kind as to help. What is the best way to vastly improve the upstairs WiFi coverage. I am open to any solutions in terms of buying new/additional kit? Be that routers, mesh systems or both if that provides optimum solution.

One additional point to note. If we were going to upgrade to Ultrafast + should we do it now or is a solution to our WiFi problem going to be future proof so doesn't matter if we improve WiFi before ordering Ultrafast +.

Hope this makes sense. 

Thanks in advance to anybody able to support in solving this, much appreciated. 

SB

[Chrisee]

@Scott+bros as you have Sky Q boxes that introduces so complexity as the Q minis cannot connect to third party wifi so simply buying a third party wifi mesh system is not thecsimple solution.

If you have Q boxes on the 1st and 2nd floor you could try powerline networking. These adapters come in  kits and the adapters communicate using your home's mains wiring. In essence you plug in the first adapter into a wall socket close to the hub and connect it by the ethernet lead which comes in the kit. The next adapter is connected  in the same way to a Q box on the 1st floor. The adapters should improve the backhaul connection of the Q box which will increase the speed of the Wifi hot spot it provides. A third adapter could be simarly used on the second floor. Modern adapters use all 3 conductors so are far more reliable than the older type.

Couple of caveats first powerline adapters rarely if ever achieve the speeds on the  box so plan on getting 20 to 30% assuming your homes electrical system is up to snuff. Secondly the Q wifi mesh system is by modern standards quite primative so results wont be spectacular but when I had Sky Q I used such a system in my 3 level home and had decent wifi through out my home. 

The alternative is to buy a whole home wifi system but as alluded to above you have to sort out potential interference issues with the Sky wifi network the Q boxes require to operate.

[Scott+bros]

Thank you for helping me out.

So to confirm I should connect my Sky router to its socket with powerline adapter, my Sky Q main box with a powerline adapter and each of my Sky Q Mini boxes with a powerline adapter? 

That would be 6 x Powerline Adapters in total: -

Router x 1

Sky Q main box x 1

Sky Mini Boxes x 4

If the above is correct can you advise the best powerline adapters for the job? 

Thanks again

SB

[JimM1]

@Scott+bros Is the SkyQ box close to the router, if so and enough ports then you can ethernet direct from router to Q.

If not then correct 6 powerline devices required, here is one suggestion to get you started, 3 kits would be required to cover all devices, but do search for others, ie netgear, devolo etc + keep away from any that are combined with wifi, you dont want those to cause more wifi issues. And remember you may need cables, there will be some in package but may not suit length you need.

TP-Link TL-PA717 KIT 1-Port Gigabit Powerline Starter Kit, Data Transfer Speed Up to 1000 Mbps, Idea...

[Scott+bros]

Router is at front door to our property and the Main Sky Q box is in the lounge unfortunately so not an option to cable between router and main Q box.

my other concern would be that the loft conversion is sitting on a different ring main to rest of the house so power adapters may not work for the loft.

[JimM1]

@Scott+bros Until you try the loft you will not know, the other ring main does not make serious difference, its all about the power cable distance, closer higher speeds, further lower speeds.

As long as you get enough speed rate who knows, the tp-link app if you select those show speeds to each individual powerline node, set them all up near each other, then move them to place checking before and after move, ie say 500Mb/s close then move, take new reading. That way you have got a note should problems develop, do not think the mini's require much more than 20Mb/s for movie streaming. 

[JimM1]

@Scott+bros You can also try powerline to move the router to a different location, does not sound like it is the optimal place, but do not know how your property layout is. Powerline to ONT, and Powerline to router, it may work, all down to speeds. Will take a look at your post to see if there is mention of your package. Jim