Which is better for my network, an extender or another router?

Submitted ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨BeefBeeferson@toast.ooo⁩ to ⁨selfhosted@lemmy.world⁩

Background: I am migrating from a Gen 1 Google WiFi mesh router and pulled the trigger and bought this router on prime day. TP-Link Tri-Band BE19000 WiFi 7 Router (Archer BE800) - a.co/d/en9OlMz

Huge upgrade, outside a few spots in my house where it’s pretty spotty. I cannot easily move the router due to not having a basement, nor approval from the wife to break through a bunch of walls to wire it up how I want it.

So the question is… Do I get the BE11000 range extender that is currently $300

TP-Link Tri-Band BE9300 WiFi 7 Router Archer BE550 - a.co/d/bUat5G4 which is currently $250. The speed difference isn’t a deal breaker for me on the other devices. My computers are hard-line and happy next to the router.

Or do I just say screw it and return it and go back to a mesh system.

I am currently unable to connect the second node to a wired connection, but I have a plan on getting that done this coming year once I get wife buy-in…

Any help is appreciated, thanks I advance!

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Comments

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SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Neither router you linked to is supported by OpenWRT or DD-WRT.

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- atzanteol@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  His router is tri-band though meaning it has 2 5ghz transceivers. His extender usually you use one of them as a backplane for ap->ap communication so it doesn’t interfere with your performance.
  
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  - SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    I’m living in WiFi 5 world so this is new info to me. Neat.
    
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  - rekabis@lemmy.ca ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    
    His router is tri-band though meaning it has 2 5ghz transceivers.
    
    Unfortunately, for many models - like the Linksys WRT 3200ACM - that second antenna (technically the third one) doesn’t function at all without the manufacturer’s firmware. It’s a dead stick with any third-party firmware, and is 100% software-enabled.
    
    I have found this fact to be reliable whether it is DD-WRT or OpenWRT, and across several different manufacturers including Asus and D-Link.
    
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- BeefBeeferson@toast.ooo ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Ok, thanks for the help - I will look into what I can do with an access point and I should be able to get something going and it looks like significantly cheaper.
  
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  - SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    No problem, also look at atzenteol@sh.itjust.works’ comment in reply to mine. They have some info I wasn’t aware of regarding tri-band WiFi routers. I’m living in WiFi 5 land, so I wasn’t aware of this cool trick:
    
    His router is tri-band though meaning it has 2 5ghz transceivers. With an extender usually you use one of them as a backplane for ap->ap communication so it doesn’t interfere with your performance.
    
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infinitevalence@discuss.online ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
consumer crap is just that crap.

I like small PC’s as PFsense/Opnsense routers and then a POE switch and access points. It always works better than any mesh or consumer stuff.

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- raldone01@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  One router (opnsense) a big Poe switch and unifi aps made a huge difference. Also wiring Ethernet everywhere helped a lot.
  
  Previously we had devolo mesh plugs.
  
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- infinitevalence@discuss.online ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805995358102.html?
  
  www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805884989085.html?
  
  www.tp-link.com/us/business-networking/…/eap772/
  
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kitnaht@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Is the router flashable with OpenWRT? :D

jkjk – most modern routers can be turned into just flat access points, ganged with another router.

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- BeefBeeferson@toast.ooo ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Ha, fair point!
  
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fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
www.wi-fi.org/discover-wi-fi/wi-fi-easymesh

Those PP link routers are both eashmesh compatible so they should provide a good experience. Yes running an ethernet cable across your house will get you better performance, but do you know just how expensive/hard that is? My friend was quoted 2.5k to run like 4 ethernet drops in his house through his attic. Trying to do it ourselves also seems like a nightmare so I’m not really sure if I’m going to have to suffer through that.

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- BeefBeeferson@toast.ooo ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  My house is such a pain in that regard that I’m tempted to bury a line from my office in the front and around the house to get better coverage on the other side of the house. Not having a basement and how my attic is set up is a nightmare. A middle ground is probably doable but would require me to rip up some flooring, which is not ideal either. Thank you for the input, weighing my options of an AP, or getting one of the above and hopefully have an easier go at it for now, but lose performance.
  
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Decronym@lemmy.decronym.xyz ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I’ve seen in this thread:

Fewer Letters More Letters

AP WiFi Access Point

PoE Power over Ethernet

Unifi Ubiquiti WiFi hardware brand

[Thread #896 for this sub, first seen 29th Jul 2024, 23:55] [FAQ] [Full list] [Contact] [Source code]

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Fewer Letters	More Letters
AP	WiFi Access Point
PoE	Power over Ethernet
Unifi	Ubiquiti WiFi hardware brand