Hi,

so i've always have this problem where the range is too far for my main Maxis wifi to reach (Lvl 1 hall)

tried so many DIY solution and i reckon its time i get professional help and resetup all my connection.
is there any Networking professional assistance i can get?


Thanks

for large homes, mesh wifi is the solution

https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?act=ST&f=13&t=4658096

yea, i look into Mesh wifi recently and looks convincing, but if i do use Mesh do i not use the Maxis router?
is there a guide to this? i saw in youtube a setup for TP Link Deco5 to Huawei TM but just scare i might screw up again and the Mesh wifi is not cheap =(

do you know how to setup?

What kind of DIY solution you have tried?
How big is your house and what router you using now?

maxis have mesh wifi bundle.
https://www.maxisbroadband.net.my/

Either mesh or range extender, it depends on network usage.

It depends on how many users (or more likely devices) operating at the same time. Routers can say it can supports like 255 users at the same time but this is more theoretical.

I guess if you have no more than 6 devices, range extender would be suffice. However, mesh network is better choice as you fix the problem now and for future The range extender also has another inherent issue. Since it is repeating the transmission, the overall network speed will be dropped by half since your data need to go through another hop.

There are things need to be observed also. Many mesh network said to be easy to setup since each mesh router connects to each other wirelessly. As you know, the further you are from the router, the slower your connection. SO, it is the same thing for the mesh router. How fast your mesh network also de[pends on how fast is the connection between mesh routers.

Depending on your house construction, a good router will probably sufficient enough. I bought an Asus router since that time I knew only Asus router can be be mixed/added later, regardless model, and configured as mesh network. The model I used is GT-AC5300 and put it next to my TV in the hall of my 2 storey house. I thought in future I would add more Asus for better coverage. However, I checked the data speed with my phone even at leaning to the farthest bedroom wall on 1st floor with closed door, the speed is still around 200Mbps.

The router is located near the wall in front of the house and the bedroom wall I mentioned is the wall at the back of the house. With that speed, I don't need to add another wireless AP

Another solution for your case would be connecting a LAN cable to another router on 1st floor. I would drill a hole and run the cable outside to the 1st floor to another router (depending where your BTU is located).

i bought a xiaomi router 3A (located at G) and connect it from Maxis router (located at Lvl1) via LAN.
then last few month, super heavy rain and the thunder strike a few of my appliance (TV, Washing Machine, PC, LAN cable to Lvl G etc)

since the LAN cable to Ground floor could not connect anymore i bought the TP Link Powerline AV600 to connect it to the Xiaomi Router.
sometime it connects properly (as in it gets the correct 192.168.1.254) and sometimes not. So i just on/off the TP Link Powerline and it connects but very very slow, the TV box will go into loading/buffering when watching it.

then i found out that the Xiaomi Router option which can either
1. act as main router
2. act as a repeater that connects from another router(in my case Maxis)

So i thought it would be better if i make it as option 2.

Now that its a repeater, signal wasn't any good, TV box still goes into loading/buffering mode, wifi devices connected but no internet etc etc.

and the worst part i cant connect to the Xiaomi router via LAN to change back the settings to Option 1.


Real long story yea? i did quite abit of work and almost gave up.
didnt opt for maxis mesh solution because its a monthly commitment thing which i think there is some pro which can help me do a 1 time off job =)

black tubi has a guide on how to setup mesh wifi. it will replace the maxis router

https://www.blacktubi.com/review/tp-link-de...m9-plus-review/

Long story is good. as least some back ground data.
So means the long LAN is now burnt?
Can you replace the long LAN? as this will be the most reliable setup.

For the Mi to work as repeater, it needs good wifi signal from Maxis router.
Means you cant repeat a weak signal.
So means you can still make it work, but find a place on G floor that has good signal. maybe near the stairs etc.

If you cant get good signal from main router, a mesh might not work reliably as well.

i am using mesh and a happy user.

You can also explore on ethernet over power lines. It works pretty well for my case, which is an shop lot type of house with two stories. My unifi router is located at the ground floor. I run ethernet over power lines to my second floor and had no issue with wifi connectivity over 2.4Ghz, but if you are looking at 5Ghz, then that's another story.

I also have a wifi repeater, but that's is less reliable than my ethernet over power lines. Btw, my house powerline is pretty old, about 40+ years. I am still getting about 250mbps (+/-10%)

Oh forgot to mention my ethernet over power lines have wifi built in. So In a sense it is using power lines as network cables, then broadcasting wifi signal out at the other end.

This post has been edited by Madgeiser: Apr 1 2020, 01:03 PM

The ethernet over powerline, which model you using?
i'm using TP Link AV600, which i don't think its any helpful.
I connect it from Maxis router (lvl1) to AV600 and at Ground Floor, AV600 to the TV Box. TV Box says connected but then it doesn't load at all.

I just reset my Xiaomi Router 3, and made it back as a repeater wireless-ly

then i just connect my TV Box using the Xiaomi wifi, so far its loading...

hmm, so all this while the LAN cable from my TV Box to the Mi Router is from wifi and not from Maxis Router (Lvl1)->AV600 (Lvl1)->AV600(GF)->Xiaomi Router(GF)-> TV Box

I am using D-Link DHP-W611AC. Usually if your WiFi is working very slowly, it is due to your WiFi signal clashing with some of your neighbour one. Try doing a spectrum analysis with your laptop and see if you can find a spectrum with less congestion.

I myself is a network engineer, so I know my ways with managing my own wifi and how to get best connectivity with what I have.

Most router default to spectrum 6 & 11, and everyone is jamming in the same spectrum, causing wifi signal to crawl. This usually affect 2.4Ghz mostly. At 5Ghz, spectrum crowding issue is less apparent.

Btw, I also help another friend whom has a 3 stories house implement ethernet over power lines, using TP-Link AV1300. So far no issue from him either. He is happily watching movies over his tvbox in his av room in 3rd floor.

This post has been edited by Madgeiser: Apr 1 2020, 01:29 PM

OMG, can you help me please?
so my current setup is
Maxis (Lvl1) -> AV600 (Lvl1) -> AV600 (G Floor) ->Xiaomi Router (wifi & 2 LAN port) -> TV Box
but apparently the Xiaomi Router is not getting any data transfer. The Xiaomi WAN's port light up, but i doubt its getting any signal because when i remove the WAN, i can still connect to the Xiaomi to surf.

If necessary, i will get the TP Link WPA8630 Kit and eliminate the Xiaomi Router, but i need guidance how to setup.
didn't opt for the TP Link WPA8630P Kit (the AV1300 you recommended) has an additional socket which i don't need it.

my AV600 is also plug and play but i tried connecting direct to the TV Box, it says CONNECTED but movies are not loading.

You can try to set up access point instead off mesh wifi. Mesh wifi required for hub compare with wireless access point.

1. Connect a laptop to AV600 (G Floor) with LAN cable to see whether you get internet or not.

2a. If yes, then follow this video to turn Xiaomi router into access point mode to work. Link: Access Point Mode

2b. If no, then there's something wrong within your power line network. Maybe redo the setup for power line. Then repeat from step 1 again.

This post has been edited by jacktiew: Apr 1 2020, 03:24 PM

access point?
so i'm quite confused already which is which or what is the name properly called. ROFL

access point is connecting the Maxis Router via LAN to another Device (aka Access Point device i.e. TL-WA901ND) via LAN, correct?
i used to have 1 LAN cable from 1st floor to Ground floor which previously i hack and conceal it inside the wall, but since the thunder storm strike it, its DEAD. Don't think i'll hack again.

for now i try using the TP Link AV600 kit, but it doesn't give data to the xiaomi router. i thought it was a plug and play, as long as both pairs.
i try connect direct to TV Box from the AV600 but it doesn't transmit data too.

maybe i did something wrong, can guide me?

was using powerline, changed to mesh wifi happy user faster than ever, using tplink deco. No buffering ever since. 3 Story house

NICE, are you using TP Link Deco M5 pair?
so just to double confirm, i remove the Maxis Router (black device) and connect the M5 direct from the Huawei TM modem?
once connected then i just pair it again to Ground Floor.... right?