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Looking for a Mesh wired add-on to the R7800
We currently have a R7800 router that works pretty well, but has a few dead spots at the far end of the house and outside. Looking to get a mesh extender, but have the ability to add it wired (instead of trying to extend wirelessly). Is there a mesh solution that would fit this role? Thinking a typical wifi router that has mesh capability with wired connection... but I'm only finding mesh extenders that communicate back to the router wirelessly.
colsoncj wrote:So right now the R7800 hits most of the house except the attached garage ring camera mounted outside... which is literally on the farthest opposite side of the structure.... See attached. Red star is the R7800, green is the ring camera that has a weak 2.4 signal. ----if you could centrally locate the router, you might not even need an extender.
You can also see the new detatched garage, which is going to be about 50' to 75' away from the attached garage.----that is a good distance. Any chance you ran an ethernet or coax wire to the detached garage?
Thought about using the EX7500 or EX8000 near the attached garage (that side of the main house) to help the ring camera, the attached garage, and the basement corner which is weak too. Then, do something else for the shop (like another R7800), especially since it would be router -> extender -> extender to hit the shop, if even possible (doubtful at that distance).----i'd agree, doubtful at that distance. If it did work, you might have atrocious speeds. Again, if you ran ethernet or coax to it, no problems.
I honestly would probably be happier with a full mesh system once the garage is in place so I dont have two "networks".... but is it worth the extra coin and getting rid of a good R7800 to do it?----debatable, and not my place to choose for you. You might get decent $ back for selling the R7800 to offset some cost. Its still a solid router and well performing.
Also... EX7500 to EX8000... for the little extra bit I need, is the 8000 worth it, or just go 7500?---again, debatable on performance you want. Or would there be a better mesh extender to get that extra little bit on that side of the house?----If you're not needing access point mode, again, the RBS40V has mesh extender mode. Its cheaper than both and performs the same as the EX7500 (plus it has a alexa built in for music). If you're needing access point mode, then I'd go with the EX8000 because in access point mode, it functions as a true triband. the EX7500 isn't worth it as an extender with the price of the RBS40V and its mesh extender mode.
This would be what I'd do.
so if only needing a wireless mesh extender: i'd get RBS40V
If needing mesh extender plus potential access point: EX8000
If any plans of going Orbi AC (not AX) in future: RBS40V
13 Replies
There's not.
Netgear's line of mesh extenders only function as mesh if setup wireless. If ran in AP mode with a wired backhaul, there smart roaming doesn't function.
Options?
1. upgrade to a orbi setup that supports wired backhaul
2. use a mesh extender but run it in wireless mode. the tribands don't take a whole lot of speed hit because of their dedicated backhaul
3. Just use an access point. You can use the same ssid but devices will be sticky and not roam that well or you can set it with a seperate ssid.
I was afraid that was the case... the R7800 we have is a fairly recent purchase but was based on our previous house (just moved).
Was hoping there was a magical WAP that could have a dedicated backhaul (wired to the R7800) and keep same SSIDs and Passwords for seamless handoffs.. apparently thats too much to ask... :(
So, while I'm picking the brains of those way more knowledgeable than me, I'd love some advice:
Right now I have a cable modem at one far corner of the home. The R7800 is on in that same room, wired to the modem. From the R7800 I have 3 Cat5 (I think) cables that radiate from the R7800 that go to 1) just the other side of the wall from the R7800 - connects to a PS4 in the living room, 2) to the basement, not connect to anything, and 3) to the upstairs bedroom on the opposite side of the house of the R7800, but on the wall towards the middle of the house (I think). At some point I'm also adding a detached garage/shop that would need wifi. So what would be better:
1. Leave everything as is, until the shop is built. Then upgrade the whole thing to an Orbi system with wired backhauls (or is there another better solution than Orbi?)
2. Replace the R7800 with a switch, then move the R7800 to the upstairs bedroom. It would place it in a more central location housewise, but not sure how the basement would fair. Or I could move the R7800 to the center of the house in the basement next to the ceiling... It would get it in a more central location, but at the cost of being on a different floor. Is it worth it, and if so, what would be the best switch to get to take its current location?
3. Buy an mesh extender for the house and keep it all on one SSID. Then, when shop is built, put it on a different SSID with a WAP on a wired backhaul to the R7800. May be cheaper than an Orbi, but would have two SSIDs which is annoying.
4. Another brilliant solution that I dont know about?
Not sure which modem you're using but if its a modem only device you need to go:
modem----router---switch/devices.
if you go:
modem----switch-----router---devices
|
V
Devices
then you'd have issues.
I hate to say this but I move my networking gear around constantly to optimize placement and devices usage. Its worked well for me.
An option you might not have considered? lately, amazon has been selling RBK43 systems renewed for cheap. Its a bit more than an extender or simple AP but gives you the options of wired backhau/wireless backhaul and several satellites. Might be worth checking into.
And if you are using a wired backhaul, the rbk43 will perform the same as the rbk53 because the difference between the 2 is the backhaul connection. If you use wireless backhaul, it'll run at the lower speed but even so, its still a pretty solid speed/backhaul connection. My RBK43 was just as good as my RBK53 for everything but peak testing.