Mesh extender vs mesh router

[ricogan427]

Considering buying a WIFI 7 mesh extender for my 4 room flat-not for gaming. Noticed that a single WIFI 7 router is almost the same price round $140. Expert please advise. Thanks in advance

 

[keenklee]

Considering buying a WIFI 7 mesh extender for my 4 room flat-not for gaming. Noticed that a single WIFI 7 router is almost the same price round $140. Expert please advise. Thanks in advance

IMHO.
If you have a router, you can buy a compatible mesh extender.

 

[sibeiTrolled]

Considering buying a WIFI 7 mesh extender for my 4 room flat-not for gaming. Noticed that a single WIFI 7 router is almost the same price round $140. Expert please advise. Thanks in advance

What is your current equipment?
If it is asus router, there is chance it can support AIMESH.

No point getting wifi 7 equipments, do you really need those throughputs? Can your current smartphone / tablet / PC support those speeds?

EDIT - "Future proofing" is kinda BS to me. Till date, even a 1gbps line is enough for most homes. Your ISP might be selling you 3 or 5 or 10gbps lines but that dosen't mean you have to purposely upgrade your equipment. If you have to upgrade, you HAVE to upgrade ALL equipments

A simple wifi 6 or 6e mesh from tplink or asus will work for home coverage. I am using 2 pack XE75 Pro and it can provide full coverage for 5 room flat

 

[ricogan427]

What is your current equipment?
If it is asus router, there is chance it can support AIMESH.

No point getting wifi 7 equipments, do you really need those throughputs? Can your current smartphone / tablet / PC support those speeds?

EDIT - "Future proofing" is kinda BS to me. Till date, even a 1gbps line is enough for most homes. Your ISP might be selling you 3 or 5 or 10gbps lines but that dosen't mean you have to purposely upgrade your equipment. If you have to upgrade, you HAVE to upgrade ALL equipments

A simple wifi 6 or 6e mesh from tplink or asus will work for home coverage. I am using 2 pack XE75 Pro and it can provide full coverage for 5 room flat

Thank you for your advise My current router a 2017 SSID COVR 3902 from D-Link on a 2.5G BB. I guess a non-mesh extender will do for my me.

 

[sibeiTrolled]

COVR 3902

Wah, this one still got the paired extender one. You never got the extender for this?
https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/d-link-covr-ac3900-whole-home-wi-fi-system-covr-3902

non-mesh extender will do for my me

Must place it "correctly" so that it can fix your blind spots as well as provide enough throughput for the area. Your speeds will still be limited by the receiving network that your extender gets from the router

Ideally, place it in the middle of the house or something and it's up to you if you want to give it the same SSID as your primary. Don't have much experience with extender since the only time i played with was using 2 asus router together and then switch over to mesh.

 

[Koenig168]

Thank you for your advise My current router a 2017 SSID COVR 3902 from D-Link on a 2.5G BB. I guess a non-mesh extender will do for my me.

2017? You might want to re-contract your broadband and get a free WiFi 7 router. The new routers have better coverage (even for non-WiFi 7) so you might not even need an extender.

 

[ricogan427]

Wah, this one still got the paired extender one. You never got the extender for this?
https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/d-link-covr-ac3900-whole-home-wi-fi-system-covr-3902

Must place it "correctly" so that it can fix your blind spots as well as provide enough throughput for the area. Your speeds will still be limited by the receiving network that your extender gets from the router

Ideally, place it in the middle of the house or something and it's up to you if you want to give it the same SSID as your primary. Don't have much experience with extender since the only time i played with was using 2 asus router together and then switch over to mesh.

Thank you.

 

[ricogan427]

2017? You might want to re-contract your broadband and get a free WiFi 7 router. The new routers have better coverage (even for non-WiFi 7) so you might not even need an extender.

Thank you. My current 2.5Gpbs contract at $24/month, will end 31 Dec 2027 with Whizcomms. Contacted them that I am want to convert it to the 10Gpbs $29.90/month plan and pay the extra monthly fee - No Can Do while existing plan is in force was their reply. Buying a new WIFI 7 mesh router would be my next option. Just realized that a WIFI mesh router is price at $140.

 

[sibeiTrolled]

will end 31 Dec 2027 with Whizcomms.

RIP. 2 Y contract means last Dec only then recontracted right?

@xiaofan maybe you have more idea on this person setup?

 

[86technie]

Thank you. My current 2.5Gpbs contract at $24/month, will end 31 Dec 2027 with Whizcomms. Contacted them that I am want to convert it to the 10Gpbs $29.90/month plan and pay the extra monthly fee - No Can Do while existing plan is in force was their reply. Buying a new WIFI 7 mesh router would be my next option. Just realized that a WIFI mesh router is price at $140.

You can consider get this.

TP-Link Archer BE230 BE3600 - $189
Whizcomms have router add-on you can check with them see how much they can offer you.
This would be the cheapest WIFI 7.

Any cheaper will be WIFI 6 routers.
Try to get a new router that Dlink 2017 router is outdated by now.

 

[Rogue]

Never heard of "mesh extender", are you talking about range extender? They suck.

It's just mesh. Any device that support mesh technology will work, just make sure you have the correct proprietary tech, easy mesh (tp-link has three/four types now... this is the oldest and most basic one), aimesh (Asus has two now? ZenWifi as well), etc...

For compatibility you need to make sure buy from same company brand. Go for the cheapest one with most compatible mesh tech with your main router. Asetics/looks, either with protruding antennas or internal antennas. E.g Buying one of the HB710(no protruding antenna) for easymesh on carousell. Also don't really need Wifi 7, as long as it meshes even wifi 6 works. More than enough bandwidth for most families... Easymesh cheapo, can buy Deco x20 or even Deco x10/Ax1500 (around 60 bucks)...

Distance apart , 10 meters max but best at mid point 5 meters or so...

 

[soreloser]

honestly this question should be asked in the networking forums area... they are much more knowledgeable on this

 

[ricogan427]

You can consider get this.

TP-Link Archer BE230 BE3600 - $189
Whizcomms have router add-on you can check with them see how much they can offer you.
This would be the cheapest WIFI 7.

Any cheaper will be WIFI 6 routers.
Try to get a new router that Dlink 2017 router is outdated by now.

Thank you, will do. Happy Lunar New Year to you and your family

 

[ricogan427]

2017? You might want to re-contract your broadband and get a free WiFi 7 router. The new routers have better coverage (even for non-WiFi 7) so you might not even need an extender.

Now I intent to get a TP Link Deco 7 BE for $148 instead of the BE230 also at $148 from Shopee to replace my old TP Link COVR 3902 that comes with an extender. Additional advise are welcomed wholeheartedly.

 

[sibeiTrolled]

TP Link Deco 7 BE for $148

Are you referring to the Deco BE25?
If so, do note that it only has 2 2.5g port, so if you have any requirement to use the port for more than 1 device, you will require a switch.

Actually, what is your main gripe with your existing hardware?
Is it just the coverage isn't enough and you are encountering weak wifi spots in maybe your bedroom or toilet?

 

[tigerwoods]

How much does Mesh extender & mesh router reduce your connection speed

 

[wacko]

How much does Mesh extender & mesh router reduce your connection speed

short answer they don't.

 

[ricogan427]

Dear all, thank you for you advise. I bought a TP-Link RE200 WIFI extender and connected it to my PC with CAT 6 LAN cable, Works great. Modest Download speed 150Mbps, Upload at 103. Good enough for me.

 

[86technie]

Dear all, thank you for you advise. I bought a TP-Link RE200 WIFI extender and connected it to my PC with CAT 6 LAN cable, Works great. Modest Download speed 150Mbps, Upload at 103. Good enough for me.

This is a super budget speed is very slow and the LAN only 100mb/s not Gigabit.
Even with CAT6 cable you won't get much speed from it.
Anyway if it works for you good for you.

Should get a better one like this around $5X.
WIFI6 + Gigabit LAN

https://www.challenger.sg/products/...I9oNWRNn1MsGWEKSfvvYI9&variant=41678404452427

 

[ricogan427]

This is a super budget speed is very slow and the LAN only 100mb/s not Gigabit.
Even with CAT6 cable you won't get much speed from it.
Anyway if it works for you good for you.

Should get a better one like this around $5X.
WIFI6 + Gigabit LAN

https://www.challenger.sg/products/...I9oNWRNn1MsGWEKSfvvYI9&variant=41678404452427

Thank you so much for sharing. My existing old 2017 D-Link COVR 3902 is a WIFI 4 router. My humble opinion is that if I get an extender like RE505 or RE603X it might perform the same as RE200 extender.