Router/Mesh Network Recommendation

Discussion in 'Computer Audiophile: Software, Configs, Tools' started by Colgin, Jun 13, 2020.

  1. SineDave

    SineDave Friend

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    Actually a common misconception and tactic used by amazon sellers who just want to sell CAT6 that isn't shielded for a tidy profit. You have to ensure you get CAT6 STP (Shielded Twisted Pair). UTP is unshielded (Unshielded Twisted Pair) and doesn't have nearly the same ability to reject EMI and RFI.

    https://techdifferences.com/difference-between-utp-and-stp-cables.html\
     
  2. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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    It's been a while @SineDave. Maybe it's Cat6 vs Cat6a (not Cat6e) in terms of shielded vs non-shielded.

    Seems you can get Cat6a for reasonable prices (Shielded STP):
    https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=5907

    It can be expensive from what I've seen depending on brand and where you buy. Even now.

    Honestly. I just have the cable that came with the products I bought. They fulfill my needs. My Cox rates are 150 Mbps downstream and like 10x less upstream. I pay about $89 a month. Cox milks the fact that they are the only show in town for Irvine. You know the classic introductory period, and after that you bend over. The DSL infrastructure is not strong in Irvine, and only a handful of places have fiber. Not mine.

    I haven't ran a test to check max rates on my home little network. But like I said before, I can transfer a file wirelessly at around 400 Mbps according to Windows. And that's from my PRO6 to the R7800 using whatever cable (proly Cat5) and then through the 5G Wifi. Can't say I need more than 400 Mbps for my needs.
     
    Last edited: Sep 18, 2020
  3. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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    LOL! EMI and RFI. Yup, I remember that. Alien noise. It takes me back.

    Don't use walkie-talkies near your network.

    I think back then someone actually fried a phone or something when he put some random walkie-talkie next to it. But that's a bit extreme.
     
  4. insidious meme

    insidious meme Ambivalent Kumquat

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  5. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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  6. Armaegis

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    For Cat6 and up, isn't the cleanliness of the termination quite important as well?
     
  7. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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    Yup. Connectors are important.
     
    Last edited: Sep 18, 2020
  8. CEE TEE

    CEE TEE MOT: NITSCH

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    Easy. CAT8 only comes in shielded.
     
  9. zonto

    zonto Friend

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    Maybe slightly off-topic, but at least tangentially related. Do the gurus in the thread have a favorite DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem they'd recommend? Currently using a Netgear CM600 (DOCSIS 3.0, 24x8 down/upstream channels), but it's being flagged as insufficient by my provider for my current 500 mbps plan. Current research points to either the Arris Surfboard SB8200 or the Netgear CM1000. Looks like their specs are pretty similar, and they use the same Broadcom chip, but the SB8200 has 3GB RAM vs. 256MB RAM in the Netgear and the SB8200 also supports link aggregation (which I would not use for a long while). I've read the SB8200 runs hotter, and like the looks of the CM1000 more.
     
  10. FlySweep

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    I use this:

    https://www.amazon.com/MOTOROLA-Approved-Comcast-Gigablast-MB8600/dp/B0723599RQ

    Sits in front of an Edge router and Orbii mesh. Gateway has worked flawlessly for me.
     
  11. zonto

    zonto Friend

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  12. fastfwd

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    Motorola/Arris SB8200 if you really need 3.1, or SB61xx if you don't. I have no experience with their combo modem/WiFi models, only the straight modem-only devices.
     
  13. crazychile

    crazychile Eastern Iowa's Spiciest Pepper

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    There hasn't been much activity on this thread for some time, so since tech and price changes so rapidly, maybe the recommendations have changed. Here's what I have and am trying to do:

    Current gear is a Motorola MB7420 Cable Modem. Then I use a couple of Securify Almond extenders. One of the extenders I connect via ethernet to an 8 year old Vizio TV that has flaky wireless unless it has a direct connection. (TV upgrade due after wi-fi gets sorted) This equipment is probably 4-5 yrs old. Its not unusual to have 2 Xboxes, 2-3 TVs plus other personal devices on wireless at the same time. We stream a lot of movies and when it works its fine. But some days no amount of system resets seems to fix it and everything grinds to a halt. The internet speed is usually good so I cant blame the cable company. I know at least one of the extenders is almost full-time crap. Its time to upgrade.

    I've reread the thread a couple of times. I've read reviews from other sources. I'm not a networking guy so this is confusing as hell. I want to spend less than $400 if possible for a mesh system. Should I also replace my cable modem? The first extender is plugged right into the cable modem and I usually get 80 mbps. (My service is supposed to be 100mbps, but probably rarely is). The second extender is lucky to get 30mbps and this is the one plugged directly into the main TV.

    The main floor is about 1300 sq feet and the walls are plaster and lathe or sheetrock depending on the room. The two extenders are maybe 45 feet apart on the same floor. Users upstairs or downstairs don't usually complain as long as they are connected to the primary extender wired into the modem.

    So what should I buy to keep it under $400? - maybe can stretch to $500. I also want to set up a home network eventually with a VPN if that makes a difference.
     
  14. bixby

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    @crazychile

    I can't speak from personal experience about 6+ devices using wifi at the same time, but I can speak about a few other wifi and home network variables. You may already know this stuff but here are some basics.

    1. What wifi frequencies are being used for the devices, 2.4G or 5G?
    Use dual networks and 5G for stuff that can get a good signal, less chance of interference and you relieve some traffic on 2.4

    2. How close are neighbors? If you have neighbors within a football field like many suburban home then you will likely have interference and performance issues. I can see about 20 networks from upstairs locations. Use an app for your cell phone and walk around to see signal strength and what frequencies the neighbors are using. As admin set your frequencies to less used ones. This is important if a number of 2.4g nets near you. Same with 5G.

    3. Not sure about how good your extenders or cable modem are, but if you have not already, spend a good amount of time on small net builder, their reports and tests are great. You may be able to setup a great single wifi point if in the right spot to provide full coverage especially if you put it upstairs, which most folks do not. Or they do great tests on mesh.

    https://www.smallnetbuilder.com/

    Good luck!
     
  15. crazychile

    crazychile Eastern Iowa's Spiciest Pepper

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    @bixby

    Thanks. I'm not totally up to speed on the basics.

    1. I'm assuming 2.4G. I dont think we have any 5G devices.
    2. Closest neighbor across street is probably 60 yds away from front of the house. Entry point of cable and modem is in that area. I can register 3-5 other networks around me but they are usually 2 out of 5 bars strength or less. However, there is a subdivision going in next to me so within a year there will be more, probably at least the same distance away.
    3. Thanks for the smallnetbuilder tip. I'll check them out.
     
  16. Metro

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    You should double check on that. I have some quite old devices (tablets, laptops, printer, older Chromecast) that connect on 5G. They use 5G when the signal is strong enough, otherwise they switch to 2.4G.
     
  17. bixby

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    @crazychile

    1. Yes, 2.4g and it only has 3 theoretically clear channels, all the others overlap those. Choose 1, 6, or 11. And choose the narrow bandwidth setting.

    My 2.4g is called Thyme in red on Channel 11. As you can see much less crowded than channel 1 and even though it looks like that light blue network above is competing it is actually my Roku box and not an issue.

    The Android app I use is called wifi analyzer and is free. Nice basic app.

    I don't have 5G on any devices with wifi either (older stuff) and besides, unless you have optimum location and a very good access point the signal does not do walls very well. If all your stuff is 2.4 then maybe mesh is the right way to go,. I have not researched it though, since I never have a freeze or drop on Roku ;with simple 1 location wifi in a rather open 1st floor plan.

    [​IMG]
     
  18. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

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    @crazychile
    I'm not a network guru, but my house sounds somewhat similar to yours in that I was also trying to blast signal thru old-style wood lathe/plaster walls (sheetrock is easy).

    I used a Netgear Orbi for a few years and it served its purpose well, until I got tired of their flaky firmware upgrades and dropping signal in certain hard to reach portions of my house. If you can get one inexpensively, it's a good first step and they're not hard to resell if you find it doesn't work out for your needs.

    About 6 mths ago I read @SineDave post on Ruckus and bought a few used units on ebay (r610 for around $190/ea). I did not see any speed increase (Orbi was actually just a little faster), but I saw a big reliability improvement. I have 3 in the house, one as a master under the main staircase, a mesh point upstairs and a mesh point in the far corner of the house (that allows me to get signal outside on our patio). I couldn't be happier with it.
     
  19. Hammy

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    SkyNet is a selfish asshole.

    I live in a multi-unit condo building. Very close neighbors. My 2.4 GHz is more crowded than yours, and my 5 GHz is even more congested. But none of my neighbors are so selfish as SkyNet that they enable the 40 MHz bandwidth option for the 2.4 GHz connection. And almost everyone sticks to the channel 1, 6, 11 best practices.

    What frustrates me is that my downstairs neighbor's 2.4 GHz wi-fi signal is stronger than my own even when I'm in the same room as my wi-fi router. I try to keep my own 2.4 GHz channel different than the downstairs neighbor. But their channel sometimes changes and ends up on the same channel I was using. Grrr....
     
  20. bixby

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    yup, skynet is a hog, but for the most part it does not affect me. I turned off 5ghz because only my phone needs it and when I am upstairs the 2.4 works better anyway for getting through the floor for Tidal streaming to my Echo for falling asleep.

    The auto function is a pain, my neighbor always calls me when his wifi is flaky. He is not very computer literate, so I talk in terms he can understand. eg "if everyone is on their CB radio and they all are trying to talk on channel 9 then there are going to be big problems"
     

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