Wifi Extended/Repeater buying suggestion

desidude

Recruit
Hello,

I just installed a JIO Fiber connection in my office. It seems like I will need a router/repeater/extender that can support 100Mbps and provide coverage in an area of about 1000 square feet.

Which model/brand should I go for?

Thank you
 

Pardeep Bansal

Disciple
I am using TP link wifi extender and it's doing good job with decent coverage.
TP-Link RE300 AC1200 Mesh Wi-Fi Range Extender/WiFi Booster/Wireless Repeater (Up to 1200 Mbps), Intelligent Signal Light, Power Schedule, LED Control, Dual_Band, White https://amzn.eu/d/jij9r28
 

Chronovare

Recruit
You don’t have to buy wifi extenders, you can get routers from Netgear or tplink archer and convert them to access points to extend wireless coverage.
 

6pack

ex-Mod
Router/repeater range is advertised without walls. If there are walls in that 1000sqft space, you should use 4-6 WiFi access points and each access point should be hard wired to the main router through a gigabit switch if the Jio modem doesn't have enough ports. The number of access points depends on the number of people who will use them. If there's less than 10 people just 3 will be more than enough. If there's 20+ people you will need more. This is how I would do, but you are free to do what you want.
 

desidude

Recruit
Chronovare said:
You don’t have to buy wifi extenders, you can get routers from Netgear or tplink archer and convert them to access points to extend wireless coverage.
Click to expand...
Thank you, actually this seems like a better option, can you recommend a very good Netgear or TPLink router?
 

desidude

Recruit
6pack said:
Router/repeater range is advertised without walls. If there are walls in that 1000sqft space, you should use 4-6 WiFi access points and each access point should be hard wired to the main router through a gigabit switch if the Jio modem doesn't have enough ports. The number of access points depends on the number of people who will use them. If there's less than 10 people just 3 will be more than enough. If there's 20+ people you will need more. This is how I would do, but you are free to do what you want.
Click to expand...
Thank you which city are you located in? Maybe I can pay you for your help in installing if we are in the same city!
I presume a WiFi access point is a hardware item?
 

6pack

ex-Mod
desidude said:
Thank you which city are you located in? Maybe I can pay you for your help in installing if we are in the same city!
I presume a WiFi access point is a hardware item?
Click to expand...
I'm not a professional in this field. Ask your IT staff to do it. It should be simple. Get an app that tests WiFi signal strength (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.manageengine.wifimonitor) in every corner of your entire office and note it down. Higher negative dbm means less signal. Example: -50dbm signal is stronger than -90dbm signal.
Good range is between -40 to -75dbm.

Once you know all the low signal spots you can distribute the routers accordingly. You can always get professional help for this if you're not comfortable with doing this inhouse.
 

guest_999

Disciple
desidude said:
Thank you, actually this seems like a better option, can you recommend a very good Netgear or TPLink router?
Click to expand...
First you need to decide whether you want wired access point(AP) or wireless AP. Wired APs are easier to configure & works by default with most routers but wireless AP require more complicated configuration & require certain feature which not all routers have. Wired AP basically connect to main/primary router via ethernet/lan wire while wireless AP connect over wifi network itself to primary/main router.
 

desidude

Recruit
6pack said:
I'm not a professional in this field. Ask your IT staff to do it. It should be simple. Get an app that tests WiFi signal strength (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.manageengine.wifimonitor) in every corner of your entire office and note it down. Higher negative dbm means less signal. Example: -50dbm signal is stronger than -90dbm signal.
Good range is between -40 to -75dbm.

Once you know all the low signal spots you can distribute the routers accordingly. You can always get professional help for this if you're not comfortable with doing this inhouse.
Click to expand...
Thank you, any recommendations for professional help in the Mumbai area?

Any recommendations on a great router which I can use in conjunction with the one provided by JioFiber to boost coverage?

I think I will go for a wired AP if possible.

Thank you
 

desidude

Recruit
guest_999 said:
First you need to decide whether you want wired access point(AP) or wireless AP. Wired APs are easier to configure & works by default with most routers but wireless AP require more complicated configuration & require certain feature which not all routers have. Wired AP basically connect to main/primary router via ethernet/lan wire while wireless AP connect over wifi network itself to primary/main router.
Click to expand...
Thank you

I think I will go for a wired AP if possible (depending on if I can get the hard wiring from the Jio Fiber router to the location I want to put the additional router at.

If not I will have to opt for a wireless AP

given that any recommendations?
 

guest_999

Disciple
desidude said:
Thank you

I think I will go for a wired AP if possible (depending on if I can get the hard wiring from the Jio Fiber router to the location I want to put the additional router at.

If not I will have to opt for a wireless AP

given that any recommendations?
Click to expand...
For wired AP nothing much is required other than getting any typical wifi router which fits in your budget & has AP mode function(most routers do nowadays). For wifi AP you need to specifically buy a router which supports WDS feature & this info is unfortunately not advertised by manufacturers so you need to read buyers comments & read official pdf manuals to see if it is there. If you think it is risky for you to do this then you can go with typical wireless range extenders/repeater as mentioned above. Also keep in mind that you should buy only routers with gigabit lan ports because if you use a router as wired AP having 100mbps lan ports then it doesn't matter what your net connection speed is or wifi speed of that router is but net speed on that wired AP will be limited to 100mbps as that is what it will be getting via wire from the primary router. Same case with wireless repeaters/extenders where it is recommended to go with gigabit lan ports if such devices are having any lan port.