In article , Char Jackson
wrote:


Really I am asking what is the best solution to get wifi in the front
room that is a strong signal ? I have three wifi security cameras there
that I want active.

the best solution not use the isp provided wifi access point at all and
instead use a single mesh system for the entire house. put nodes
wherever you want the best signal, including in a window if you want to
cover the front or back yards. you will then be able to move around
from room to room or even outside, while your devices seamlessly hand
off between nodes as needed. it's easy to set up and use. the downside
is that mesh systems can be a bit expensive.

I read a bunch of mesh reviews recently and came away with the distinct
impression that this technology needs to mature a bit more. Poor
performance (low throughput, high latency) seemed to be fairly common. I
like the concept, but it doesn't seem to be ready. Do you any specific
examples that you like? I'd like to go back for a second look.

i don't know what you've read, but like anything, mesh systems range
from good to bad and everywhere in between. also, things change
quickly, so what might have been a not great version 1 is a good
version 2 (and in some cases, the opposite).

most mesh systems use a dedicated 5ghz backhaul, separate from the 5ghz
for devices, so there should be little to no impact on bandwidth or
latency. the ones that don't have a dedicated backhaul are generally
not good.

personally, i like synology, which can work standalone or mesh. that
means it's a few more steps to link secondary units than a dedicated
mesh system (nothing complex, just link them), but it also means that
it's not required. either way, it's a *very* capable and feature packed
router.

another option, depending on the layout and design of your house as
well as cabling preferences, a single centrally located wifi access
point that's cabled back to the isp's modem might also work.

trying to get the isp's wifi access point to work with a second one
from a completely different manufacturer without any issues is not
going to be a fun experience, nor will it result in a particularly good
setup.

Other than the very latest, possibly beta, stuff, WiFi standards are
well baked. I've not seen any interoperability issues in forever. It's a
non-issue.

setting up a single ssid using multiple access points from different
manufacturers, especially using both 2.4 *and* 5ghz bands, rarely works
well, or at all, and can even be an issue with the same company in some
cases.

having all the same make also means there is no blame game should there
be a need for support.