Wifi extender..

[mowin]

So after waiting 8 months for Generac to send me the WiFi kit to my standby generator, it finally came the other day. 

Super easy to install the system, but it turns out my generator is too far away from my router to connect.  

So I'm thinking about trying a WiFi extender. Anyone use one, and did it do what you expected? 

Edited March 2, 2023 by mowin

[mowin]

If so, what brand to you use...

[corydd7]

My advice would be stop by your local best buy. They will have choices and know their stuff. Tell them how many yards/feet you need it for and they should solve the problem. 

[phade]

We use Eero and I have two extenders in my house. It works well.

[2BuckBizCT]

Like Phade, I use eero. I have the main one in my lowest level in a utility room connected to a router. Then each of the floors above I have another one. On the main level I have it in my home office for max speed, then top floor its in farthest bedroom away which happens to be master bedroom. So all 3 floors are covered with exceptional coverage. It even helps outside. In fact, when my wife pulls in the driveway I know before the garage door opens because I get the notification a phone connected to the wifi.

 

Just added screenshot. You can click j to each eero and see what is connected  

 

 

Edited March 2, 2023 by 2BuckBizCT

[The Back 40]

I use a NetGear Powerline system. It's an EOP system (Ethernet Over Power) You plug the master unit into a wall outlet near your router and the receive unit gets plugged in where you need Wi-Fi or you can plug in with another Ethernet cable. 

I use this system to get internet out to my office which is in a separate building on my property and my barn. 

 

https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Powerline-802-11ac-Gigabit-PLW1000-100NAS/dp/B01B5CTRGE/ref=asc_df_B01B5CTRGE/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309833041189&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17789372131858313908&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9005619&hvtargid=pla-585224456158&psc=1

 

[sbuff]

How far away is it, on your current wifi can you choose 2.4 or 5ghz?

[mowin]

1 hour ago, sbuff said:

How far away is it, on your current wifi can you choose 2.4 or 5ghz?

It's probably 80'.  I've tried both 2.4 and 5.  I'll call CS tomorrow to see if I'm doing something wrong, but I don't think so, because I keep getting no device found message. 

[sbuff]

No device found sounds like a different issue then weak WiFi. 

 

[mowin]

9 hours ago, sbuff said:

No device found sounds like a different issue then weak WiFi. 

 

When standing next to the generator, my phone can't find a available network. I have to go inside to pick up my WiFi, than I'm too far away from the generator to get it to link up.  

Generac gave me the number to the mobile link CS, so I'll give them a call later and have them walk me through the process.   Entirely possible I'm doing something wrong. 

[sbuff]

So your phone isn't on wifi when standing next to your generator it's on cell data ?  How old is the modem and router ,80' should connect all day .

[Belo]

17 hours ago, corydd7 said:

My advice would be stop by your local best buy. They will have choices and know their stuff. Tell them how many yards/feet you need it for and they should solve the problem. 

oh lord please don't go to bestbuy for tech advice

[Belo]

My advice. If you're having wifi issues at all around the house you might benefit from upgrading in general and I strongly encourage a mesh system. It's 2 or 3 points depending on the size of your home and sets up in minutes. wifi6 is what you should look for at a minimum and 6e if you want the latest greatest. Amazon has the euro and google has an offering too, but most reviews for 6 or 6e routers point to tp-link as the winner for value. I just upgraded my google mesh 5 to this a few weeks ago and it's great.

https://www.amazon.com/Deco-Mesh-Wifi-6E-Router/dp/B09VW5JHPH/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=tp+link+deco+6e&qid=1677856720&s=electronics&sr=1-3&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.18ed3cb5-28d5-4975-8bc7-93deae8f9840

 

Powerline wifi extenders are great too. The use your house's electrical wires to boost your router's signal for a cheaper easy solution to your issue if you're generally happy with your current network. But as I stated above, there are some nice improvements over your old ass router or even your wifi5 router if you have multiple streamers or devices hogging bandwidth. 

https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Bluetooth-Supports-Keyboard-Controllers/dp/B08YFLJCL3/ref=sr_1_4?crid=BZKIIIHYXA7F&keywords=tp+link+wifi+power+extender&qid=1677856816&s=electronics&sprefix=tp+link+wifi+power+extender%2Celectronics%2C125&sr=1-4&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.18ed3cb5-28d5-4975-8bc7-93deae8f9840

 

Edited March 3, 2023 by Belo

[mowin]

1 hour ago, sbuff said:

So your phone isn't on wifi when standing next to your generator it's on cell data ?  How old is the modem and router ,80' should connect all day .

Modem is less than a yr old.  Just had fiber optics installed. 

[sbuff]

If you have fiber to the home ,you should have plenty of bandwidth / wifi capabilities to connect at 80' .  Possibly try to reboot  modem and router or re boot generac device . I'm running out of thoughts .