Smart Hub 2 and tp link

[Tarnbrick]

My BT Smart Hub 2 used to be connected to my PC via a powerline which was OK a few years ago. But the ethernet cable I used was not capable of carrying modern data so I replaced it with a TP Link AC 1900 USB adapter. This is all right but doesn't get more than half the speed which the Smart Hub puts out probably because it has to reach an upstairs room.  I am querying whether to get the BT Complete WiFi disc system to be placed halfway between the Smart Hub and the TP link - but will this be likely to increase the speed ?  

[Crimliar]

It depends on the adapter you are using, but the most common TP-Link AC1900 USB adapters have a split of 1300Mbps on the 5GHz band and 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz band.  Thanks to the way things work on 2.4GHz, many devices on there will connect at 72 or 65Mbps tops - and that's the sync rate, thanks to overheads, things tend to be slower than that!  When it comes to the 5GHz band, you'll be lucky to get a sync rate greater than 866Mbps, and the data rate on that will be lower still.  If you are getting above 650Mbps on 900Mbps FTTP, I'd suggest settling for that kind of speed, adding WiFi disks is not going to greatly improve anything.

You could maybe tell us what the sync rates and speedtest results are!
The laptop I'm using right now gets different speedtest results depending on the power profile in use

[Tarnbrick]

Thank you for your reply.  My present set up is BT 500Mb with FTTP. I am due to renew my contract soon  and will probably up it to 900Mb for an extra couple of quid a month. My router is BT Smart Hub 2.

The only 2.4Ghz user is a Samsung tablet which won't pick up 5Ghz when more than one room away from the router. At 2.4 the speed is around 75Mbps and at 5 the speed is around 180 to 200 Mbps.  My mobiles pick up 500Mbps all the time, sometimes 560Mbps when using WiFiMy PC is at the top of the house and is fed by a TP Link AC 1900 USB adapter.  I had hoped to get a good chunk of my 500Mbps but the best I get fluctuates around 220Mbps. So I was thinking of putting a BT Complete WiFi disc midway between router and PC to possibly increase the speed at the PC. You say this may not make much difference so perhaps I won't do it. Did try the Powerline way but that wasn't much better.

 Incidentally, I have been with BT since the beginning of the internet way back in the crazy days but am tempted  by what is on offer from  Vodafone broadband , especially the prices.  Only problem is I would need to tell about 280 people not to use my redundant BT email address. Have you any experiences of people changing ISP  and coming across that problem. Never envisaged this when originally used BT email but didn't realise then the advantage of using Gmail or similar.

Onwards we go

[Crimliar]

I would leave it as it is for now and only add an extender if you felt you needed it. The ideal place for an extender is usually about halfway between the router and the device you are connecting—unless that means the extender is TOO CLOSE to the router.

This is my usage for the last 24 hours, if it wasn't for a problem in getting WiFi through a fire wall and door to heating system controllers, I wouldn't need an extender here.

*I'm on FTTP 900, the 1.3Gbps peak is an anomaly that's been around since my neighbour upgraded to 1.6Gbps.

**As for the email addresses, I'd probably post that as a separate question in order to get a wider viewpoint!

[licquorice · Accepted solution]

Email addresses are not lost as a result of leaving BT, they are merely downgraded to Basic and are only accessible via webmail rather than mail clients or apps.

If you wish to use clients and apps, Premium Mail is available at £7.50/m

[Tarnbrick]

Hello.  

Thank you for your reply.

My understanding of this was that what you say is correct except that if you leave BT to go to EE you can retain your BT email facility including BT email addresses etc.

If I had known this situation would arise when I started using the internet (must be 30 years ago now) I would have used Gmail from the beginning.

[Tarnbrick]

Hello again.

Thank you for your reply.

Having considered what you have said I will wait and see what, if any, improvement a change to 900Mbps brings but I think you are correct in what you say that an extender will not make any noticeable difference.

Best wishes.

[licquorice]

As stated, you can retain your email addresses regardless.

If you move to EE, they remain as standard rather than basic and can thus be used with clients and apps.

[licquorice]

WiFi extenders are a very poor option as they work in half duplex mode which therefore halves the speed.

The only way to achieve good speeds is via an Ethernet cable.

[Tarnbrick]

Hello.

Yes. I have been tempted to move to Vodafone Broadband which is excellent and quite cheap round here but I don't think I could stand the potential aggravation .