Or profit in the supply chain ...

BT buys in large volumes direct from the manufacturer ... so just one mark up when buying from BT or two if using DABS or similar..

Netgear, also large volumes. Netgear China either makes/subcontracts manufacture; sold to Netgear UK or US, sold to major distributor, then sold to second line distributor and then sold to you. So possibly two or three extra links in the chain.

Well 5ghz travels less than 2.4 which the HH uses. That'll offer no benefit right regards to range.

Most wifi devices have similar range.

If the issue is just that you want a slight better coverage you'd be better buying something else...
Can you get a cable to the room you're struggling to get range?

A cable from the HH to that room?

Then for around £20 setup a wireless repeater here. So you'd get full wifi signal

Edited by ukhardy07 (Tue 25-Dec-12 22:54:24)

No it would not be feasible to cable.

I just wondered if I have understood correctly i that the netgear and other routers seem to broadcast a better/stronger wifi signal than the HH3?

Lee

In reply to a post by Leenig:

I just wondered if I have understood correctly i that the netgear and other routers seem to broadcast a better/stronger wifi signal than the HH3?

The NETGEAR 4500 on 5ghz will be less range than the HH3 currently goes.
5Ghz penetrates walls, floors, people and pretty much anything quite badly.

The 2.4ghz might be marginally better however I would not expect miracles. It could actually be worse.

Output of wifi devices on 2.4ghz is restricted under law. The HH3 will be already broadcasting at this limit. The 4500 will also broadcast at this limit.

Now some routers have more antennas / better antenna positioning that can mean the range goes further. This is the only thing that really makes a difference...

The 4500 supports on 2.4ghz 150Mbps and 300Mbps on WiFi.
With the 300Mbps setting it would travel probably less than your current HH3

With 150 Mbps it might be marginally better.

The real answer is to install a second AP nearer to where you're having signal troubles.

I used the Netgear 3700 which is reported to have just as good / if not better wifi than the 4500. I found this went less of a distance than a Sky Hub and HomeHub 3.
This is in a 6 bedroom 3 floor house.

Believe me when I say I've tried most routers that claim 'amazing range.'

Here's something crucial.
You can upgrade the router but you are still connecting with the same devices.
These devices need to send a signal back to the router for things to work.
A better router means the signal gets from the router to the PC better.
It doesn't improve the return signal from the PC to the router.
So a better router might not solve the issues at all.
If you still can't get a signal back it's not going to work regardless of how well it can receive data.

As I say a new router isn't a great suggestion in my opinion. You'd be better looking at other options which I can certainly help you with.

OR you could buy an expensive router, because it might work, buy it from somewhere with a good returns policy in-case it doesn't.

Edited by ukhardy07 (Wed 26-Dec-12 09:36:53)

Is your homehub in 300Mbps or 150Mbps mode at the minute out of interest?

Here's my solution. This is assuming homeplugs work well in your home. If you have poor wiring they probably wont.

Buy a set of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-PA411KIT-AV500-Power...
& this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/D-link-300-Mbps-4-Port-10-...

Set the Homehub to use channel 1 WiFi
Plug one homeplug into a spare Ethernet port of the Homehub 3.
Plug the other homeplug into the room where wifi is poor.

On the d link router,
Name the WiFi the same as the Homehub
Use channel 6, not 1 on the D-link
turn off DHCP on the d link
and finally connect it to the homeplug in the room where wifi is poor.

At this stage.

When devices get better signal to the d link router they will use that wifi
When devices get better signal to the homehub they will use that wifi.

Devices will hop seamlessly between the two access points.

Bobs your uncle.

Edited by ukhardy07 (Wed 26-Dec-12 09:48:23)

In reply to a post by ukhardy07:

The 2.4ghz might be marginally better however I would not expect miracles. It could actually be worse.

Visible physical antennas may be better than hidden internal ones. (e.g. Draytek 2820 has 3 very visible antenna)

Also putting the router on a table towards the centre of the building can make a dramatic difference.

150 mode

Lee

Thanks I really appreciate the time you have taken to reply. Whats happen I say a house it two flats we have purchased which we are converting back to one house at the moment the electrics run on 2 circuits. This will be the case for a while being the money has to be spent on other materials right now.

It looking likely I will stay with the HH3 then I cant afford the risk to spent £130 if the chances are slim of improvement in WiFi signal.

Whats your view on the WiFi range Ext : http://netgear.co.uk/home/products/wireless-range-ex...

Thank so much

Lee

If you are doing a conversion then surely you must be getting to the fabric of the house before a complete re-decoration. If that is true, it is the ideal time to run Cat5e or Cat6 cables throughout the house bringing them all back to a central point.