internet/streaming
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@dogmeat said in internet/streaming:
@kirwan This gives me a chance to thank you. You posted that link a while back and I went with your recommendation. I had put up with an appalling copper solution for years so maxed out at 1TBS with unlimited data but had a couple of blank spots in my house and outside.
I now have over 30 devices networked and consistently get 6-700 mbps across them all from the same set-up you have. It has pretty much transformed my home life. So thanks heaps.
That was from a Fern recommendation too, from Crucial or NTA I forget which. It's completely changed my setup as well, glad it helped you too.
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Yep. Mesh is definitely the way to go. I have had a deco setup going for a few years now and it has been fantastic.
A couple of points/tips.
If you have something like a Sonos system then make sure that you change that setup over to the mesh as well. All devices that need to talk to each other need to be on that same subnet. Mine was originally connected by cable direct to the router but is now piggybacked off one of the mesh units.
The only gripe I have is that 'smarthome' type devices are often limited to running on 2.4g (designed that way for greater standard signal reach) when the whole point of a mesh is that you can get stability and distance for 5g. Depending on where you want those smart devices they can be in soft patches even on your 2.4 (eg the watering system in the garden). You may need to run an extender on your router's 2.4 signal for them but then they are on a different subnet so any device controls need to go www and back to access them. (if anyone has a better solution/experience here I would love to hear)
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@crucial said in internet/streaming:
The only gripe I have is that 'smarthome' type devices are often limited to running on 2.4g
This x 1000
I often find I can't get smart devices to connect unless I set them up direct through the router. Touch wood, so far, once I have done that I can then move them anywhere around the property. The furthest - a pond pump - would be 50 metres away.
Having a fast, stable network and then adding (lots I'm sort of an addict) of devices to it has been a game changer for me.
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@dogmeat said in internet/streaming:
@crucial said in internet/streaming:
The only gripe I have is that 'smarthome' type devices are often limited to running on 2.4g
This x 1000
I often find I can't get smart devices to connect unless I set them up direct through the router. Touch wood, so far, once I have done that I can then move them anywhere around the property. The furthest - a pond pump - would be 50 metres away.
Having a fast, stable network and then adding (lots I'm sort of an addict) of devices to it has been a game changer for me.
So how have you added your smarthome devices? Do you have your mesh switched to 2.4?
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@crucial Nope. As I said if I set them up direct through the router (so not the mesh network) they then seem to work on the Mesh
I had real issues when I first got fibre. I pay a fortune for the service plan I have but I was still getting shit speeds both the ISP and Chorus sent engineers out and I have loads of black spot, probably from being such an old solid house. The mesh changed everything dramatically in an instant.
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@dogmeat said in internet/streaming:
@crucial Nope. As I said if I set them up direct through the router (so not the mesh network) they then seem to work on the Mesh
I didn't think that is possible but will investigate. It sounds to me like they are running on your 'old' network (probably because they dont need a strong signal, just taking a small instruction)
Or do you mean that you know they are on the old 2.4 but you can control via devices on the mesh?I guess that my issue is that a weak spot in my 2.4 network is where I would place a camera on the garden to keep an eye on things and decide whether to turn watering on when away. I'm thinking that a camera would need a better signal (I want good resolution).
I'm just waiting until 'smart' devices can run on 5 and then I know I have good stable coverage throughout the property. -
@crucial said in internet/streaming:
@dogmeat said in internet/streaming:
@crucial Nope. As I said if I set them up direct through the router (so not the mesh network) they then seem to work on the Mesh
I didn't think that is possible but will investigate. It sounds to me like they are running on your 'old' network (probably because they dont need a strong signal, just taking a small instruction)
Or do you mean that you know they are on the old 2.4 but you can control via devices on the mesh?I guess that my issue is that a weak spot in my 2.4 network is where I would place a camera on the garden to keep an eye on things and decide whether to turn watering on when away. I'm thinking that a camera would need a better signal (I want good resolution).
I'm just waiting until 'smart' devices can run on 5 and then I know I have good stable coverage throughout the property.@dogmeat Important ethos from IT; If it ain't broke don't fix it.
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@crucial said in internet/streaming:
Yep. Mesh is definitely the way to go. I have had a deco setup going for a few years now and it has been fantastic.
A couple of points/tips.
If you have something like a Sonos system then make sure that you change that setup over to the mesh as well. All devices that need to talk to each other need to be on that same subnet. Mine was originally connected by cable direct to the router but is now piggybacked off one of the mesh units.
The only gripe I have is that 'smarthome' type devices are often limited to running on 2.4g (designed that way for greater standard signal reach) when the whole point of a mesh is that you can get stability and distance for 5g.
Just purchase a mesh setup that permits you to use one of the 5G bands as typically one is reserved for node backhaul. Something like Asus ZenWiFi AX
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Just did some googling and it looks like google and nest mesh automatically selects the band for the device. That would explain why setup for 'smart' needs to be done at router if your phone/app has selected 5 but they run on 2.4. The smart devices would continue to talk on 2.4 but via the mesh.
Need to see how this works on Deco mesh as the mesh will at least carry the 2.4 range around the property and be suitable.
I can see how @dogmeat 's setup is probably working now. -
@crucial said in internet/streaming:
I guess that my issue is that a weak spot in my 2.4 network is where I would place a camera on the garden to keep an eye on things and decide whether to turn watering on when away. I'm thinking that a camera would need a better signal (I want good resolution).
I'm just waiting until 'smart' devices can run on 5 and then I know I have good stable coverage throughout the property.2.4G band has better range and even a 4K camera at 15fps won't come close to causing a throughput issue.
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@antipodean said in internet/streaming:
@crucial said in internet/streaming:
I guess that my issue is that a weak spot in my 2.4 network is where I would place a camera on the garden to keep an eye on things and decide whether to turn watering on when away. I'm thinking that a camera would need a better signal (I want good resolution).
I'm just waiting until 'smart' devices can run on 5 and then I know I have good stable coverage throughout the property.2.4G band has better range and even a 4K camera at 15fps won't come close to causing a throughput issue.
I know that it's range is theoretically better but if the signal is coming from an otherwise disused (for wifi) router in a place that even on 2.4 has blackspots than that's no use. Hopefully being able to connect via 2.4 to the mesh outposts solves that.
Funnily I found this article that implies what I was talking about where I thought the smart devices needed to be on a seperate 2.4 if your mesh was operating at 5. https://staceyoniot.com/why-some-smart-home-devices-wont-connect-to-your-wi-fi-and-what-you-can-do-about-it/
The articles states that smart device makers are aware of the problem and were caught out by the quick uptake of mesh systems.
I suspect that (as per the explanation I found about google mesh) the mesh units themselves have solved the issue by being clever enough to assign a band automatically.I still need to see if my slightly older Deco will do that.
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@crucial said in internet/streaming:
@antipodean said in internet/streaming:
@crucial said in internet/streaming:
I guess that my issue is that a weak spot in my 2.4 network is where I would place a camera on the garden to keep an eye on things and decide whether to turn watering on when away. I'm thinking that a camera would need a better signal (I want good resolution).
I'm just waiting until 'smart' devices can run on 5 and then I know I have good stable coverage throughout the property.2.4G band has better range and even a 4K camera at 15fps won't come close to causing a throughput issue.
I know that it's range is theoretically better but if the signal is coming from an otherwise disused (for wifi) router in a place that even on 2.4 has blackspots than that's no use. Hopefully being able to connect via 2.4 to the mesh outposts solves that.
Not theoretically. It is better. If range is an issue, simply put in a mesh AP, hardwired to your switch.
Funnily I found this article that implies what I was talking about where I thought the smart devices needed to be on a seperate 2.4 if your mesh was operating at 5. https://staceyoniot.com/why-some-smart-home-devices-wont-connect-to-your-wi-fi-and-what-you-can-do-about-it/
The articles states that smart device makers are aware of the problem and were caught out by the quick uptake of mesh systems.
I suspect that (as per the explanation I found about google mesh) the mesh units themselves have solved the issue by being clever enough to assign a band automatically.I still need to see if my slightly older Deco will do that.
Or configure one of the bands as I pointed out earlier.
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@antipodean said in internet/streaming:
@crucial said in internet/streaming:
@antipodean said in internet/streaming:
@crucial said in internet/streaming:
I guess that my issue is that a weak spot in my 2.4 network is where I would place a camera on the garden to keep an eye on things and decide whether to turn watering on when away. I'm thinking that a camera would need a better signal (I want good resolution).
I'm just waiting until 'smart' devices can run on 5 and then I know I have good stable coverage throughout the property.2.4G band has better range and even a 4K camera at 15fps won't come close to causing a throughput issue.
I know that it's range is theoretically better but if the signal is coming from an otherwise disused (for wifi) router in a place that even on 2.4 has blackspots than that's no use. Hopefully being able to connect via 2.4 to the mesh outposts solves that.
Not theoretically. It is better. If range is an issue, simply put in a mesh AP, hardwired to your switch.
Funnily I found this article that implies what I was talking about where I thought the smart devices needed to be on a seperate 2.4 if your mesh was operating at 5. https://staceyoniot.com/why-some-smart-home-devices-wont-connect-to-your-wi-fi-and-what-you-can-do-about-it/
The articles states that smart device makers are aware of the problem and were caught out by the quick uptake of mesh systems.
I suspect that (as per the explanation I found about google mesh) the mesh units themselves have solved the issue by being clever enough to assign a band automatically.I still need to see if my slightly older Deco will do that.
Or configure one of the bands as I pointed out earlier.
Don't need to (and don't want to purchase a different setup).
I have just upgraded the firmware and app on my older deco model and it has solved a 'problem' that was only really in my mind as I hadn't realised that the firmware release had fixed it for me and it does it's own network optimization (huge tick for the amazing self upgrading and user ease)
The mesh system runs both bands under the same name and the mesh satellites cover the 2.4 gaps.At least this thread made me go back and check. All sweet now.Can go and buy some gizmos
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@voodoo said in internet/streaming:
Fuck me, just when I thought I had a plug and play solution sorted, you bastards ride in over the top and confuse the fuck out of me again.
Stupid Fern.
Dont let the tech gurus confuse you, it really is straight forward, if you have a google eco system go nest, my one fits with the amazon eco system well, else just take your pick of what you're willing to spend. If you have a million devices like this lot most mesh systems have an app which will show you how and where they are connecting and you can move them around if you need to.
If you do have problems then the techies here will solve it relatively quickly lol
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Chorus should have started their customer network speed upgrades today, with end users starting to see the difference from 5am tomorrow morning. Should be done by the 1st of December. 100/20 plans are being upgraded to 300/100.
https://sp.chorus.co.nz/inflight-projects/future-fibre-review
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@tim that's for wholesalers. There is a slide there that explains how ISPs will need to change their throughput for the customers to see the upgrade. I've seen nothing from my ISP to suggest that they will be doing this. They could continue to throttle at 100 on existing plans and offer the 300 as a new product.
Also note that if your isp supplied modem has 100 ethernet ports you will throttled at that point.Will be watching to see though.
EDIT: After reading that a bit closer it appears that if ISPs adjust their network protocols to take advantage then they will flow through to all subscribers. They won't be able to have some on one speed and some on another.
Point remains that it is up to ISP to adjust protocols though. -
@crucial Hopefully they make the small change soon! Although I am sure they will try to sign as many people up to higher bandwidth plans, or higher margin (for them) shitty 4G plans, while they can.
Saw this at geekzone:
Just received an email from Vodafone's Jason Paris about the upgrade & he said that
"The plan is to pass this through to the customers in the new year free of charge. Timing of the tech change is yet to be landed."
I spoke to a contractor, who works with Chorus, who reckoned that Spark will make the adjustment. No word on timing, of course.
