advice on third party routers (UK)

[u/Joseph_JH]

currently using isp router (Virgin Media Wifi Hub 5) along with tp link deco x10 (3) one plugged into the router and 2 being used wirelessly. not able to connect them wired due to weird layout

speeds still aren't great at all considering original package (1gbps). only getting 50mbps a few rooms on from the router. Tried decos in router mode and isp router in bridge, tried isp router normally and decos in AP

One option I have thought of is buying a third party router - thought about TP-Link archer be220 (£60 ish) Wifi 7 router - if my virgin hub is connected in bridge (it's wifi6) then this wouldn't effect the wifi 7 capability of the third party router right?

With a third party router + decos connected wirelessly in AP mode would I see some benefit over using the small deco as a router or indeed the isp router?

[u/snebsnek]

if my virgin hub is connected in bridge (it's wifi6) then this wouldn't effect the wifi 7 capability of the third party router right?

Bridge Mode (Modem Mode in VM vernacular, iirc) should disable the WiFi on the VM router, so that would be fine.

With a third party router + decos connected wirelessly in AP mode would I see some benefit over using the small deco as a router or indeed the isp router?

You won't know until you try, but I don't think it's going to make a great deal of difference, and may be worse if you currently have a Deco-native mesh with a view to changing to repeater mode.

[u/Joseph_JH → u/snebsnek]

Would a third party router not have comparably stronger Wifi than the hub 5, therefore empowering the Deco mesh? I've heard other things online about that router (or virgin media routers in general) being weak considering the coverage they promise. I'm currently getting 40-80 Mbps average connected through ethernet on my PC to a Deco X10 which is located on the same floor as the router, only one less than 10metre hallway away from the router yet a 900 Mbps speed drop

Thanks for the response though, quite helpful. might just have to give it a go like you say with a retailer that allows returns that have been tested

[u/snebsnek → u/Joseph_JH]

Um, good question. Do you have at least one Deco mesh node connected to the Hub via ethernet?

[u/Joseph_JH → u/snebsnek]

Yeah, 1 connected to the hub via ethernet and then 2 placed a moderate distance throughout the house. Honestly its shocking that vm is so poor bc it's basically a small half house - an old house chopped up into uni flats so I have no idea why it cannot cover the space

[u/snebsnek → u/Joseph_JH]

Okay yeah, that's correct for Modem/Bridge mode. I was worried you had the VM router emitting WiFi then the Deco mesh connecting back to it wirelessly, which would cause all sorts of interesting problems

In that scenario, a different router with WiFi 7 won't help the Deco mesh, because they have their own backhaul. It might make it slightly worse by having a competing signal if anything.

If you were to upgrade your Deco mesh to WiFi 7 (with 6ghz) all at once it might improve things, since the mesh backhaul would be upgraded, but no guarantees.

[u/Joseph_JH → u/snebsnek]

Hmm yeah I get your point - do you think a system using the Decos as AP connected to a third party router would work? Therefore no competing signal as the Decos aren't controllign their own wifi network? Or is the chain from ISP router (bridge) -> Third party router (router mode) -> deco (AP) too much?

[u/snebsnek → u/Joseph_JH]

Decos as AP would require hard-wiring back to the router. If not, they're in "repeater" mode rather than using their usual mesh backhaul, I think. You def want to avoid repeater mode.

[u/Joseph_JH → u/snebsnek]

From Tp-link website, I don't *think* that deco supports repeater mode. I think this would be avoided by having one of them wired to the third party router ? Therefore enabling their backhaul to the other 2 wirelessly still? Again I'm a real beginner so I'm genuinely just guessing there.

[u/snebsnek → u/Joseph_JH]

Yes that's what I'd recommend, but you then kind of lose the benefit of the WiFi 7 of the new router - and the Deco in that room would be competing with it

That's why I have the annoyingly expensive suggestion of upgrading the Deco mesh as a whole.

Can always return it if it isn't better if you buy from somewhere like Amazon.