Improve WIFI coverage

[VintageMac]

Our current situation—
- 500 Mbps service from Xfinity Comcast
- XB8 Xfinity Gateway and two 2nd generation Xfinity Boost Pods
- house is less than 4000 sq ft. on two levels, basic rectangular shape. Gateway is on upper level.

We have an in-law quarters at the opposite corner of our house as where our Gateway is placed and generally get mid-70's Mbps download speed in that area while getting 500+ close to the Gateway. A friend who works virtually is hoping to move in to the in-law quarters and is saying mid-70's Mbps is not sufficient. What are my options for improvement? Centralizing the Gateway would be a challenge. I wouldn't mind getting away from the Gateway rental, but certainly do not want to buy something that does not outperform what we currently have.

Any counsel is appreciated. I am geek-challenged so simplicity is appreciated!

 

[fibercut]

It pricy you could get Mesh router

 

[Bigwaff]

XB8 Xfinity Gateway and two 2nd generation Xfinity Boost Pods

Your Xfinity Gateway and Boost Pods already create a mesh network.

What are my options for improvement? Centralizing the Gateway would be a challenge.

I am assuming your Xfinity Comcast service is cable internet over coax. If so, there are options, but the good options depend on the coax wiring, coax drops, and the cable services you subscribe. Do you subscribe to both cable television and internet?

 

[VintageMac]

Bigwaff, no cable television subscription, only internet.

 

[Bigwaff]

no cable television subscription, only internet.

Perfect. Do you have other cable coax drop wall plates elsewhere in your home? If you do, then all the coax lines behind these drop plates must lead to where your cable comes in from outside. Typically in an attached garage or basement. This would be where the cable provider would add splitters and amplifiers to send signal to these other coax drop wall plates.

There is a technology called MoCA (Multimedia over Coax Alliance).

MoCA Home™ Technology

MoCA Home provides the performance, low latency and security necessary for a reliable home network using the existing coaxial cabling while being the fastest, most reliable in-home backbone for Wi-Fi® and has been adopted by cable, telco/IPTV and satellite operators worldwide.

mocalliance.org

You can buy these devices which create a fast data network over the coax lines installed in your home. Like you, I have cable internet (no cable television subscription) and I've got a MoCA network set up and it works brilliantly.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z3SB1H...cp_ud_dp_YRTXDSM2VX4NZGVB8A50&skipTwisterOG=1

Now, before you use these devices, you need to do a some planning a head of time. If you're interested, I can help you determine if MoCA will work for your home set up. Send me a DM (click the envelope next to your profile avatar image top right and start conversation).

 

[VintageMac]

Bigwaff, am I understanding this correctly that it would be a hard-wired set-up, not wifi?

 

[Bigwaff]

am I understanding this correctly that it would be a hard-wired set-up, not wifi?

You will have both. Your Xfinity Boost Pods will be hard-wired and the WiFi they broadcast will be fast. It’s called Ethernet backhaul.

 

[pullman]

Just thinking out of the blue here but couldn't one of those Boost Pods be wired with a simple network cable to spread its reach to the in-laws area?