People working and streaming in several rooms
If calls or video falter away from the router, compare the connection in both locations before deciding whether to change the router or extend the network.
Who is this for?
Homes with difficult walls or floors
Consider whether you can run Ethernet, place additional wireless units or use suitable electrical sockets. TP-Link notes that powerline results depend on the home’s wiring.
People fixing one weak room
For a workspace or TV area with a localised coverage problem, compare a suitably placed extender with a wired access point or a powerline kit that provides Wi-Fi in that room.
What should you check before choosing?
Start with where the connection changes, then work out which link to the affected room your home can accommodate. Ofcom recommends checking router placement before assuming new equipment is needed.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Find the weak link | Compare the connection near the router and in the problem room. If possible, compare a device connected directly to the router by Ethernet; also check whether moving the router off the floor helps. | Calls and streams fail in one room, but I want to know whether the trouble starts there or is already present at the router. |
| Rooms to reach | For one weak area, check whether an extender can sit where it still receives the router’s signal. For several rooms, plan positions for multiple mesh units; if Ethernet reaches a room, consider an access point there. | I need Wi-Fi where I work and watch video, rather than a coverage figure that may not reflect my walls and floors. |
| Connection between rooms | Check whether Ethernet can link compatible mesh units or feed an access point. For powerline, check the intended sockets and circuit; TP-Link says wiring affects results and its advertised physical-link rate is not actual throughput. | A steady link to the distant room matters for my calls or streaming, and I need an approach my home can accommodate. |
| Existing router and setup | Check provider requirements before replacing its router. Confirm how the chosen mesh kit connects to it, and whether an access point needs Ethernet and Power over Ethernet (PoE) equipment. | I would rather keep my current router if another unit can serve the weak room without an unsuitable setup. |
| Features and upkeep | Check the exact model’s update arrangements, management method and any features requiring a subscription. If you want coordinated roaming, confirm compatibility between the particular devices. | I want to know how I will manage the network and which features I can use with the equipment I choose. |
What can catch you out?
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Expecting the advertised rate in a distant room
TP-Link distinguishes a powerline adapter’s stated physical-link rate from actual throughput; wiring and interference affect the result. A wireless specification does not establish performance through your particular walls either.
Compare the connection in the rooms you use, taking placement and the link between units into account.
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Assuming a mesh unit can join the router wirelessly
For TP-Link Deco, the main unit must connect to the existing router or modem by Ethernet. Its router and access-point modes also have different wiring rules.
Check the chosen kit’s first-unit connection and supported mode before deciding where its units will go.
That arrangement may require Ethernet cabling or a change to the existing router setup.
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Treating an access point as a complete router
Ubiquiti says its standalone access points need an existing router or gateway. The U6+ also requires PoE power and a connected Ethernet route.
Check the exact access point’s contents, power method and connection back to the router.
Compatible PoE equipment or cable installation may be needed, depending on what the purchase includes.
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Assuming every listed feature comes with the hardware
Amazon’s UK eero 6+ listing distinguishes the device from separately sold subscription features.
Check which management or security features you intend to use and whether the exact product includes them.
Some eero 6+ features require a separate subscription.
Which brands illustrate the options?
These examples span different ways to reach another room; a brand’s inclusion does not establish how a particular model will perform in your home.
TP-Link
Its UK range includes Deco mesh systems, the RE705X extender and the TL-WPA8631P powerline Wi-Fi kit—distinct types of equipment for different connections between rooms.
- TP-Link documents Ethernet backhaul for Deco and wired access-point mode for the RE705X.
- TP-Link says powerline results depend on wiring; Deco connection rules vary by operating mode.
ASUS
The RT-AX58U illustrates a configurable standalone-router option.
- ASUS lists router, access-point, repeater and AiMesh-node modes for this model, along with a Gigabit WAN port and four Gigabit LAN ports.
- Check your broadband provider’s requirements; those modes do not establish whether one router will reach a distant room.
Ubiquiti
The U6+ is an Ethernet-fed, PoE-powered access-point example for a room you can connect by cable.
- Ubiquiti lists GbE and PoE for the U6+.
- Ubiquiti says a standalone access point needs a router or gateway, while standalone management and multi-AP roaming features are limited.
Amazon eero
The eero 6+ illustrates an app-managed mesh option.
- Amazon describes app-guided setup, automatic updates and expansion with compatible eero hardware.
- Amazon states that some security and management features require a separate subscription.
Netgear
Netgear is another brand to consider when comparing mesh systems and extenders for the rooms you need to reach.
- Which? includes Netgear among the brands in its UK mesh-system and extender testing.
- Choose by the particular model’s connections, placement requirements and suitability for your layout, rather than by brand alone.
Joybuy options for Wi-Fi across rooms
These options cover mesh systems for several rooms, an extender for a targeted weak area and a powerline Wi-Fi kit for a room served through suitable electrical wiring. Choose the type of connection first, then check the particular model’s setup requirements.
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TP-Link Deco BE22 BE3600 Wi-Fi 7 Mesh System (3-Pack)
A three-unit mesh option when Wi-Fi is needed in several rooms. Plan where the units can connect to the existing network and to one another; for Deco, TP-Link says the main unit requires an Ethernet connection.
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TP-Link RE220BE BE3600 Wi-Fi 7 Range Extender
An extender option for a particular weak room. Before choosing its position, check that it can still receive a usable signal from the main router; do not assume one unit will address weak coverage across several rooms.
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TP-Link TL-WPA8631P KIT AV1300 Gigabit Powerline Wi-Fi Kit
A powerline Wi-Fi option when running Ethernet to the distant room is impractical. TP-Link says its documented powerline setup needs adapters on the same electrical circuit; check the intended sockets, as wiring affects the connection and AV1300 is not actual throughput.
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NETGEAR Orbi 370 RBE373 BE3600 WiFi 7 Mesh System (3-Pack)
A three-unit mesh option for placing Wi-Fi in several parts of the home. The product name specifies dual-band WiFi 7 and 2.5Gbps Ethernet; check the unit positions and connection between them for your layout rather than treating those specifications as a room-by-room speed promise.
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TP-Link Deco BE65 BE9300 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 7 Mesh System (3-Pack)
A three-unit mesh option for Wi-Fi in multiple rooms. Its stated tri-band Wi-Fi 7 configuration does not determine coverage in your layout; plan unit placement and, for Deco, the main unit’s Ethernet connection to the existing network.
Common questions
Can I keep my existing router when adding mesh?
You can use an existing router with some mesh arrangements, but follow the chosen system’s instructions. For TP-Link Deco, the main unit needs a physical Ethernet connection, and router and access-point modes have different rules for wiring additional units.
Can an access point replace my router?
A standalone Ubiquiti access point cannot replace the router or gateway it needs for internet access. For the U6+, also check that the Ethernet socket connects to your network and that compatible PoE power is available.
Do all powerline kits provide Wi-Fi in the other room?
No. TP-Link distinguishes Wi-Fi-broadcasting TL-WPA units from Ethernet-only TL-PA units. Check the receiving unit in the exact kit and the intended sockets; TP-Link says adapters in its documented setup need to be on the same electrical circuit.
Will my broadband provider support a router I buy myself?
Do not assume it will. Ofcom says a non-provider router can be trickier to set up and that the provider may be unable to help if a problem occurs. Confirm your provider’s connection requirements and support position before replacing its router.
What should I check after installing equipment?
Compare the connection in the rooms where you work or stream, and check the new unit’s link back to the main network. Review its firmware-update arrangements; Ofcom advises keeping a router away from interfering electrical equipment, and the National Cyber Security Centre advises changing a router’s default password to a strong one.