Maybe you can try to install Openwrt on your existing devices: https://openwrt.org/toh/google/wifi
this post was submitted on 07 Mar 2025
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Ah thanks! That's a great idea! I entirely forgot about the existence of openwrt, and anyway would have never thought that the google devices could accept it... I'm definitely going to try that and then slowly plan and learn about what I would need to start using the MoCA network and reduce the dependency on WiFi.
The best thing to do is to run a wired backhaul, if it’s remotely possible. MoCa or power line adapters are possible options but do your research and assess your own situation. Wifi is more complex that it can seem on the surface, and wireless backhaul adds its own nuance.
With higher end products you may find that you don’t need a mesh network - just one AP may solve the problem. All my neighbours have f’ing extenders which take up a ton of airspace and the houses are 30sqm footprint.
Ubiquiti makes the UniFi line which is prosumer. You’ll need several components; unless you’ve got more than 1gbps service, the UDM is a good starting point. They also make the amplifi line; I don’t think there’s a lot of positive feedback on those products.
Tplink is a Chinese company and therefore immediately suspect in some eyes, but their Omada line is pretty reliable. They also make the Deco line for more home-focused solutions. They’ve been in the news a bit lately, more so because people don’t change passwords from what I recall, but I wanted to mention it.
Alright! Thank you so much for the detailed answer. This has led me in the right direction, I had an inkling that given the old installation in the house I might be able to use something more adequate than WiFi. Now I finally know how to call it, MoCA. So I am going to spend some time checking where can I get in the house the wired access using this MoCA stuff, try and set up a couple access points or like you say just one good one. I guess I have a lot to consider now :)
So I was checking the whole line of ubiquiti, when you said you don't think there's a lot of positive feedback on those products, where you referring only to the Amplifi one?
Again, thank you so much, I finally feel I got the key knowledge I was missing to go forward.
The amplifi line is the plug and play line closest to the google/eero/etc. experience. It is specifically the one I was referring to which has less than enthusiastic feedback.
I neglected to mention Mikrotik. They’re a Latvian company that is also in the space. I think they’d be farther to the professional/complex end of the spectrum. Omada is in the middle, and Ubiquiti leans toward the easier to use side. They’re all going to need more work than google wifi, unfortunately.
The “other” site has a wealth of information; evanmccann.net is a good source for demystifying their product line as well.
Ah... Mikrotek sounds interesting, would love to support a small European company. They seem to have nice hardware...
Yeah, the other site x) since I removed my accounts is a pain to visit, if anything at some point I'll do some search on the laptop to browse more comfortably.
Thanks for that other link! I have some reading to do... Lots to learn. Networking was never my forte, but alas, can't trust any company and need to build things on my own... So be it.
Ubiquiti also offer a consumer/gamer mesh product but it is typically more expensive than their prosumer products, and less extensible.
Ubiquiti devices.
Firewalla recently introduced a wifi mesh device. I'm not currently looking to replace my mesh but it looks very interesting and has some security features that look interesting.
Note that Firewalla Gold or Purple is required and they're shipping to the USA only.
Then not for me, I didn't mention in the post it would be for the EU market.
I’m not an expert but I’d guess yelling all your search queries and favorite porn sites in the middle of a thanksgiving dinner offers more privacy than Google.
Google‘s (and Facebook, and all the social media ad companies’) business model is predicated on the notion they have a better profile of their victims than the other ad network. They’ll never tell your uncle about what you search for at 2am, but they’ll indirectly sell it.
But when I do that I don't get WiFi everywhere in the house... And I made sure to stuff the RJ45 well and deep in the turkey.