Telstra EasyMesh router and WiFi extender; wired network switches too.
Introduction
We have moved to a two-story house with no network cabling. I need both full wifi coverage and wired network for the devices that don't have wifi. The solution is remarkably simple, the new Telstra EasyMesh router gen 2 and WiFi extender gen 2, with wired switches connected to either or both the router and extender. Using the WiFi Easymesh extender with a network switch attached allows non-wifi devices to connect to the router via wifi. A very neat solution.Easymesh
Wi-Fi CERTIFIED EasyMesh™ is a new WiFi standard for mesh wifi available in 2019. Previously, mesh wifi was proprietary, not standardised. Telstra is one of the first to offer Easymesh devices in the world. Easymesh consists of a router and multiple extenders (access points or boosters), up to 4 with Telstra, that share the same wifi name and auto-switch between the 2.4 and 5 GHz wifi bands.
Wired switches too!
Not obviously documented, but I discovered that wired switches can be attached to any of the Easymesh extenders (access points) to allow the interconnection of non-wifi devices with the rest of the home system. No need to run network cable around the house! Currently, I run my PC on a switch connected to an extender, with the wifi router in a bedroom where the NBN is connected.Telstra devices
The Telstra Smart Modem™ Gen 2 models are available to suit the different NBN connection,; mine is fibre to the node. It connects to NBN through what was the phone point. The smart modem has a SIM card to allow connection to the 4G mobile should (when) the NBN network goes down. The modem can be fiddly to set up, sometimes requiring talking to Telstra support. The one in the new house was installed by a technician as part of connecting to NBN. The cost of the modem is included with the Telstra plan. The modem is state of the art, MIMO, beam-forming, auto band and channel switching. It covered the house reasonably well alone but needed a cable to some devices in another room before the extender.
Telstra Smart Wi-Fi Booster gen 2 is an Easymesh extender once paired with the router and costs $192. The switch is plugged in behind.
In theory, any Easymesh devices from any maker can be used as it is a standard. Earlier proprietary mesh extenders can't be used.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete