Wi Fi Extender/Booster

Chinacat

Well-Known Angler
Question for any of you tech savvy types out there
I have a wireless router in the house that does OK but I have a few dead or weaker spots furthest away from it
I had no clue that there are such things as Wi Fi boosters or extenders
Do any of you use one of these and if so are they all the same? Are some better than others?
Not sure if I should try one or not
 
I've got two Netgear ones. My one "advantage" is that they are directly connected to the router via LAN cables. I did use one of them with a Wireless connection for a while and it worked very well.
 
What type of Wi-Fi device are you using ?

I have a NightHawk R-7000
It feeds all 7 or more devices being used in my house and can even provide feeds to devices in backyard.

On occasion the two houses on both sides of me can remain connected to devices at all three locations.

Not sure but maybe another type of Wi-Fi router could do better.
 
The wi fi router we have is about 14 yrs old and could be a big part of the issue?
WiFi routers go on the fritz. Don't think I've ever had one last 14 years, 5-7 more realistic. Get yourself a Nighthawk.

My last one died because of lightning, but lasted a good 6 years, and the replacement has been going strong for 7 years...
 
Well, Optimum wasted a whole day for me??

I called up on Monday and spoke with some nice overseas fellow and told him my story
He says, yep, we can give you a wireless capable modem that will solve your problems for the same $$$ amount of your current modem. He goes on to say just bring your current one in to the store and swap it out. OK, cool
Next morning I proceed with disconnecting everything and head to Riverhead to get the new one. Walk in, no line, go up to the counter and tell the guy there my story. No problem he says, and takes my modem and scans it for my account info. He says, yep, we can give you the new modem for the same price you are paying, BUT the modem will not work on the service you currently have so to get the service you need to run that new 'same price" modem is an EXTRA $30 a month!!
SAY SUCKER WHAT?????????
I "politely" explain, that's BS and I'm not interested in a free same priced modem that's going to cost me an extra $30 a month.
I ask what other options are there. He says you can upgrade to some sort of fiber optic service that requires a new line from the street to your house for a 1 time $50 fee and $10 a month. Not thinking clearly, I say OK let's do that, and schedule an appt. for Friday. I then say, give me my original modem back and I'll continue to use that until the new service is installed.
I come back home, reconnect the original modem and.... NOTHING. No lights come on, no power, no nothing
WTF??? Disconnect it and try plugging it in to a different outlet. Nothing. Zippo
OK, guess I have to go back to Riverhead.
I get there, and of course now there's a line out the door. I wait my turn and get to the same guy I spoke to earlier who somehow doesn't remember me from 2 hours earlier??? I explain my situation and he says OK I'll give you a "refurbished" replacement of the same modem you have but I can't do that with an open "new service ticket". Again, SAY SUCKER WHAT? So, first he has to cancel the appt for new service on Friday, gives me the replacement, and then we have to reschedule the appt. Sorry, Friday no longer available, the next available appt is Tuesday 10/3. Yet Again, SAY SUCKER WHAT??? OK fine, give me that. Next question I ask is will this "new" modem be a simple plug in and play? he says no, you have to scan the QR code on the receipt on your smart phone and follow the install instructions. Great. Next question... BTW, how will this new service affect my Phone and TV which I have thru them and will the fiber cable thingy mesh with my coaxial cables I have running thru the house??? he explains, no it won't match but you will get new cable boxes that are now wireless too. HMMM, I'm not trusting this but walk out shaking my head and head home again.
I get home, connect everything, plug it, blue lights come on, it powers up!! YeeHaa I say
OK, now time to scan the QR code, and do the "simple" 5 minute set up.
Right away it says, Sorry we detected a problem, call 1-800- Optimum. Again, SAY SUCKER WHAT?
OK, I call and get a woman, also overseas. We go back and forth for 1 hour. She can't figure it out. keeps putting me on hold, and seeks help from supervisor etc.
Ultimately she gives up, and transfers me to the supervisor directly.
Spend a half hour with him, and he says its getting fixed but will take longer than expected and he says how about i call you back in 15 mins? I say fine cause now I gotta step away anyway............
An hour later I finally get a call back and he says OK, I figured out the problem. Drum roll please..............................
You cannot install new equipment when there is an open ticket for new service!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So once again, we cancel the appt for the new service install and the "new "modem is on line and up in running in 5 minutes!

Well now I'm debating whether I should head back to Riverhead and strangle the dude that "helped' me.

Needless to say, I am NOT rescheduling a new service appt and after a lost day, I'm right back where I started with a new old modem....
 
Well, Optimum wasted a whole day for me??

I called up on Monday and spoke with some nice overseas fellow and told him my story
He says, yep, we can give you a wireless capable modem that will solve your problems for the same $$$ amount of your current modem. He goes on to say just bring your current one in to the store and swap it out. OK, cool
Next morning I proceed with disconnecting everything and head to Riverhead to get the new one. Walk in, no line, go up to the counter and tell the guy there my story. No problem he says, and takes my modem and scans it for my account info. He says, yep, we can give you the new modem for the same price you are paying, BUT the modem will not work on the service you currently have so to get the service you need to run that new 'same price" modem is an EXTRA $30 a month!!
SAY SUCKER WHAT?????????
I "politely" explain, that's BS and I'm not interested in a free same priced modem that's going to cost me an extra $30 a month.
I ask what other options are there. He says you can upgrade to some sort of fiber optic service that requires a new line from the street to your house for a 1 time $50 fee and $10 a month. Not thinking clearly, I say OK let's do that, and schedule an appt. for Friday. I then say, give me my original modem back and I'll continue to use that until the new service is installed.
I come back home, reconnect the original modem and.... NOTHING. No lights come on, no power, no nothing
WTF??? Disconnect it and try plugging it in to a different outlet. Nothing. Zippo
OK, guess I have to go back to Riverhead.
I get there, and of course now there's a line out the door. I wait my turn and get to the same guy I spoke to earlier who somehow doesn't remember me from 2 hours earlier??? I explain my situation and he says OK I'll give you a "refurbished" replacement of the same modem you have but I can't do that with an open "new service ticket". Again, SAY SUCKER WHAT? So, first he has to cancel the appt for new service on Friday, gives me the replacement, and then we have to reschedule the appt. Sorry, Friday no longer available, the next available appt is Tuesday 10/3. Yet Again, SAY SUCKER WHAT??? OK fine, give me that. Next question I ask is will this "new" modem be a simple plug in and play? he says no, you have to scan the QR code on the receipt on your smart phone and follow the install instructions. Great. Next question... BTW, how will this new service affect my Phone and TV which I have thru them and will the fiber cable thingy mesh with my coaxial cables I have running thru the house??? he explains, no it won't match but you will get new cable boxes that are now wireless too. HMMM, I'm not trusting this but walk out shaking my head and head home again.
I get home, connect everything, plug it, blue lights come on, it powers up!! YeeHaa I say
OK, now time to scan the QR code, and do the "simple" 5 minute set up.
Right away it says, Sorry we detected a problem, call 1-800- Optimum. Again, SAY SUCKER WHAT?
OK, I call and get a woman, also overseas. We go back and forth for 1 hour. She can't figure it out. keeps putting me on hold, and seeks help from supervisor etc.
Ultimately she gives up, and transfers me to the supervisor directly.
Spend a half hour with him, and he says its getting fixed but will take longer than expected and he says how about i call you back in 15 mins? I say fine cause now I gotta step away anyway............
An hour later I finally get a call back and he says OK, I figured out the problem. Drum roll please..............................
You cannot install new equipment when there is an open ticket for new service!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So once again, we cancel the appt for the new service install and the "new "modem is on line and up in running in 5 minutes!

Well now I'm debating whether I should head back to Riverhead and strangle the dude that "helped' me.

Needless to say, I am NOT rescheduling a new service appt and after a lost day, I'm right back where I started with a new old modem....
I say strangle...............
 
Well, Optimum wasted a whole day for me??

I called up on Monday and spoke with some nice overseas fellow and told him my story
He says, yep, we can give you a wireless capable modem that will solve your problems for the same $$$ amount of your current modem. He goes on to say just bring your current one in to the store and swap it out. OK, cool
Next morning I proceed with disconnecting everything and head to Riverhead to get the new one. Walk in, no line, go up to the counter and tell the guy there my story. No problem he says, and takes my modem and scans it for my account info. He says, yep, we can give you the new modem for the same price you are paying, BUT the modem will not work on the service you currently have so to get the service you need to run that new 'same price" modem is an EXTRA $30 a month!!
SAY SUCKER WHAT?????????
I "politely" explain, that's BS and I'm not interested in a free same priced modem that's going to cost me an extra $30 a month.
I ask what other options are there. He says you can upgrade to some sort of fiber optic service that requires a new line from the street to your house for a 1 time $50 fee and $10 a month. Not thinking clearly, I say OK let's do that, and schedule an appt. for Friday. I then say, give me my original modem back and I'll continue to use that until the new service is installed.
I come back home, reconnect the original modem and.... NOTHING. No lights come on, no power, no nothing
WTF??? Disconnect it and try plugging it in to a different outlet. Nothing. Zippo
OK, guess I have to go back to Riverhead.
I get there, and of course now there's a line out the door. I wait my turn and get to the same guy I spoke to earlier who somehow doesn't remember me from 2 hours earlier??? I explain my situation and he says OK I'll give you a "refurbished" replacement of the same modem you have but I can't do that with an open "new service ticket". Again, SAY SUCKER WHAT? So, first he has to cancel the appt for new service on Friday, gives me the replacement, and then we have to reschedule the appt. Sorry, Friday no longer available, the next available appt is Tuesday 10/3. Yet Again, SAY SUCKER WHAT??? OK fine, give me that. Next question I ask is will this "new" modem be a simple plug in and play? he says no, you have to scan the QR code on the receipt on your smart phone and follow the install instructions. Great. Next question... BTW, how will this new service affect my Phone and TV which I have thru them and will the fiber cable thingy mesh with my coaxial cables I have running thru the house??? he explains, no it won't match but you will get new cable boxes that are now wireless too. HMMM, I'm not trusting this but walk out shaking my head and head home again.
I get home, connect everything, plug it, blue lights come on, it powers up!! YeeHaa I say
OK, now time to scan the QR code, and do the "simple" 5 minute set up.
Right away it says, Sorry we detected a problem, call 1-800- Optimum. Again, SAY SUCKER WHAT?
OK, I call and get a woman, also overseas. We go back and forth for 1 hour. She can't figure it out. keeps putting me on hold, and seeks help from supervisor etc.
Ultimately she gives up, and transfers me to the supervisor directly.
Spend a half hour with him, and he says its getting fixed but will take longer than expected and he says how about i call you back in 15 mins? I say fine cause now I gotta step away anyway............
An hour later I finally get a call back and he says OK, I figured out the problem. Drum roll please..............................
You cannot install new equipment when there is an open ticket for new service!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So once again, we cancel the appt for the new service install and the "new "modem is on line and up in running in 5 minutes!

Well now I'm debating whether I should head back to Riverhead and strangle the dude that "helped' me.

Needless to say, I am NOT rescheduling a new service appt and after a lost day, I'm right back where I started with a new old modem....
The guy that helped you by any chance was his name sleepy joe?
 
Hey Mitch - That's a horrible experience. Bad info across the board. But the first bad info was that you could replace the old router with a new router and it would work with the old boxes.

The new routers go with new boxes only The new routers do not work properly with the old boxes, it has to be a package,

As far as I know, upgrading to fiber, which they tried to have you do, is optional.

I have the new boxes and the new router here and it works fine with the coaxial. When I did the upgrade, the tech came to the house and did the programming. I have a 1G up and down.

You got some bad info from them. Hopefully it gets resolved soon for ya.
 
Hey Mitch - That's a horrible experience. Bad info across the board. But the first bad info was that you could replace the old router with a new router and it would work with the old boxes.

The new routers go with new boxes only The new routers do not work properly with the old boxes, it has to be a package,

As far as I know, upgrading to fiber, which they tried to have you do, is optional.

I have the new boxes and the new router here and it works fine with the coaxial. When I did the upgrade, the tech came to the house and did the programming. I have a 1G up and down.

You got some bad info from them. Hopefully it gets resolved soon for ya.
Thanks Don!
Yes, it is optional but they push hard and tell you how great it is:rolleyes:
It's just a bit overwhelming to me trying to digest that guy telling me I would end up with a wireless TV "cable" box in the room that I can barely get a signal to surf the web from my phone :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:

I'm thinking you opted for the upgraded service on existing coaxial? I believe he told me that option for $30 a month more would still use the existing line from the pole to my house and the existing coaxial
 
Thanks Don!
Yes, it is optional but they push hard and tell you how great it is:rolleyes:
It's just a bit overwhelming to me trying to digest that guy telling me I would end up with a wireless TV "cable" box in the room that I can barely get a signal to surf the web from my phone :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:

I'm thinking you opted for the upgraded service on existing coaxial? I believe he told me that option for $30 a month more would still use the existing line from the pole to my house and the existing coaxial
Yeah I have the upgraded speed package. When I upgraded to the new package I actually had a lower bill for a year around $150 a month triple play 3 boxes. The bill is now about $182 month.
For the router, I brought it up to the main level (I have a Ranch style house). I originally had it in the basement and with the concrete walls down there and a gas fireplace insert upstairs I had too much signal interference, I have the Wi-Fi Extender now in the basement. Good signal strength now throughout the house. Big difference is the router being on the main level.
 
I would of never went to the store I would of told them you were having issues with the service and had them send a tech to the house he or she would of swapped out what ever you needed
Was just having that conversation with my wife
Gonna wait a bit and make that call
 
Optimum makes the options of service and charges so confusing no one knows what is right, wrong or indifferent.
They do this on purpose.

I learned all the scams they do with billing not from an insider but outsiders, family and friends that live on the same block all came to sit down and compare and share invoices from these scam artists. Mad as hell as we learn and see the crazy way of billing configures into each connection/ customer. You are not a customer, you are a connection and you only connect to what you make a deal for.

Most important, you can actually purchase your own modem and not pay $15 a month for there modem.
The modems are compatible but you need to make them program it through their network, it was not easy but I did.

As for the box they supply, certainly update that often …it’s an unavoidable charge, so change it out as needed. I also have more TV’s than boxes since I move them around into areas needed due to seasons. The back room box goes in the basement for the winter rather than have one for each location.

Also important is do not use their Wi-Fi router, purchase your own independent high end router for true optimal service.

Do not take any of their one time, one year promotional BS offers that need to be renegotiated every 12months.
Get basic service w/Wi-Fi and invest in a good streaming device that does not need any form of subscription.

There is so much more but could not possibly cover it all in one post, someone should teach a course in how to combat these scumbags just like they teach associates how to screw us.
 
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