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Changed to John Lewis broadband at the start of the month and we're having issues with the wifi range.
The previous, Plusnet, router was pretty good and gave us coverage upstairs but the Zyxel one provided by JL is rubbish.
I can't access the wifi settings as there is no admin details on the router (or in the box) so they have just suggested I buy some wifi extenders.
Anyone had similar and found a way to access the settings or improve the wifi?
House is nothing unusual, brick 4 bed, router in hall etc..
edit: Ours is a VMG8924
The majority of ZyXEL routers have a default username of admin, a default password of 1234, and the default IP address of 192.168. 1.1.
i've got a VMG1312, seems ok.
Ah, thanks jambo, will try that 👍🏼
Try username admin, password 1234
https://www.router-reset.com/default-password-ip-list/ZyXEL
EDIT: Too slow.
Try changing the default wifi channel.
the Zyxel one provided by JL is rubbish.
A couple of years back, we had some Zyxel routers in work for evaluation with a view to using them instead of the (considerably) more expensive Cisco branch routers we sold to DSL customers. There was an actual revolt from the engineering teams, one of the kinder comments was "this is beyond shit." On that basis, I wish you luck.
(Disclaimer: We had two models in. It could well be that Zyxel also make very good routers as well, just not the ones we had on eval.)
Do you have the username and password pair for the JL DSL account? If you do, stick them in your old Plusnet router.
https://www.johnlewisbroadband.com/support/broadband/troubleshooting/no-auth.html
Check your settings
First make sure your connection username and password are entered correctly:
Username: username@john-lewis.com - This is your Username, as shown in your welcome email
Password: This is the password you use to log in to this website
“this is beyond shit.”
My thoughts on it at the moment. Will try and change the channel later but, if not, will see if I can get the old PN one working.
Thanks
If it's acting ok as a modem/router, in that wired speeds are good and stable, I would be tempted to buy a mesh system.
There's another recent thread but I got the pretty cheap tenda nova @£59 for 3 nodes and turned off the wifi function on the router. good fast wifi all round the house now.
I think they'll be building these routers to a basic price for the ISPs and as long as it's connecting to broadband well enough the ISP can always we've done our bit and say the poor wifi is down to your house structure....so guess where they're going to reduce the cost/performance of a unti doing two jobs...
Do not use wifi extenders for this. That will just half your wifi speed. That was really appalling advice.
Cougar's is the best idea: if you were satisfied with the old router, have you tried just using that? If it's not locked down you should be able to enter your JL credentials and stay as you were.
I don’t think anyone had advised using WiFi extenders?
Using a proper mesh network instead of the cack internal WiFi of ‘free’ routers is an intelligent choice.
I don’t think anyone had advised using WiFi extenders?
The op in their op said that JL had suggested WiFi extenders.
My mistake.
If the Plusnet router is no use, then you could try a BT Mart Bub 6. I just replaced my Plusnet router with one - it cost me £15 on eBay and seems to have a more stable signal than the old router. Certainly cheaper than getting a mesh system
Some versions of the BT Home Hub are locked, so they won't work on other ISPs.
Seems they might work with Plusnet, but not John Lewis. Even though John Lewis is a rebranded Plusnet.
Worth checking before buying anyway.
Not sure if the Plusnet routers are locked or not?
We have JL and I get a signal in my shed which is a stone outbuilding 15m away from the house.
Not helpful, but provides balance, we are leaving them though, getting too expensive.