Interestingly I have just purchased these from other recommendations and was searching a set up guide. Your delivery was great, clear and concise. Thank you.
Just bought some of these and awaiting delivery - Thanks for the preview, feeling confident now that they will sort my coverage as they did for you. Great clear vid well presented - Thanks
I was undecided to buy the MW6 at first even after all the other reviews of it but after watching your review on it I feel like the MW6 is more than enough for a 100mbps network that my home has. Thank You!
Well done ... It helped me a lot in my decision ... I bought a MW6 kit with 3 devices and I hope it arrives soon. I am from Brazil and this type of mesh home network system is not very common here yet.
Hi, thanks for a super clear presentation that's really helping me consider this as an option. Like one of your other listeners, my problem is distance on floors and outbuildings. I've just gone over to fibre here in rural France. Three new speeds down and up are frankly astonishing..... going from a miserable 8 to 10 on download and 0,8 to 1,2 on upload to 1904 on down and 808 on up at the router!!!! The only problem is that these figures drop substantially as I walk my computer away from the router or off of a straight visual line with no walls. That said I'm going to look at other brands to see if distances of up to 50 metres can be covered by one base unit and two satellites, ex. Nighthawk/Orbi. Although these have a higher start price, they might be cheaper in the long run. Thanks again for your video, as a non-geek, you've assured me. Please keep up the great work.
Hi there FF, great video helped me make an informed choice on the mesh wifi and did opt for the Tenda MW6 as have you and no regrets. Easy to install and covers all areas now, Did try hard wire with cat 5 into my mancave/bar in the garden but didn't need the hardwire(glad i tried it first instead of drilling through walls etc)just use as stand alone node in bar and brilliant full green and great connection where I had none before. Cheers Jonathan
Thank for your helpful guide installing your Tenda Nova MW6 3 pack set. Your set is just right for your house and luckily you didn't choose the lower MW3 which you might regret later. MW6 does handle up to a gigabit Mbps unlike MW3. I, however bought a lower MW5S 2 unit pack. This pack consist of a primary node which is a cube while the secondary node is a direct plug on node. I had decided to use Tenda brand as they have their beam forming technology which the microwave can penetrate obstacles like walls and floors and my router is also a Tenda AC6.
I would like to ask you a question regarding the choice of Internet settings during your installation. I did my initial installation choosing DHCP but quickly ran I to problems with dropped of existing signals and found out that you cannot have 2 sets of DHCP in closed network so instead of choosing Static protocol, I opted for Bridge which works like extenders and now works like a charm.
Hi Charles, thanks for taking the time to comment and feedback - much appreciated. To quote myself, I'm no network engineer! So I have no meaningful insight or advice to answer your question - I think you have more expertise about networks than me. However several months in the units are working fine for me, exceeding my requirements and have worked more or less flawlessly. Hope yours perform similarly. 👍
Couple of questions if I may : first, probably a stupid question - will these work with a 5g router using a sim card; secondly, can these be used in conjunction with WiFi powerline adapters? Cheers!
Thanks for the comment - much appreciated. To answer your question, I'm not sure but I wouldn't do this personally, even if you could, as the Virgin router wifi will still be available, and if you opted to give the mesh wifi the same name it would be confusing (if I've understood your question correctly).
hi. i have recently bought the same system & used the same name (and password), as the original (sky) router. everything in the house automatically connected to the mesh network. really good system, works all over the house, garden, garage. 10/10 recommend.
@@stevewilson634 hi Steve. I have five nodes now connected to the virgin router set to modem mode and using the original ssid. It works like dream. I just needed to upgrade two hubs on two nodes from 100mbs to gigabit. I now get 190mbs through the hubs. It just works so well.
1) So how does Node2 and Node3 get connection - do they automatically pickup the signal from Node1 2) Does Node1 need to be wire-connected to the main Internet Modem or is it possible to Wirelessly connect Node1 to the main Internet Modem.
Im getting 8ms ping / 470 download and 110 upload / Based in midlands in Ireland and with Vodafone / fibre service / and the test was done wireless - albeit I have CAT 5 wiring from router to various switches - still thinking about investing in Tenda Nova as most new kit is wireless now .. I do kinda prefer old school CAT 5 plug-in job - I too am the go-to in this family when things wont work - from cars to bikers to all things online / Regards, Paul
if you use a junction splitter box you can still connect to the wired network by plugging the node into the splitter box, the only difference is that the signal will be wireless from the main node then wired beyond the second node which is wired to your splitter/junction/distribution box.
here in Kettering Uk the upload is always lower than download, we are on the three mobile network with a huawei B525 router and external omni-directional aerial, we get 67 down and 9 up without the mesh system, it arrived this am 20th sept 2022 so Im watching your review to see how to set it up. The wifi is not doing well at the other end of the house, plug in Wi-Fi extenders increase latency dramatically. change that ssid name the neighbours will think you are promoting ladies sanitary products.😂😂😂
thanks for the feedback, Karen. No, I never changed the VM hub mode. That's not to say it is not best practice if advised elsewhere, but I never did. I only remember configuring via the Tenda Nova app. Good luck.
Hi nice clear video. One question do you have to configure the virgin hub as a modem or can it be left in router mode. I currently connect via Ethernet to my main computer from the router and would like to continue to do this. ( in modem mode only one lan port is usable on the hub)
hi Graham, thanks for that. my pleasure. yes, I think your set-up is pretty analogous to mine in that I connect my main PC in my office to the Virgin hub via wired network. That network starts at the Virgin hub, using one of the ethernet ports at the back of the hub which feeds a patch cable to a network switch placed alongside the hub. when installing the Tenda Nova i did not change this at all. i simply used one of the hub's other spare ethernet ports to feed another patch cable to the primary node. this created a new parallel wifi network leaving the home wired network completely unchanged. hope this helps.
@@grahambutcher5083 glad to have helped. hope it works out for you. a couple of weeks in I'm still very happy, no issues to report, and have yet to even add that 3rd node yet due to ongoing building work. should be even better coverage after
I also forgotten if you had unified the existing SSID or kept the mesh SSID separate? If you had unified the default SSID and mesh SSID, we're there any signal conflict?
Really helpful video thank you. I have seen other videos that state that, with a Virgin Media router, it is better to put it into modem mode and just use the Nova network, to avoid clashes between the two. I note from your comments below that you had kept both the VM and Nova networks running, with little or no problems? As quite some time has passed since then, I was wondering if you could provide an update on this and on how the Nova kit has continued to perform. Like you, I have purchased the MW6 pack on the recommendation of a VM engineer and will be installing it in the next day or so, so any update that you can provide would be very much appreciated. THanks agin.
Hi Les, thanks for the feedback. Yeah, the unit is still going strong. Still have the Virgin hub wi-fi available but rarely connect to it. I've had connectivity issues with the Nova mesh a few times but have found that a full power down (switch off, unplug, leave for a minute then restart) sorts that out. And since I also unplug the Virgin hub at the same time I'm not entirely sure if the issue was caused by virgin hardware and the Nova is blameless?? I think it may have been Virgin as I periodically have always had issues with Virgin connectivity (as i say every couple of months) that were often solved by full power down. Since the Nova feeds from the Virgin hub any problem at source will manifest downstream. All in all, happy with the performance and provides far better coverage than I had before in the far corners of the house. Hope this helps.
@@FeelgoodFootage The reason you're having to reset the units is because you are clashing IP addresses. Look at the address the Nova's are working on (In the settings on the app) - Then look at the address of the router...They're on 2 different IP ranges.
Hi Carlos, thanks for the video. Did you leave your virgin hub in standard mode broadcasting it’s own wifi signal? Did you put the Tendas in Bridge mode or leave them dhcp? Has there been any problems with signal clashes? Most things I’ve read is to put it in modem mode but that means you need to attach a switch to the Tenda to get Ethernet ports as it disables them on the hub. Over time have you experienced any issues?
Thanks for commenting Stuart. Yes, I left the Virgin hub in standard mode. If I search for wifi from a device it still appears as an option and I can connect to it as before (if I'm within range). I believe the Tenda Nova is in DHCP. As to signal clashes, not sure I can answer as anything connecting via wfi is now connecting to the TN as the default. And that has worked well over the months since installation. I've probably had to fully restart the Virgin hub a couple of times and on a couple of occasions switched off TN nodes when I've noticed the status light went to red - but this was maybe twice since I've had the set-up, and may have been caused by the Virgin hub needing a reboot. As I say, I'm far from an expert with networks but my experience with this mesh set-up is I'm still very pleased with it and it has definitely given me sustained, strong and fast wifi connection in a previous 'dead zone' lying in my bed. Hope this helps.
@@FeelgoodFootage Hi Carlos, thanks for taking time to reply. I’ve now set it up and left the virgin hub in default and all seems to be fine. I split and named the 2.4 and 5 virgin hub signals and used the default name for the Tendra and so far all but one smart plug reconnected and are working so much quicker. I’ve always got the virgin signals as backup, but I’ve always found their signal soo hit and miss, even with string signals. I did try to put it in modem mode but the light never turned magenta so I gave up and did it your way. It also allows be to Ethernet my main computer which is a bonus. So far so good! Thanks for the video and reply 👍🏼
@@stuarttickner Hi Stuart. I have a VM 3 hub and am about to set up my Nova MW6 system. Is yours working well with both the VM and Nova networks active? Also, can you tell me which port you used on the VM hub when plugging in the cable that connects it to the Nova unit please?
@@leswilson6570 Hi Lee. The first node is plugged into port 1 (I think thats the only one that works). It has definitely improved the signals around the house and having both wifi signals doesn’t seem to be a problem. I set the Nova up as the default Virgin name, and have split the Virgin hub into 2G and 5G wifi signals so i know what it is connected to. The Nova system is ok, just frustrating that you cannot split or choose the signal or which node your device is connected to, the handoff between nodes isn’t great. The ethernet connections work well. There is no technical support, phone number doesn’t work and they never respond on FB or messenger. For the price it is ok.
apologies for the delay replying, Phil. thanks very much for the comment. No, I didn't disable the wifi from the Virgin hub. You can still access it, within the limitations of its range.
@@FeelgoodFootage You are supposed to turn off wi-fi on the main router in case there is a signal conflict which can cause connection issues, the node plugged into the router is supposed to replace the router ssid and password. There is also the risk that your device will default to the main router when you enter that room unless you delete it from your wi-fi network list.
All I can say is that I am fairly sure that is exactly my situation. I'm with Virgin Media (UK ISP if you're unaware) and they provide internet via a fibre optic cable which comes into what they call their "super hub' which is a combined modem and router. It works perfectly with the Tenda Nova. When connected the Tenda Nova appears as another wi-fi source - but the Virgin wi-fi is still available if you wish. However I just connect to the TN with my devices as it's much better coverage across the property.
Once set up do you have to change the Wifi settings on all your devices to the mesh network instead of the router (e.g. the wifi network name and password)?
No you don't have change from router unless you want to. You only change if you want the device to take advantage of the new mesh wi-fi network. The existing wi-fi coverage provided by your router remains in place. They run in parallel. So if your router is close to your smart TV, for example, and provides fast, reliable wi-fi to that, there's no need to change that to the mesh. However if you're looking at this system you probably need to improve wi-fi coverage somewhere and to do that you will need to add the mesh wi-fi to the device.
Thanks for this, very insightful and helpful. I've just invested in the MW12 set up (3 Nodes) and wondered if you knew if I can add a second three node kit into the mix. Our place sprawls and is made up of old farm cottages with walls that would make most castles jealous. I'm 'hoping' two MW12 kits and six nodes will provide the cover to quell raging teens and their gaming but also wondering if I should have just bought the single 'add on' nodes (although this seems more expensive) ... any thoughts?
Hi Colin, thanks for the comment, much appreciated - really glad it helped. An interesting question you ask... I have not done this but have taken the info from the Tenda Nova MW12 FAQ which can be found here... www.tendacn.com/uk/faq/3481.html - I quote "Q 3: How many Nova units can be used together to establish a network? A 3: We recommend a maximum of 12 nova units to maintain network stability quality." which suggests to me you could do what you outline, but as I say, I do not speak from experience. Good luck.
@@FeelgoodFootage Thanks for this. The Amazon guy literally dropped both sets of 3 x M12's off as I clicked 'post'. I'll let you know how it goes. I think my anxiety was located in many of the review vidoes I watched, mentioning the three nodes were 'paired' in the factory (speeding setup up) but leaving me wondering if a new '3' can be added in ... and that's why they sell sigle 'add on nodes'. If this works, we may push for 9 nodes to cover all areas. I'll get back to you and thanks again ...
The jury is still out ... feedback would be under the good, the bad and the ugly. The good news is all six nodes are now one mesh (after some slightly tricky set up points), so I'm not sure why people pay £120 for one add on when I bough 3 for £189. Still, it is set up. The bad news echoes some of the comments below, some of our devices (AI light switches etc need a 2.4ghz and they don't want to join the mesh at all ... and some of our Amazon Echo's don't seem to like the mesh ... but I'm still trying. The ugly has two aspects. Firstly the price of the 3 x MW12 went up to £229 overnight, so not sure if I want to keep pursuing. A set of garden lights blew a fuse (I know this must be a coincidence, but as soon as the TP-Link plug they were in joined the mesh, it blew) ... And the signal isn't as good as the old 'power-line' extenders in some parts of the house, so now trapped between more nodes and returning to the old set up ... this all may be down to the idiosyncrasies of our house (Some walls are almost two foot thick stone, so I was perhaps expecting too much) ... if anyone has any insights on any of the above, it would be gratefully received. Before I send the lot back to Amazon and reinstate the old set up ...
@@FeelgoodFootage Thanks ... as a post note. The good folks at Tenda support came up trumps. You can activate the Smart Assistant in the app, which gives you a 30 minute window to add 2.4GHz devices to the mesh... who knew. Thanks again.
Can you tell me how many devices can connect to this mess wifi? ( the maximum device at the same time) I'm thinking to upgrade to this mess wifi since I'm running 20 devices at the moment.
Hi Sam, this is taken directly from Tenda.... Q 4: How many clients can connect to nova at the same time? A 4: One nova unit can stably serve 30-35 clients, while a suite (containing 3 nova units) can serve up to 90-100 clients.
My provider offers 200 mbps with my current plan. I get around this most of the time when I test via my wired connection. I get less than that via the mesh connection, dependent on proximity to the nearest node, but I expect that.
Thanks Zoran. I wish this was the case in the UK! After 100 Mbps I don't need more download speed right now, but I only get 20 upload and that is not enough!
If you mean do you need to use all three units, no. For the first month or more I just used 2 as the area I was going to place the third was a building site. It worked fine but obviously the coverage area was not as extensive with two units as it now is with three. You can buy additional add on single units I believe but the starting point is a three unit system to create the mesh.
You connect the primary node to the router via ethernet cable - either directly via a short patch cable (as I did, as most would do I imagine) or, I believe, via a wired network - so it could be quite a distance from the router. But the additional nodes connect to the primary node, and each other, wirelessly as they create their 'mesh'. That is my understanding at least.
@@shaykalev9928 the cable connections are for lan lead output not input. except for the main node. if you wired it all together how would you use your wi-fi in your garden, youd need a pretty big flylead,
@@FeelgoodFootagefor anyone in the future, sorted it, didn't need to do anything. I wasn't getting a fast connection via the WiFi dongle on a computer. Reset the Nova mesh using the reset button. Then redid the setup sequence (reinstall phone app too) and everything works fine with default settings, and using network cable into Plusnet hub one. I left the existing WiFi on, out of fear of never getting into the admin settings for the router which is via webpage.
here are why these suck. 1. there is no way you can pick your devices on 2.4g or 5g band. Smart devices got throw into 2.4g and 5g band so they can't see each others, or communicate with each other. 2. node that got device connected to it through ethernet cable will mostly only boardcast 2.4g signal, looks like a bug.
Thanks for your thoughts. Obviously they're not suitable for your situation from what you say. I have simpler demands I guess. I basically just want better wi-fi in certain areas across my house for phones and tablets. I don't need my devices to communicate with each other particularly. I have a wired network as well if I do need to send to or read from my NAS. But as I say, I'm probably quite a low demanding user. These devices definitely aren't for everyone, agreed.
@@FeelgoodFootage stable connection come with major wifi speed degrade as the price. All the devils are in the details. You won't feel how suck this is until you start using it. Go buy the tenda Ac23, it will give you better performance when add wifi extender.
How odd? My iPhone running on 5GHz can see and communicate with all my 2.4GHz devices. The VM Hub 3 has correctly allocated devices to the optimum band or the one determined by the device. So interpreting your comment, the Mesh will remove this facility and I won’t be able to see my 2.4 GHz devices with my iPhone or other 5GHz equipment? This would render the whole set up useless. Is this the case?
@@Skeitintouch on tenda mesh setup, it has a feature to force your smart phone to 2.4G band for 30 mins, so you can communicate with smart devices. Unfortunately tenda mesh setup won't allow you to lock specific device to 5g band, so you are on the "smart mercy" of mesh system. I am not impressed with tenda mesh, in compair to other tenda Ac routers.
i have tenda nova mw3 and it is mega scam do not buy tenda nova. for my tenda nova mw3 they say it can take 867 mbps with 5ghz but even the mesh router can not take more than 100 so scam.and it's with cat 5E cable from the mesh router to my fiber box
Sorry to hear about your experience. I have no insight as to why that may be. However the system has worked very well for me. I tested my speed this morning and had about 150 download via the Tenda Nova wi-fi. That would never be possible before
As specified, the MW3 has not gigabit ethernet ports (1000 mbps), but fast ethernet (100 mbps) ports. So the connection with your fiber box is limited to 100 mbps, being the maximum speed you can achieve from your internet speed. The maximum (theoretically) 867 mbps in 5 Ghz is limited between devices (direct communication such as access to NAS) inside your local network.
@@horkoser yes the Mw6 is the recommended system with 3 nodes it has support for up to 300mbps whereas the MW3 only supports 100mbps. so its worth looking at the reviews on amazon before choosing your system.
Interestingly I have just purchased these from other recommendations and was searching a set up guide. Your delivery was great, clear and concise. Thank you.
Reading that comment was a great way to start the day - thanks for taking the time. Glad the clip was of use.
Honestly the most detailed RUclips review I have come across very well done like a TV report
Wonderful to read that, thanks for taking the time to comment, Mansoor.
Just bought some of these and awaiting delivery - Thanks for the preview, feeling confident now that they will sort my coverage as they did for you. Great clear vid well presented - Thanks
Hope they work well for you. Thanks for the comment, much appreciated
I was undecided to buy the MW6 at first even after all the other reviews of it but after watching your review on it I feel like the MW6 is more than enough for a 100mbps network that my home has. Thank You!
You're very welcome Adam. Hope it works well for you. Thanks for the comment.
Well done ... It helped me a lot in my decision ... I bought a MW6 kit with 3 devices and I hope it arrives soon. I am from Brazil and this type of mesh home network system is not very common here yet.
That's awesome to read. I hope it works well for you. Thanks for taking the time to comment - obrigado!
Hi, thanks for a super clear presentation that's really helping me consider this as an option.
Like one of your other listeners, my problem is distance on floors and outbuildings. I've just gone over to fibre here in rural France. Three new speeds down and up are frankly astonishing..... going from a miserable 8 to 10 on download and 0,8 to 1,2 on upload to 1904 on down and 808 on up at the router!!!! The only problem is that these figures drop substantially as I walk my computer away from the router or off of a straight visual line with no walls. That said I'm going to look at other brands to see if distances of up to 50 metres can be covered by one base unit and two satellites, ex. Nighthawk/Orbi. Although these have a higher start price, they might be cheaper in the long run.
Thanks again for your video, as a non-geek, you've assured me. Please keep up the great work.
That's a great comment to read, Graeme. I appreciate you taking the time. Glad the info has been useful and hope you find a good solution in France.
Hi there FF, great video helped me make an informed choice on the mesh wifi and did opt for the Tenda MW6 as have you and no regrets. Easy to install and covers all areas now, Did try hard wire with cat 5 into my mancave/bar in the garden but didn't need the hardwire(glad i tried it first instead of drilling through walls etc)just use as stand alone node in bar and brilliant full green and great connection where I had none before. Cheers Jonathan
awesome to read that feedback. great. many thanks Jonathan.
Thank you. A clear, concise video compared to others.
Delighted it's proved useful to you, Nick. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Thank for your helpful guide installing your Tenda Nova MW6 3 pack set. Your set is just right for your house and luckily you didn't choose the lower MW3 which you might regret later. MW6 does handle up to a gigabit Mbps unlike MW3.
I, however bought a lower MW5S 2 unit pack. This pack consist of a primary node which is a cube while the secondary node is a direct plug on node. I had decided to use Tenda brand as they have their beam forming technology which the microwave can penetrate obstacles like walls and floors and my router is also a Tenda AC6.
I would like to ask you a question regarding the choice of Internet settings during your installation. I did my initial installation choosing DHCP but quickly ran I to problems with dropped of existing signals and found out that you cannot have 2 sets of DHCP in closed network so instead of choosing Static protocol, I opted for Bridge which works like extenders and now works like a charm.
Hi Charles, thanks for taking the time to comment and feedback - much appreciated. To quote myself, I'm no network engineer! So I have no meaningful insight or advice to answer your question - I think you have more expertise about networks than me. However several months in the units are working fine for me, exceeding my requirements and have worked more or less flawlessly. Hope yours perform similarly. 👍
Brilliant review. Thanks so much. Really appreciate it. .
Awesome comment. Thanks!
Very useful I just bought one need to install now 👍
thanks - hope it works well for you.
nice video, maybe the best i've seen so far on the Tendanova MW6
great to read. thank you very much.
Couple of questions if I may : first, probably a stupid question - will these work with a 5g router using a sim card; secondly, can these be used in conjunction with WiFi powerline adapters? Cheers!
Great honest simple video. Are you able to set the nodes to the same Wifi name that the Virgin router came with ?
Thanks for the comment - much appreciated. To answer your question, I'm not sure but I wouldn't do this personally, even if you could, as the Virgin router wifi will still be available, and if you opted to give the mesh wifi the same name it would be confusing (if I've understood your question correctly).
hi. i have recently bought the same system & used the same name (and password), as the original (sky) router. everything in the house automatically connected to the mesh network. really good system, works all over the house, garden, garage. 10/10 recommend.
@@stevewilson634 that's great, hope it serves you well for a long time.
@@stevewilson634 hi Steve. I have five nodes now connected to the virgin router set to modem mode and using the original ssid. It works like dream. I just needed to upgrade two hubs on two nodes from 100mbs to gigabit. I now get 190mbs through the hubs. It just works so well.
call it what you like.
1) So how does Node2 and Node3 get connection - do they automatically pickup the signal from Node1
2) Does Node1 need to be wire-connected to the main Internet Modem or is it possible to Wirelessly connect Node1 to the main Internet Modem.
(1) Yes - they connect automatically to Node 1 (2) Yes - Node 1 must be physically connected to the router/modem.
Im getting 8ms ping / 470 download and 110 upload / Based in midlands in Ireland and with Vodafone / fibre service / and the test was done wireless - albeit I have CAT 5 wiring from router to various switches - still thinking about investing in Tenda Nova as most new kit is wireless now .. I do kinda prefer old school CAT 5 plug-in job - I too am the go-to in this family when things wont work - from cars to bikers to all things online / Regards, Paul
Thanks for taking the time to comment. Appreciated.
if you use a junction splitter box you can still connect to the wired network by plugging the node into the splitter box, the only difference is that the signal will be wireless from the main node then wired beyond the second node which is wired to your splitter/junction/distribution box.
here in Kettering Uk the upload is always lower than download, we are on the three mobile network with a huawei B525 router and external omni-directional aerial, we get 67 down and 9 up without the mesh system, it arrived this am 20th sept 2022 so Im watching your review to see how to set it up. The wifi is not doing well at the other end of the house, plug in Wi-Fi extenders increase latency dramatically. change that ssid name the neighbours will think you are promoting ladies sanitary products.😂😂😂
Very useful thanks I am also on virgin media and have read that I need to change the VM hub 4 to modem mode. I wondered if you did that?
thanks for the feedback, Karen. No, I never changed the VM hub mode. That's not to say it is not best practice if advised elsewhere, but I never did. I only remember configuring via the Tenda Nova app. Good luck.
Hi nice clear video. One question do you have to configure the virgin hub as a modem or can it be left in router mode. I currently connect via Ethernet to my main computer from the router and would like to continue to do this. ( in modem mode only one lan port is usable on the hub)
hi Graham, thanks for that. my pleasure. yes, I think your set-up is pretty analogous to mine in that I connect my main PC in my office to the Virgin hub via wired network. That network starts at the Virgin hub, using one of the ethernet ports at the back of the hub which feeds a patch cable to a network switch placed alongside the hub. when installing the Tenda Nova i did not change this at all. i simply used one of the hub's other spare ethernet ports to feed another patch cable to the primary node. this created a new parallel wifi network leaving the home wired network completely unchanged. hope this helps.
@@FeelgoodFootage Thanks FF that has helped me decide.
@@grahambutcher5083 glad to have helped. hope it works out for you. a couple of weeks in I'm still very happy, no issues to report, and have yet to even add that 3rd node yet due to ongoing building work. should be even better coverage after
I also forgotten if you had unified the existing SSID or kept the mesh SSID separate? If you had unified the default SSID and mesh SSID, we're there any signal conflict?
Really helpful video thank you.
I have seen other videos that state that, with a Virgin Media router, it is better to put it into modem mode and just use the Nova network, to avoid clashes between the two.
I note from your comments below that you had kept both the VM and Nova networks running, with little or no problems? As quite some time has passed since then, I was wondering if you could provide an update on this and on how the Nova kit has continued to perform.
Like you, I have purchased the MW6 pack on the recommendation of a VM engineer and will be installing it in the next day or so, so any update that you can provide would be very much appreciated.
THanks agin.
Hi Les, thanks for the feedback. Yeah, the unit is still going strong. Still have the Virgin hub wi-fi available but rarely connect to it. I've had connectivity issues with the Nova mesh a few times but have found that a full power down (switch off, unplug, leave for a minute then restart) sorts that out. And since I also unplug the Virgin hub at the same time I'm not entirely sure if the issue was caused by virgin hardware and the Nova is blameless?? I think it may have been Virgin as I periodically have always had issues with Virgin connectivity (as i say every couple of months) that were often solved by full power down. Since the Nova feeds from the Virgin hub any problem at source will manifest downstream. All in all, happy with the performance and provides far better coverage than I had before in the far corners of the house. Hope this helps.
@@FeelgoodFootage
The reason you're having to reset the units is because you are clashing IP addresses.
Look at the address the Nova's are working on (In the settings on the app) - Then look at the address of the router...They're on 2 different IP ranges.
@@EssexWiFiEngineer thank you for the tip
Hi Carlos, thanks for the video. Did you leave your virgin hub in standard mode broadcasting it’s own wifi signal? Did you put the Tendas in Bridge mode or leave them dhcp? Has there been any problems with signal clashes? Most things I’ve read is to put it in modem mode but that means you need to attach a switch to the Tenda to get Ethernet ports as it disables them on the hub. Over time have you experienced any issues?
Thanks for commenting Stuart. Yes, I left the Virgin hub in standard mode. If I search for wifi from a device it still appears as an option and I can connect to it as before (if I'm within range). I believe the Tenda Nova is in DHCP. As to signal clashes, not sure I can answer as anything connecting via wfi is now connecting to the TN as the default. And that has worked well over the months since installation. I've probably had to fully restart the Virgin hub a couple of times and on a couple of occasions switched off TN nodes when I've noticed the status light went to red - but this was maybe twice since I've had the set-up, and may have been caused by the Virgin hub needing a reboot. As I say, I'm far from an expert with networks but my experience with this mesh set-up is I'm still very pleased with it and it has definitely given me sustained, strong and fast wifi connection in a previous 'dead zone' lying in my bed. Hope this helps.
@@FeelgoodFootage Hi Carlos, thanks for taking time to reply. I’ve now set it up and left the virgin hub in default and all seems to be fine. I split and named the 2.4 and 5 virgin hub signals and used the default name for the Tendra and so far all but one smart plug reconnected and are working so much quicker. I’ve always got the virgin signals as backup, but I’ve always found their signal soo hit and miss, even with string signals. I did try to put it in modem mode but the light never turned magenta so I gave up and did it your way. It also allows be to Ethernet my main computer which is a bonus. So far so good! Thanks for the video and reply 👍🏼
@@stuarttickner that's great. Glad the clip was useful though suspect your knowledge in this area far outstrips mine! Every success.
@@stuarttickner Hi Stuart. I have a VM 3 hub and am about to set up my Nova MW6 system. Is yours working well with both the VM and Nova networks active? Also, can you tell me which port you used on the VM hub when plugging in the cable that connects it to the Nova unit please?
@@leswilson6570 Hi Lee. The first node is plugged into port 1 (I think thats the only one that works). It has definitely improved the signals around the house and having both wifi signals doesn’t seem to be a problem. I set the Nova up as the default Virgin name, and have split the Virgin hub into 2G and 5G wifi signals so i know what it is connected to. The Nova system is ok, just frustrating that you cannot split or choose the signal or which node your device is connected to, the handoff between nodes isn’t great. The ethernet connections work well. There is no technical support, phone number doesn’t work and they never respond on FB or messenger. For the price it is ok.
Great video thanks. Can I ask, did you disable the wifi from your virgin hub or did you put it into modem mode?
apologies for the delay replying, Phil. thanks very much for the comment. No, I didn't disable the wifi from the Virgin hub. You can still access it, within the limitations of its range.
@@FeelgoodFootage You are supposed to turn off wi-fi on the main router in case there is a signal conflict which can cause connection issues, the node plugged into the router is supposed to replace the router ssid and password. There is also the risk that your device will default to the main router when you enter that room unless you delete it from your wi-fi network list.
nice video
Thanks, much appreciated
My modem and router are one thing. Is this a problem to connect this system to?
All I can say is that I am fairly sure that is exactly my situation. I'm with Virgin Media (UK ISP if you're unaware) and they provide internet via a fibre optic cable which comes into what they call their "super hub' which is a combined modem and router. It works perfectly with the Tenda Nova. When connected the Tenda Nova appears as another wi-fi source - but the Virgin wi-fi is still available if you wish. However I just connect to the TN with my devices as it's much better coverage across the property.
@Feelgood Footage thank you for your quick response.
Once set up do you have to change the Wifi settings on all your devices to the mesh network instead of the router (e.g. the wifi network name and password)?
No you don't have change from router unless you want to. You only change if you want the device to take advantage of the new mesh wi-fi network. The existing wi-fi coverage provided by your router remains in place. They run in parallel. So if your router is close to your smart TV, for example, and provides fast, reliable wi-fi to that, there's no need to change that to the mesh. However if you're looking at this system you probably need to improve wi-fi coverage somewhere and to do that you will need to add the mesh wi-fi to the device.
@@FeelgoodFootage cheers. great video by the way. Exactly what I was after.
Thanks for this, very insightful and helpful. I've just invested in the MW12 set up (3 Nodes) and wondered if you knew if I can add a second three node kit into the mix. Our place sprawls and is made up of old farm cottages with walls that would make most castles jealous. I'm 'hoping' two MW12 kits and six nodes will provide the cover to quell raging teens and their gaming but also wondering if I should have just bought the single 'add on' nodes (although this seems more expensive) ... any thoughts?
Hi Colin, thanks for the comment, much appreciated - really glad it helped. An interesting question you ask... I have not done this but have taken the info from the Tenda Nova MW12 FAQ which can be found here... www.tendacn.com/uk/faq/3481.html - I quote "Q 3: How many Nova units can be used together to establish a network?
A 3: We recommend a maximum of 12 nova units to maintain network stability quality." which suggests to me you could do what you outline, but as I say, I do not speak from experience. Good luck.
@@FeelgoodFootage Thanks for this. The Amazon guy literally dropped both sets of 3 x M12's off as I clicked 'post'. I'll let you know how it goes. I think my anxiety was located in many of the review vidoes I watched, mentioning the three nodes were 'paired' in the factory (speeding setup up) but leaving me wondering if a new '3' can be added in ... and that's why they sell sigle 'add on nodes'. If this works, we may push for 9 nodes to cover all areas. I'll get back to you and thanks again ...
The jury is still out ... feedback would be under the good, the bad and the ugly. The good news is all six nodes are now one mesh (after some slightly tricky set up points), so I'm not sure why people pay £120 for one add on when I bough 3 for £189. Still, it is set up. The bad news echoes some of the comments below, some of our devices (AI light switches etc need a 2.4ghz and they don't want to join the mesh at all ... and some of our Amazon Echo's don't seem to like the mesh ... but I'm still trying. The ugly has two aspects. Firstly the price of the 3 x MW12 went up to £229 overnight, so not sure if I want to keep pursuing. A set of garden lights blew a fuse (I know this must be a coincidence, but as soon as the TP-Link plug they were in joined the mesh, it blew) ... And the signal isn't as good as the old 'power-line' extenders in some parts of the house, so now trapped between more nodes and returning to the old set up ... this all may be down to the idiosyncrasies of our house (Some walls are almost two foot thick stone, so I was perhaps expecting too much) ... if anyone has any insights on any of the above, it would be gratefully received. Before I send the lot back to Amazon and reinstate the old set up ...
@@colinbrough3099 tough situation. Hope it works out for the best
@@FeelgoodFootage Thanks ... as a post note. The good folks at Tenda support came up trumps. You can activate the Smart Assistant in the app, which gives you a 30 minute window to add 2.4GHz devices to the mesh... who knew. Thanks again.
Can you tell me how many devices can connect to this mess wifi? ( the maximum device at the same time)
I'm thinking to upgrade to this mess wifi since I'm running 20 devices at the moment.
Hi Sam, this is taken directly from Tenda....
Q 4: How many clients can connect to nova at the same time?
A 4: One nova unit can stably serve 30-35 clients, while a suite (containing 3 nova units) can serve up to 90-100 clients.
I suggest you study the entire FAQ thoroughly here www.tendacn.com/en/faq/3095.html
what is the max internet plan mbps of your hub?
My provider offers 200 mbps with my current plan. I get around this most of the time when I test via my wired connection. I get less than that via the mesh connection, dependent on proximity to the nearest node, but I expect that.
Currently I am in Russia, here you get symmetrical up/down speed.
Thanks Zoran. I wish this was the case in the UK! After 100 Mbps I don't need more download speed right now, but I only get 20 upload and that is not enough!
Do you have to have 3 units?
If you mean do you need to use all three units, no. For the first month or more I just used 2 as the area I was going to place the third was a building site. It worked fine but obviously the coverage area was not as extensive with two units as it now is with three. You can buy additional add on single units I believe but the starting point is a three unit system to create the mesh.
Can i connect the units using ethernet cable?
You connect the primary node to the router via ethernet cable - either directly via a short patch cable (as I did, as most would do I imagine) or, I believe, via a wired network - so it could be quite a distance from the router. But the additional nodes connect to the primary node, and each other, wirelessly as they create their 'mesh'. That is my understanding at least.
@@FeelgoodFootage if i want to connect the other nodes using cable, can i do it?
I'm not sure. But if you did that aren't you just creating/extending a wired network? This is meant to provide mesh wi-fi.
@@shaykalev9928 the cable connections are for lan lead output not input. except for the main node. if you wired it all together how would you use your wi-fi in your garden, youd need a pretty big flylead,
Nice video, if anyone can figure out how to configure this with Plusnet Hub One let me know. If I figure it out I'll leave a comment.
Thanks. Hope you find the info you're after.
@@FeelgoodFootagefor anyone in the future, sorted it, didn't need to do anything. I wasn't getting a fast connection via the WiFi dongle on a computer. Reset the Nova mesh using the reset button. Then redid the setup sequence (reinstall phone app too) and everything works fine with default settings, and using network cable into Plusnet hub one. I left the existing WiFi on, out of fear of never getting into the admin settings for the router which is via webpage.
Useful follow up information. Thanks
I get 200up 200 down
live in Denmark
200 up would be amazing! I wish I had that. I get 20 up at most
Porq hablas en inglés si se te nota lo latino?
Inglés es mi idioma natal Sergio. Aunque naci en Chile, me crié en Inglaterra; nacionalidad Británico, alma Latino!
here are why these suck.
1. there is no way you can pick your devices on 2.4g or 5g band. Smart devices got throw into 2.4g and 5g band so they can't see each others, or communicate with each other.
2. node that got device connected to it through ethernet cable will mostly only boardcast 2.4g signal, looks like a bug.
Thanks for your thoughts. Obviously they're not suitable for your situation from what you say. I have simpler demands I guess. I basically just want better wi-fi in certain areas across my house for phones and tablets. I don't need my devices to communicate with each other particularly. I have a wired network as well if I do need to send to or read from my NAS. But as I say, I'm probably quite a low demanding user. These devices definitely aren't for everyone, agreed.
@@FeelgoodFootage stable connection come with major wifi speed degrade as the price. All the devils are in the details. You won't feel how suck this is until you start using it. Go buy the tenda Ac23, it will give you better performance when add wifi extender.
How odd? My iPhone running on 5GHz can see and communicate with all my 2.4GHz devices. The VM Hub 3 has correctly allocated devices to the optimum band or the one determined by the device. So interpreting your comment, the Mesh will remove this facility and I won’t be able to see my 2.4 GHz devices with my iPhone or other 5GHz equipment? This would render the whole set up useless. Is this the case?
I assume that question is directed at Han, Peter, as I can offer no insight I'm afraid. Thanks for watching though.
@@Skeitintouch on tenda mesh setup, it has a feature to force your smart phone to 2.4G band for 30 mins, so you can communicate with smart devices. Unfortunately tenda mesh setup won't allow you to lock specific device to 5g band, so you are on the "smart mercy" of mesh system. I am not impressed with tenda mesh, in compair to other tenda Ac routers.
i have tenda nova mw3 and it is mega scam do not buy tenda nova. for my tenda nova mw3 they say it can take 867 mbps with 5ghz but even the mesh router can not take more than 100 so scam.and it's with cat 5E cable from the mesh router to my fiber box
Sorry to hear about your experience. I have no insight as to why that may be. However the system has worked very well for me. I tested my speed this morning and had about 150 download via the Tenda Nova wi-fi. That would never be possible before
As specified, the MW3 has not gigabit ethernet ports (1000 mbps), but fast ethernet (100 mbps) ports. So the connection with your fiber box is limited to 100 mbps, being the maximum speed you can achieve from your internet speed. The maximum (theoretically) 867 mbps in 5 Ghz is limited between devices (direct communication such as access to NAS) inside your local network.
@@horkoser yes the Mw6 is the recommended system with 3 nodes it has support for up to 300mbps whereas the MW3 only supports 100mbps. so its worth looking at the reviews on amazon before choosing your system.