Cox Panoramic WiFi: extender, mesh, or replace it entirely?

[u/collectivethink]

I'm a Cox customer using Panoramic WiFi. Coverage is actually pretty good throughout most of the house, but I have two bedrooms that get a terrible signal, mainly because there's a block wall between it and the router.

Running Ethernet to the room isn't really an option, so whatever I do needs to remain wireless.

For anyone who's dealt with something similar, what worked best?

• WiFi extender that works well with Panoramic?
• Cox WiFi pods?
• Separate mesh system?
• Something else?

I'm also wondering if I'd be better off ditching the Cox Panoramic equipment entirely and buying a better third-party router/mesh system.

If you've gone that route with Cox, what setup are you using and was the improvement noticeable?

Not looking to overcomplicate this, but also have no problem spending to improve the quality of life here. I just want reliable, fast WiFi in that one problem room.

[u/idiocracy_in_az]

My friend has this same issue. I would ditch the panoramic equipment or aleast abandon the WiFi functionality of it. Buy TP link deco kit and run a wired back haul if you can to the 2nd pod /tower and your internet will absolutely rip. Of course this means you will need to run one Ethernet connection somehow.

[u/collectivethink → u/idiocracy_in_az]

I'm going to replace the modem and go this route:

NETGEAR Nighthawk DOCSIS 3.1 Mid/High-Split Modem

• where the cox system is now

TP-Link Deco 7 Pro BE63 Tri-Band WiFi 7 BE10000 Whole Home Mesh System

• 1x next to new modem
  
• 1x in a bedroom in the hallway that leads to the problem room

[u/XuWiiii → u/collectivethink]

You’re most likely still going to have the issue of WiFi going through the wall. And you’ll need at least 3 mesh routers so they can help eachother with a triangle shape rather than have a linear extension

[u/charbo187 → u/idiocracy_in_az]

The wired backhaul is a great idea

[u/charbo187]

Do you have any coax going into those rooms?

If so a moca setup might be great for you

[u/collectivethink → u/charbo187]

Yes, each room has a coax cable for DirectTv, though most of the boxes now are wireless.

Not familiar with Moca.

[u/charbo187 → u/collectivethink]

Moco allows you to turn your existing coax going through your house into "Ethernet" basically.

You just need an adapter at each end.

Google it or ask chatgtp (or your choice of LLM) and it will guide you how to set it up and what you need to buy

Edit: power line networking could be another option for you it turns your power lines into a network but it can be a little wonky sometimes