How to increase the WiFi range on your Rec Tec Grill

@ehirst Ubiquiti makes fantastic products.

I've setup a number of Amplifi's for people and run the UniFi AC-LR access points myself.

Hey Mike,

I've been considering changing out my ASUS setup with the UniFi's. How's the handoff from one AP to the next, pretty seamless? Do you run the same SSID on all AP's or unique to each? I have 3 ASUS routers setup currently all wired back to my main unit but ran into challenges with using a single SSID (they're older and don't support ASUS Mesh) so I've had to use 6 (3 2.4 / 3 5.0) different SSID's to alleviate the issues.
 
@dsandersus without a doubt you will be MUCH happier with the Unifi line of access points.

I used to be an avid Asus router guy myself, but got tired of having to constantly reboot them and weaker radio range.

The Unifi line is far more superior and I have installed setups using multiple access points in the same building using the same SSID. The hand off has been seamless.

Depending on your level of experience if you want something that is nearly just plug in play then check out the Ubiquiti Ampilfi - which would replace all your routers.

Otherwise, getting one or two access points like the Ubiquiti UAP-AC-LITE, Ubiquiti USG and a small 8 port Ubiquiti switch would be my suggestion. This is very similar to what I'm running myself and something I have deployed at several other sites as well.
 
Right now I have no external independent router. Now before you all cringe and shake your head....I have the Comcast Xfi that new square looking modem/wireless router.

I have that hooked up to a 10 port gigabit switch and the whole house hard wired. (tvs,ps4,desktops all hard wired) Anything not on hard wire is wireless...(ipads/cellphones/laptops) One of the hard wires is going to a router in the back yard setup as an access point (no routing) so I have internet to my outdoor backyard.

Cheapest setup and all works great!

747
 
In my house its great....it would just barely reach into my backyard so when I knew I was going to go with a new grill that was going to have WIFI...I added the dual band router setup as an access point to make sure it have strong connectivity and no have had no issues since. I can take my laptop outside to my deck and stream HD video on the 5 k band while the grill gets the 2.5 all by itself and so far... no issues.
 
Unifi gear is great, its what i run here at home. You dont need anything else in their ecosystem unless you really want it. Most of their other stuff is really overpriced but their support is great. For advanced features of the unifi ap's you really need to have the controller running 24/7, though you dont need it always on if you just want a basic full mesh wireless setup. I use a raspberry pi to run the controller and its trouble free and great.

As for the extender it will work, older models made you change to a different ssid, newer ones rebroadcast your current ssid this could cause you some grief depending on what other gear you run but for most probably will not. Personally i dont like one off extenders, I have installed many for others and played with many myself. The only place i like an "extender" is if its by the some company as your ap's and adds to or extends your mesh network. Thats effectively all these new mesh systems are (advanced extenders).

If you decide to go the extender route you can find them around 10, the last once i picked up for a buddy at microcenter for 8.99.
 
Got this one (2 pack) on Amazon and was simple to install, did while assembling new. Connects IMMEDIATELY to wifi now across the yard. I'll send you the extra one for $5 venmo me haha. Sorry couldn't get the link to work (y)
Do you still have the spare? I would like one. Does this just pull on / off the board?
 
Looking at the board, which plug is the antenna to be pulled and replaced with the new external antenna?
 
Thanks for this post and listing the Amazon links. This solved all my problems!
 
Well, i tried to replace the antenna and buggered up the original. Can this be repaired.
 

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I’m new to this forum and new to recteq grills in general. I just got the 590 and the WiFi work once then not very well after. I think it might be the range. I was gonna install the highfine and was wondering how the old is removed from the board? I don’t want to break the motherboard. Thank you. Is it twist n pull?
 
When this post was first made, all the recteq grills shipped with a small internal antenna. Now they all ship with an external antenna, so it would be questionable how much, if any, improvement in range you would see with the Highfine or similar antenna. If you haven’t done so already, a call to recteq support might be the best place to start.
 

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