Best Wifi option to use with Telstra NBN?

[fox86]

I have just switched from Telstara ADSL to Telstra NBN, but I still nave my old TG799vac (Gateway max?) connected as the router/wifi. Phone now plugs into Gateway. NBN speed is great.

Problem: My wifi only reaches half of the house, and I cannot relocate router. My old Asus RP-AC68U repeater is flakey and heading to the recycler.

I am considering 2 options, and interested in your  opinions.

Option 1: Enter a new 24 month contract with Telstra and get a new Gen 2 Smartmodem, possibly also with a Telstra Network Extender. (cost $24+$216 if extender required, but also a 24 month commitment)

Option 2: Turn off the wifi on Gateway Max and buy a new mesh wifi system, like Netgear Orbi. (cost $496)

Question 1: Does the Smartmodem Gen 2 have better wifi performance than my current Gateway Max? Not interested in extra features like the fallback to mobile, just want to get a decent wifi signal through my whole house, preferably under a single network name.

Question 2: What are your thoughts/recommendations?

[Ozmoz]

@fox86 I would probably think about getting a Mesh device/s.

[343GuiltySpark · Accepted solution]

Gen 2 Smart Modem has better Wi-Fi and are normally given out for free to customers moving to the NBN. I use a Telstra Gen 2 smart Wi-Fi booster and with it my whole house and yard are covered.

The Net gear orbi is a good device, but keep in mind your fixed line speed would at max be around 100mbps. With 1 bar of 5ghz wifid my computer was still getting 98mbps on wifi. Don't read to much into the advertised Wi-Fi speeds on any devices as the real world experience is usually half what is the advertised theoretical in lab conditions maximum.