Google Announces Nest WiFi • Hacker News Board

Re: Google Announces Nest WiFi

#81

Post by wstrange » Tue, Oct 15, 2019, 4:48 PM UTC

lbotos wrote: post #60

ssully wrote: post #51

I got a single Google WiFi router (home is small enough to not need the mesh) last year to pretty terrible results. I mainly got it for more frequent firmware updates, and easy administration via their phone app (easier to use then my Netgear Nighthawk; i.e. can show my wife how to use it). Everything worked great with it for the first few months, but then I started getting severe speed drops - specifically I was see…

Ya know, I'm literally experiencing this right now and It's befuddling. For the past week or so, I've been using fast.com and only from my Macbook Pro do I see the speed drop. My phone on wifi only will maintain 200Mbps++ I'm really mad because it's been seamless until now.

My mac pro sometimes does the same thing, whil other devices in the house don't seem to have this issue. Reconnecting the wifi seems to fix it.

I'm not sure if this is a google wifi problem (I have the OnHub) - or an issue with the mac pro wifi drivers.

Re: Google Announces Nest WiFi

#82

Post by allset_ » Tue, Oct 15, 2019, 4:48 PM UTC

uniformlyrandom wrote: post #20

dewey wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the more worrying aspect is that they probably deprecate it in a few years and you don't get any firmware updates any more.

Every single router vendor does this. It is an issue, but it is not a google issue.

Every consumer router vendor, yes. If you spend a bit more for something in the prosumer line, such as Unifi or pfSense you get updates virtually forever.

Re: Google Announces Nest WiFi

#83

Post by gnicholas » Tue, Oct 15, 2019, 4:54 PM UTC

> Many routers are ugly, which means they get hidden in a closet or cabinet, where the signal is blocked and can be reduced by up to 50 percent.

I never understood why the Apple HomePod didn't have a network-extender functionality. I'm sure it has the necessary hardware, and it would have helped justify the high price. I'm glad to see others are putting these features (smart speaker + wifi extender) together!

Re: Google Announces Nest WiFi

#84

Post by yalogin » Tue, Oct 15, 2019, 4:59 PM UTC

Having to login using a google account is pretty unsettling to me. What happens when I lose access to the account?

Also they now have a verified identity to all my data from my router. I know they will have that anyway given my Gmail sends them the ip, they just have a detailed view of all urls I use and every site I go to and how long i spend there. I bought one and it worked fine but in a few weeks I just couldn’t use it because of this unsettling feeling. Ended up throwing it in the drawer. May be should have returned it instead, oh well.

Re: Google Announces Nest WiFi

#85

Post by lbotos » Tue, Oct 15, 2019, 5:01 PM UTC

wstrange wrote: post #81

lbotos wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ya know, I'm literally experiencing this right now and It's befuddling. For the past week or so, I've been using fast.com and only from my Macbook Pro do I see the speed drop. My phone on wifi only will maintain 200Mbps++ I'm really mad because it's been seamless until now.

My mac pro sometimes does the same thing, whil other devices in the house don't seem to have this issue. Reconnecting the wifi seems to fix it. I'm not sure if this is a google wifi problem (I have the OnHub) - or an issue with the mac pro wifi drivers.

Right, I noticed that too! The weird thing is... it appears to be a new Macbook Pro driver problem. I have a 2013 and I don't see this behavior on that one. Just the 2016. sigh....

I restarted my macbook pro 2016 wifi and I'm getting 50Mbps

2013 with the same test: 150 Mbps

Re: Google Announces Nest WiFi

#86

Post by gnicholas » Tue, Oct 15, 2019, 5:05 PM UTC

fjabre wrote: post #36

I detest the fact that Google bought Nest. Now I have the pleasure of logging into a convoluted Google UX instead of the familiar Nest UX. And here we have another intrusion of Google into our home. It's clear Google has no respect for anyone's privacy and is now a part of the problem.

I am less likely to buy a Nest-branded device, now that it's owned by Google. Similarly, I won't buy a Ring device, now that it's owned by Amazon. Sadly, I'm sure folks with leanings like these are the tiny minority of customers, so the market probably won't feel the impact of this preference.

I do my best to support the companies that respect privacy, and I make sure my own startup's products give our customers the privacy that I would want for myself.

I wish there was a certification or something, sort of like b-corp, that could indicate that a product doesn't gather any personal data (as opposed to just being GDPR-compliant, which allows collection but imposes various processing/deletion requirements).

Re: Google Announces Nest WiFi

#87

Post by acejam » Tue, Oct 15, 2019, 5:06 PM UTC

Many of these features appear very similar to Eero[1]. It's a clear battle against Eero/Amazon for market share.

If you're looking for simple rock-solid mesh WiFi, Eero is what you want.

[1] https://eero.com

Re: Google Announces Nest WiFi

#88

Post by pfranz » Tue, Oct 15, 2019, 5:11 PM UTC

wstrange wrote: post #81

lbotos wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ya know, I'm literally experiencing this right now and It's befuddling. For the past week or so, I've been using fast.com and only from my Macbook Pro do I see the speed drop. My phone on wifi only will maintain 200Mbps++ I'm really mad because it's been seamless until now.

My mac pro sometimes does the same thing, whil other devices in the house don't seem to have this issue. Reconnecting the wifi seems to fix it. I'm not sure if this is a google wifi problem (I have the OnHub) - or an issue with the mac pro wifi drivers.

I kind of hoped we were past this kind of issue. 5-10 years ago I felt like there were "brand" incompatibilities with home wifi. A specific wifi router would just not connect to a specific type of computer/phone.

Re: Google Announces Nest WiFi

#89

Post by bobbonew » Tue, Oct 15, 2019, 5:14 PM UTC

krisroadruck wrote: post #27

dev_dull wrote: post #2

> You can get a two pack with one router and one point for $269 No mention of whether it supports 802.11ax. Why are WiFi devices lagging in speed advancements so much? I ended up purchasing a second hand AirPort Extreme because it’s still one of the best performing 802.11ac devices (in my anecdotal experiences of running a lot of clients)... and it’s OLD!

It does not support ax/wifi-6 and doesn't even have a dedicated backhaul channel between APs. This is overpriced garbage with 5 year old tech. The only thing "new" about it is they crammed an assistant in it. I am extremely disappoint.

Without supporting ax/WiFi-6 I 100% agree that this is an absolute garbage purchase. I’ve been looking to upgrade over the past few months and this has seriously missed the mark.

Re: Google Announces Nest WiFi

#90

Post by kmlx » Tue, Oct 15, 2019, 5:20 PM UTC

izzydata wrote: post #25

kmlx wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://www.netgear.co.uk/home/products/networking/wifi-rout... works like a charm

What is with router designs? Can we just get a clean box with as simple of antenna as possible?

tell me about it. looks absolutely horrible