Best Apple Compatible WiFi ExtendersFor Large File Upload?

The Xfinity pods are ISP-grade mesh hardware and they're known to be unreliable for sustained uploads — they handle casual browsing fine but long file transfers often trip over their connection management. Wired into a pod is still going through their firmware, which is likely where it's falling apart.

For AirPort Express replacements that actually work well in this kind of setup, Eero Pro is the closest in terms of Apple ecosystem friendliness and stability. TP-Link Deco is also solid and tends to handle sustained throughput better than ISP-provided hardware.

That said — if the uploads are consistently large and time-sensitive, the most reliable fix long-term is a direct Ethernet run from your Time Capsule upstairs, even if it means routing a cable. No extender, Apple or otherwise, will be as stable for this as a wired connection straight to the router.

The sofa + ethernet setup is honestly the most reliable option you have right now, no shame in using it for the heavy uploads while you sort out a longer-term solution. Eero Pro 6 or the newer Pro 7 are worth a look specifically.

Ensure the TP-Link firmware is current.

The Wi-Fi characteristics are visible by using Option-Click on the Wi-Fi logo 🛜 in the menu bar to capture Wi-Fi network data. Wi-Fi Security, Channel, Country, RSSI, Noise, Tx Rate, PHY mode, MCS, and NSS are all interesting here, but don’t post the Wi-Fi address, any local HotSpots that might be present, the Wi-Fi network name, or the BSSID.

Given you have a Mac, get WiFi Explorer app and use that to view the local network environment, signal strength, and other competing Wi-Fi networks. I use that app when troubleshooting, and it was invaluable for finding failing AirPort Time Capsule boxes — those AirPort Time Capsule network problems were why I started using the app, and it all tracked back to those random drop-outs.

You may well be making some of your own Wi-Fi contention here too, with mesh (which needs two Wi-Fi channels for each box) and AirPort competing for available channels. Mesh is useful when you can’t run wires, but the connections are slower and the added Wi-Fi channels can mean more room for Wi-Fi interference.

I’d start by scanning the local Wi-Fi environment and see what’s going on.

You can use Time Capsule as a wired NAS; with Wi-Fi off. But Time Capsule support ends with macOS 26.

Local gear preference is Ubiquiti Unifi gear, though that’s a step or two up from what is being discussed here in various dimensions, and the Unifi gear can incorporate local storage, not-cloud security cameras, and other features.