I recommend that you read this thread: https://community.virginmedia.com/t5/Networking-and-WiFi/UNDERSTANDING-KEY-ASPECTS-OF-WiFi/td-p/3870538
It will explain what might be happening between front room and rear room..
I would never touch the VM pods; it has to be used conjunction with the wretched CONNECT app and you will get grief because the wretched CONNECT app takes WiFi control away from you.
I use an Asus mesh at home, but I'm not too bothered with "only" getting 100 meg at each mesh node. If you want higher speeds then the first mesh node needs to be wired to the host router and the second mesh node needs to be in good range of the first mesh node. You're only as good as the signal strength between nodes.