Currently I have my netgear router inconveniently set on one side of my house upstairs. I don't want it moved and the connection to the basement and other side of the house is very weak. I want to know if I can use a WAP or a repeater/extender without creating a second wifi network. also if I use a router as a WAP, does it have to be directly wired to the primary router? I'm not experiences to networking so please explain the process to a newbie if you can.
Can I use extend my wifi without making a new network?
- Thread starter schhy
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Someone Somewhere
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- Sep 23, 2012
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If you use a second router as a WAP, it will need to have a connection to the first. This could be through a switch though, if necessary.
If you use a repeater, you won't need to cable it, but it will go at up to half the speed because it has to receive and transmit over WiFi, not just one or the other.
If you set the SSID, encryption, and password to be the same, most devices will roam from one to the other when the connection gets bad.
If you use a repeater, you won't need to cable it, but it will go at up to half the speed because it has to receive and transmit over WiFi, not just one or the other.
If you set the SSID, encryption, and password to be the same, most devices will roam from one to the other when the connection gets bad.
I heard something about a power line system with routers, can you elaborate?
also is there any way to not switch between networks and just have one? I don't want to switch to network 2 from Network 1 as I move around. I did read something about turning off dhcp and using staic IP on the second router to fix this but I don't know. would that work?
Someone Somewhere
Titan
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Plug it into the LAN port on both routers. Disable the DHCP server on your second one, and set it to DHCP-assigned address.
Powerline networking essentially runs ethernet over your power lines. However, it's somewhat temperamental to other noisy devices in your house and being on different circuits, so I'd consider it an option of last resort.
If the WAPs broadcast the same SSID, your devices should switch between them automatically without you having to do anything manually.
Powerline networking essentially runs ethernet over your power lines. However, it's somewhat temperamental to other noisy devices in your house and being on different circuits, so I'd consider it an option of last resort.
If the WAPs broadcast the same SSID, your devices should switch between them automatically without you having to do anything manually.
Tom Tancredi
Judicious
- May 9, 2013
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repeaters are specificly for this reason. They just pick up the original wireless signal and 'relay' it further ranged. Normally it is best to plug into them (wired) to 'set them up', then walk and put them over in MIDRANGE between where you want to extend to and where your coverage 'drops off'.
That said more physical objects or thicker the objects between points can impede it even 'repeaters' causing you to buy many repeaters (wasting money). You may wish to guage how much is between the points, in both object and distance then consider maybe upgrading to the new Wireless AC (costs the same as the old Wireless N devices) router and add on (USB) connections. This increases range, power, and reduces the needs for repeaters WITHIN REASON.
Most the above answer is correct the bolded part is completely wrong. The range/power are EXACTLY the same for 802.11n and 802.11ac on 5g band. The power is regulated by the government it does not matter if you are transmitting 802.11ac or a baby monitor. Coverage/range is directly related to how much signal the device can output not what is contained in the signal. What is different between 802.11n and 802.11ac is that at a given signal level you tend to get more data with 802.11ac than 802.11n. Still if you get no signal at 802.11n it does not matter how many more bits you stuff into the signal using 802.11ac you will still get no signal using 802.11ac.
They KEY disadvantage to using 802.11ac is that it only runs on 5g. Because 5g is absorbed more easily than 2.4g you can actually say 802.11n has more range than 802.11ac. BUT that would also be a lie since it is purely the ability to run on 2.4g rather than 5g that is causing the difference.
Thank you everyone for your contribution
the thing is I have my printer next to my primary router. if I I'm at the other side of the house and I need to print something, it has to be connected on the same network as the laptop. so then it wouldn't let me print from the other side of the house. any solution?
I would use that but the fact that the connection speed halves is one reason i don't want to use a repeater
the thing is I have my printer next to my primary router. if I I'm at the other side of the house and I need to print something, it has to be connected on the same network as the laptop. so then it wouldn't let me print from the other side of the house. any solution?
I would use that but the fact that the connection speed halves is one reason i don't want to use a repeater
As long as you use the second router as a AP then you only have a single network. The AP is best though of as a wireless switch. From a end device viewpoint it is completely transparent.
You actually can print to printers anywhere if you work at it. It is technically possible to print to a printer in someone else house if they have it setup correctly. Still it is much easier to only have a single router in your network and run any other device as a AP.
You actually can print to printers anywhere if you work at it. It is technically possible to print to a printer in someone else house if they have it setup correctly. Still it is much easier to only have a single router in your network and run any other device as a AP.
Tom Tancredi
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The answer to your first question above is use a repeater (still the same answer) will just extend the current network, no fuss no muss. As for 'cuttint speeds in half', unless your running 802.11b or 802.11g, this is not a 'factor', as if your wireless was running the advertised 300Mbps on 802.11n (yes we know it won't actually but just follow through) and you 'cut it in half' to 150Mbps, does it matter if your still on a 15Mbps Cable Internet service? See it won't cut your speed over the Internet (the speed your probably guaging at), only across the internal network your setting up, which would only really matter if your constantly moving data (transfer files) across from Mom's Computer to Dad's Computer to little Mikey's and no Internet.
Someone Somewhere
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They are still the same network if you connect it through the LAN ports and don't go through WAN.
However, some people do a lot of internal file transfers. I can quite easily max out gigabit ethernet.
However, some people do a lot of internal file transfers. I can quite easily max out gigabit ethernet.
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