Creating a new network via a router connected to an extender

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bobzwik

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May 14, 2011
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In my apartment, the landlord owns the wifi, and therefore the router. I don't have access to it. I would like to connect my wifi speakers to the wifi, but I think upnp has to be enabled on router, or configured in a certain way, to work. I don't think upnp is currently enabled because I can't see the speaker on the network, wether I connect it with an ethernet cable to the extender I use or to the extender's wifi.

I currently use a wifi extender (because my desktop can't connect to the wifi otherwise) but because an extender duplicates the router's settings, I can't configure the upnp.

My question is this. Can I connect the input of a new router to the extender, create a new private network, and enable upnp on it? I know this sounds like a weird setup, but if it works, why not!
 
Solution
Solandri
I assume the goal of this is to get your WiFi speakers connected?

Yes it can be done in the manner you've outlined. I'm assuming your WiFi "extender" is actually a WiFi adapter which lets your desktop use its Ethernet port to connect to the WiFi adapter. If so, then yes all you need is to buy a WiFi router. Plug an ethernet cable from the router's WAN port into the WiFi extender's network port. That will allow your router to connect to the landlord's WiFi as its Internet source. Then you can configure the router's WiFi settings as you please (make sure it's on a different channel than the landlord's WiFi, security should be set to WPA2 + AES, no TKIP, no WPA, no WEP). Plug your desktop into one of the router's LAN ports, connect...
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bobzwik

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I'm asking wether I can create a wifi network with an ordinary router with upnp enabled, but instead of having the router plugged in a wall or modem, it is plugged into the extender I am using that repeats the building's wifi.
 
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Solandri

Solandri

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I assume the goal of this is to get your WiFi speakers connected?

Yes it can be done in the manner you've outlined. I'm assuming your WiFi "extender" is actually a WiFi adapter which lets your desktop use its Ethernet port to connect to the WiFi adapter. If so, then yes all you need is to buy a WiFi router. Plug an ethernet cable from the router's WAN port into the WiFi extender's network port. That will allow your router to connect to the landlord's WiFi as its Internet source. Then you can configure the router's WiFi settings as you please (make sure it's on a different channel than the landlord's WiFi, security should be set to WPA2 + AES, no TKIP, no WPA, no WEP). Plug your desktop into one of the router's LAN ports, connect your WiFi speakers to your router's WiFi network.

UPnP will work within your LAN (any devices connected to your router via its WiFi or LAN ports). Things which require configuration of your Internet access (e.g. port forwarding) will not work, as that's still governed by your landlord's router.
 
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bobzwik

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Thanks for the answer!! Yes, this is all to get my speakers connected. My extender is a TP Link RE380D. What do you mean by different channel?

I have another weird question. I am moving apartments in July, and the new place offers free wifi, but you have to login into a captive portal. I've read that if I keep using my extender, I will still have to login to the portal, but once a device is logged in via the extender, all devices connected to the extender will be logged in the portal as well. I plan on using a Raspberry Pi to constantly log me in if there is a logout timer.

My setup with the extender and router would still work, right?
 
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Solandri

Solandri

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WiFi broadcasts on a channel. Two simultaneous broadcasts on the same channel will interfere with each other. So if you put your personal WiFi on the same channel as the building's WiFi, then any time you try to download something, your extender and router will have to take turns using the channel. This will cut your speed in half. If you put them on different channels, they can both be in use at the same time.

2.4 GHz WiFi has three independent channels - 1, 6, and 11. Channel 1 actually covers channels 1-5, channel 2 covers 2-6, etc. So to completely avoid interference your choices are 1, 6, and 11.

5 GHz WiFi has a lot more independent channels to pick from, so is less prone to interference. Avoid channels 50-144 if your device supports them. They interfere with a certain type of weather radar used at some airports, so not all devices support those channels.

If your router has an auto-channel setting, that's usually safe. But it can be tricked into using an interfering channel if it's distant from any devices it's talking to. So it's usually safer to manually select a non-interfering channel. Use some sort of WiFi manager app on your phone to see which channels are being used in the vicinity of your apartment, and try to avoid using any channels with a strong signal strength.

https://drfone.wondershare.com/android/android-wifi-manager.html
https://www.topappslike.com/wifi-manager/ios/

I have another weird question. I am moving apartments in July, and the new place offers free wifi, but you have to login into a captive portal. I've read that if I keep using my extender, I will still have to login to the portal, but once a device is logged in via the extender, all devices connected to the extender will be logged in the portal as well. I plan on using a Raspberry Pi to constantly log me in if there is a logout timer.
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That's usually how it works. When you login to the portal, the free WiFi records the MAC address (unique identifier) of the WiFi device - in this case your extender. It then grants access to WiFi to that MAC address for a set amount of time. Since all your devices and your router will be communicating with the free WiFi through the extender, to the free WiFi service it will look like a single "computer" has connected to their service.

My setup with the extender and router would still work, right?
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Yup. Just be sure only the router is plugged into the extender. All your devices should be plugged into your router. If you plug a device into the extender, it will have Internet access but won't be able to communicate with devices plugged into your router like your WiFi speakers.
 
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