Use second router to extend WiFi

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jon.atkinson

Sep 14, 2018
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0
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Hello,

I've got two routers, one upstairs and one down. They are connected to each other via ethernet cable. The one downstairs is a TP Link Archer C9, and the one upstairs is a BT Hub 3.


If I create separate SSID's for each router, then I can get a strong signal and excellent download speed on my mobile phone, both upstairs and downstairs, provided I manually make sure I am connected to the nearest router.

I would like to be able to not have to manually select which router I connect to, and for my wifi to be "seamless" throughout the house.

Following a guide I read on the internet, I tried setting the same SSID on each router and just making sure they had a different channel number - I found that when I do this, if I move from one part of the house to the other then I have to disconnect and reconnect the WiFi in order to get the best signal and speed.

Is what I am trying to achieve possible, and if so what could I be doing wrong?

Thanks.

P.S. I found that for 2.4GHz, the method of using the same SSID on each router actually seems
to work OK, whereas for 5GHz it does not - I have to disconnect and reconnect.
 
Solution
androbourne
There is two ways to do this. You need a MESH compatible routers and normally of the same brand for that to work.

Sometimes you can get lucky and not need a MESH compatible router but just two routers of the same brand, configured on the same subnet, wifi ssid, password and signals. If their radios are compatible. The phone might be smart enough to move to the stronger of the two signals.

I use a Netgear router with a Netgear extender and it works in this manner. However, Netgear is a little different in the fact you can add the extender to the router so it is managed centrally, which might be allowing Mesh to take place.

If you need MESH APs. I would recommend you look at unifi. They make very good APs and they are pretty cheap.
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androbourne

androbourne

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Jul 18, 2017
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There is two ways to do this. You need a MESH compatible routers and normally of the same brand for that to work.

Sometimes you can get lucky and not need a MESH compatible router but just two routers of the same brand, configured on the same subnet, wifi ssid, password and signals. If their radios are compatible. The phone might be smart enough to move to the stronger of the two signals.

I use a Netgear router with a Netgear extender and it works in this manner. However, Netgear is a little different in the fact you can add the extender to the router so it is managed centrally, which might be allowing Mesh to take place.

If you need MESH APs. I would recommend you look at unifi. They make very good APs and they are pretty cheap.
 
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Solution
USAFRet

USAFRet

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Mar 16, 2013
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Unfortunately, "seamless" is not as seamless as we'd like it to be.

The connection is controlled by the client device. And will not give up a working connection, until it actually drops.
Only then it will connect to the closer, stronger one.

You're not doing anything 'wrong', that's just the way WiFi is.
 
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