extending wifi with another router

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#1473653 18-Jan-2016 11:48

If he already has ethernet at the back of his house, then a simple router dumbed down to just be an access point will do the job. $40 on trademe.

If the cottage doesnt have metal cladding then wifi should easily go through 2 walls over 10 metres if you use a router with external antennas. You can also buy a directional patch antenna off trademe for about $40.

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#1473661 18-Jan-2016 11:56

raytaylor: If he already has ethernet at the back of his house, then a simple router dumbed down to just be an access point will do the job. $40 on trademe. If the cottage doesnt have metal cladding then wifi should easily go through 2 walls over 10 metres if you use a router with external antennas. You can also buy a directional patch antenna off trademe for about $40.

Thanks Ray. I was thinking of configuring a router for him as an AP, but wondered if a dedicated AP would be a) cheaper and b) better suited.

richms

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#1473688 18-Jan-2016 12:24

I have found that many ADSL routers when used as an AP will reboot or freeze up. Someone suggested it might be something running out of ram with the DSL chipset constantly trying to train to no line and logging it or similar.

If there is ethernet at the back, then most "wireless extenders" are also accesspoints if you configure them that way, which will be a simpler way to go than having to disable stuff on a router and remember what its IP is etc.

Richard rich.ms

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#1473778 18-Jan-2016 13:39

Always better to get one that has a dedicated AP mode. Belkin routers have this feature pretty much built into all of them. Older dlink ones had a switch on the back.

I dont seem to have any issues with normal non-dsl routers being dumbed down.

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#1473782 18-Jan-2016 13:41

Just annoying things like NTP not working since they have no gateway etc making them non-ideal. But yeah ethernet wan seems ok, I just set it to a dummy 10.x.x.x address to stop it from logging PPPoE timeouts etc.

Richard rich.ms

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#1473785 18-Jan-2016 13:43

raytaylor: Always better to get one that has a dedicated AP mode. Belkin routers have this feature pretty much built into all of them. Older dlink ones had a switch on the back. I dont seem to have any issues with normal non-dsl routers being dumbed down.

Follow up question: Any routers you'd specifically recommend that do a good job in AP mode? Preferably around the $150 budget.

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#1475168 20-Jan-2016 10:13

raytaylor: There are a few issues 1)

One issue with extenders being they dont allways work , at all : If the extender cant get a good signal or cant transmit to where wifi is needed.

Ive only seen them work in a few sites, often I found they just dont (eg between floors or where there too many walls, or just wont connect to the main router/AP ).

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#1475171 20-Jan-2016 10:15

I installed an extender at in-laws last weekend. The router is on an office which is separated from the rest of the house (a very large one) by four walls. I placed the extender on the last wall and the rest of the house now has WiFi, which didn't exist before.

It works folks. Sometimes people position these in dumb places.

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#1475207 20-Jan-2016 11:15

dclegg: Follow up question: Any routers you'd specifically recommend that do a good job in AP mode? Preferably around the $150 budget.

I purchased one of these to run in AP mode:

https://www.mightyape.co.nz/product/TP-Link-TL-WA701ND-150Mbps-Wireless-N-Access-Point/21010893

Never had a problem since, and you can't beat the price :-)

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#1475214 20-Jan-2016 11:31

6FIEND:

dclegg: Follow up question: Any routers you'd specifically recommend that do a good job in AP mode? Preferably around the $150 budget.

I purchased one of these to run in AP mode:

https://www.mightyape.co.nz/product/TP-Link-TL-WA701ND-150Mbps-Wireless-N-Access-Point/21010893

Never had a problem since, and you can't beat the price :-)

Thanks! Will start with that one I think. Price definitely is a factor for my friend, so he'll appreciate this one. :-)

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#1475218 20-Jan-2016 11:40

6FIEND:

dclegg: Follow up question: Any routers you'd specifically recommend that do a good job in AP mode? Preferably around the $150 budget.

I purchased one of these to run in AP mode:

https://www.mightyape.co.nz/product/TP-Link-TL-WA701ND-150Mbps-Wireless-N-Access-Point/21010893

Never had a problem since, and you can't beat the price :-)

Hmm.. Doesn't support 5Ghz, which may be problematic (then again, 5Ghz may not stretch to the back property). They've got a few other APs worth investigating. Think I'll create him a list (including this one), and he can choose from there.

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#1475415 20-Jan-2016 14:19

I've just read Ray's guide to extending a wireless network, and it's excellent. It's cleared up a few things for me that I'd been wondering about, as I have a similar situation as the OP.

At risk of hijacking the thread, is there a good way to measure signal strength in different parts of the house? It would be good to be able to map where the best/worst spots are, or to identify the dead spots are, so I can put the second AP in the best location.

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#1475423 20-Jan-2016 14:24

android phone, wifi analyser. Just keep in mind that how you hold it affects it signifigantly so dont change that as you measure.

Richard rich.ms

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#1475428 20-Jan-2016 14:30

iPhone alternative? And how are you supposed to hold it? I'm sure Steve Jobs could tell us... ;)

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#1475435 20-Jan-2016 14:39

Lizard1977:

iPhone alternative? And how are you supposed to hold it? I'm sure Steve Jobs could tell us... ;)

Not when I last looked because apple dont think that apps need to know about wifi.

If you have your hand on the antenna for one test, and off it for another then you will change the signal level. I get about a 8dB change by holding the phone vs it sitting on a table.

Richard rich.ms

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