Comments please on this extended WiFi setup

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rossmcm

111 posts

Master Geek

#243833 4-Jan-2019 14:01

I am leeching off an obliging neighbour for the holiday period. The setup is as shown:

The issue is that the connection to the internet is very flaky. After setting it up it as shown and connecting to the extender SSID it works OK but eventually seems to revert to "Connected -no internet". Signal strengths are fine.

One issue is that the TP-WA901ND range extender can't be configured so that the SSID of the extended network is different from the network it is connected to. My ipad only shows one available network, but I'm not sure which one it is (the neighbour's "source" network or the extender one). It connects but with the IP address 169.254.25.251 and shows "no internet".

I'd appreciate any comments or tips on how to set this up if I have it wrong somehow.

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#2154399 4-Jan-2019 14:07

extenders suck, full stop, if you can remove that from the mix it might help

wratterus

1687 posts

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#2154403 4-Jan-2019 14:11

Yep, a setup like this will seldom be reliable. If this is an ongoing thing, you really want to grab a pair of proper radios and setup a point to point link.

As long as you have clear line of sight, a pair of Ubiquiti NanoBeam 5AC-16 would be perfect. What kind of distances are we talking here?

sbiddle

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#2154407 4-Jan-2019 14:29

I'm not surprised it doesn't work - I wouldn't expect such a setup to work reliably, especially if in another property.

There are no fixes using the hardware you have.

gregb

51 posts

Master Geek

#2154463 4-Jan-2019 16:34

I would go with the recommendations so far and move towards a point-point solution. Solutions with omni antennas (that pick up everthing) and repeaters are likely to be less than idea. Feed the wireless solution with ethernet (which can also be used for power). I would recommend saying out of the 2.4GHz band for the point to point link (unless cost is a really important). 5.8GHz backhaul is usually reasonable, but for short hops a 60GHz link is very good option these days. Someone might be able to suggest cheaper/more appropriate solutions if the distance and mounting is known.

GoWifi usually do quite quick delivery.

https://www.gowifi.co.nz/kits/b5-lite.html (good for km's)
https://www.gowifi.co.nz/wireless/wapg-60ad-kit.html (good for 200m)
https://www.gowifi.co.nz/wireless/rblhgg-60adkitr2.html (good for 1500m)

rossmcm

111 posts

Master Geek

#2154480 4-Jan-2019 16:44

Distance between the extender and the host AP is 10 metres max through an exterior wall. The signal level at the extender is 3/5 to 4/5 bars.

I'm actually thinking that a length of Cat-6 cable laid between the properties might be the way to go. I had no idea that extenders were so inherently unreliable.

Coil

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#2154485 4-Jan-2019 16:49

rossmcm: Distance between the extender and the host AP is 10 metres max through an exterior wall. The signal level at the extender is 3/5 to 4/5 bars.

I'm actually thinking that a length of Cat-6 cable laid between the properties might be the way to go. I had no idea that extenders were so inherently unreliable.

They shouldn't even be allowed to be sold. Literally the network equal of blinker fluid or tits on a bull...
Go buy a 20M cat 5 cable from PB tech. Nothing more than $20-$30 surely..

richms

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#2154486 4-Jan-2019 16:57

Single radio repeaters are hopeless when the client device isnt visible to where internet is coming from because of the hidden node problem. And if the client was visible from the source network you wouldnt need to extend it.

Get a dual radio one if you must use one.

Also the mac address fakery that they do will lead to problems as devices transition between the main network and the repeated one, and they break many protocols that rely on functional broadcasting. Also very possible to end up with 2 of them interacting with each other making a broadcast storm.

But to the average person they work great because they had "2 bars" before but now there is all 5 so its better, right?

Richard rich.ms

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Jase2985

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#2154488 4-Jan-2019 16:58

if its that close maybe consider a mesh solution like the amplifi or orbi kit

richms

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#2154491 4-Jan-2019 17:01

Or put the device in the second building into client mode, and stick that into the WAN of another router so that you have 2 separate networks. Space the devices well apart and make sure they are on different channels.

Richard rich.ms

gregb

51 posts

Master Geek

#2154494 4-Jan-2019 17:10

A pre-terminated cable and a drill bit would do that. I didn't reliase that you could also buy that as a 'external' (UV rated, but not gel filled) cable (Dynamix Brand) - note that it won't be very flexible due to the solid core. PBTech is out of stock of them (but the supplier has stock and others may have them). Otherwise a cheap and cheerful indoor CAT5e cable would last the holidays.

MadEngineer

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#2154501 4-Jan-2019 17:32

Please don’t run any copper to your neighbors property unless you want to die or kill someone.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

chevrolux

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#2154695 5-Jan-2019 09:09

MadEngineer: Please don’t run any copper to your neighbors property unless you want to die or kill someone.

Really.....

MadEngineer

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#2154699 5-Jan-2019 09:23

Yes, really. I’ve mentioned this on GZ before but your neighbour’s property is on a different mains phase to yours resulting in a potential of 415v if there’s a fault over any conductors on either of the properties.

Low chance of it becoming (x2 properties aside) a problem but very high risk.

Even if the properties are on the same phase you’re providing a perfect opportunity for current to find a return in either an earth or neutral fault.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

Dratsab

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#2154702 5-Jan-2019 09:36

chevrolux:
MadEngineer: Please don’t run any copper to your neighbors property unless you want to die or kill someone.

Really.....

I think he's coming from the standpoint of the electrical grounds possibly being quite different which could mean a significant potential difference between the properties.

Edit: heh, should've posted my answer as soon as I wrote it rather than going off to make a cuppa...

rossmcm

111 posts

Master Geek

#2154918 5-Jan-2019 15:35

OK, I've decided to give the configuration suggested by @richms a go. I have set up the TL-WA901ND as a client to the neighbour's WiFi, getting an IP address by DHCP. I am hazy about the setup of the router at my end, however. I have run a cable between the TL-WA901ND and the WAN port of my router (TL-WR340G). The neighbour's router is set up to use all of the 192.168.1.xx address range and I want to accomplish this without messing with his hardware so my assumption is that I set up my router to use the 192.168.2.xx range something like so:

Server DHCP: ON
Address range: 192.168.2.2 to 192.168.2.254
IP Address: ???
Client DHCP: ???
Gateway: ???

so my questions:

does the IP address of my router need to be in the 192.168.1.xx range or the 192.168.2.xx range?
Should it be set up with a static IP?
What should the gateway be (the neighbour's network is based at 192.168.1.1)?
are there any other settings I might need to change from the defaults?

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