OT- Wifi Extender

You should be

Mike L

as long as it is just an extender you should be fine. If it can be used as a router also just make sure you turn that part off.

Re: OT- Wifi Extender

Bill Howatt

Like my first boss in a research lab used to say when something worked but not completely understanding it, "You can't argue with success.".

I don't think you will have a problem but Netgear does mention how 2 should be setup. I quickly found this:

https://community.netgear.com/t5/WiFi-Range-Extenders-Nighthawk/Can-you-use-2-wifi-extenders-at-the-same-time/td-p/1071091

Bill

Re: OT- Wifi Extender

Yonak

I was told each extender cuts the bandwidth in half making for a slower connection speed. Please don't ask me to explain. That's what I was told.

Depends on hook up

Mike L

If you wire it back to the main router it will not cut the bandwidth. If it used wireless it will cut the speed in half. This is due to the extender needing to send it's data to the main router wireless so it has to stop receiving to send the data. Yes it is more technical then that but this is the idea of why.

Re: Depends on hook up

Bill Howatt

In terms of actual use it may not really matter if the resulting speed is still more than necessary for what you want to do. Lots of people have internet connections that run at 10 Mbps or less at the best of times and get by so if your 100Mbps connections gets knocked down to 50 it likely won't matter. If you are demanding and streaming HD video then that might be a different story.

Bill

Re: Depends on hook up

Tom Norton

So when you say that the speed I'd cut in half is that just at the individual unit? Being tech challenged is a bit of a handicap!

Re: OT- Wifi Extender

John in NM

I recently got a Netgear unit that works over your power lines, it's pretty neat. Ethernet to the router, then plug it into an outlet. Plug the receiver into an outlet on the same leg of the line power and you have wifi and ethernet at the receiver. Range is limited by the length of power lines, but I've gotten about 200 yards from mine at a guess. Shop is a bit less than 100 yards away but the power lines are a bit more circuitous (if you can stand the pun )

I don't think this cuts down the bandwidth either, but I didn't look into that. Tested by streaming netflix with the wife's tablet, and it seemed fine.

Anything that the extender sees

Mike L

If you can wire it then there will be no slow down. If it is just using the same wifi signal and boosting it then, anything that is using it will be slowed down. Are you using this for HD video or streaming TV? If not then you may never notice it slowing down. If so you will see it slow down when other people are streaming TV or games.

To wire it all you need to do is run a Cat 6 E-net cable to it from the router. Normally with 4 ports on the back, just plug into one of them and the other one into the extender.

The current extender is it wired or wire less? Just run a test for a few days in your shop and you will know if it will work for you or not.

When you're ready...

Jim Matthews

In advance of remote learning this year I upgraded our WiFi to the Linksys Velop (wifi 6 protocol) to eliminate dead zones in out 3000 sq. Foot house and increase bandwidth.

The difference was pronounced.

No drop outs in 4 months.

Best price through Crutchfield.

More off Topic  Wifi Extender

Bud

When I'm in a campground they usually have unsecured wifi. If I use an extender that requires a password would that make the unsecured wifi more secure?

Unsecured means universal access

Jim Matthews

If you're on an unsecured channel, presume anyone can read your message.

You are "routed" through a node.

If that node isn't encrypted, it's readable.

Mesh system

A.J. Hamler

It might not be economical to outright replace what you have right now, but when the day comes that you need to replace your router, consider getting a mesh system.

Unlike extenders (that are essentially separate auxiliary routers linked to your main router), these are a single router system with satellites that you place around your home for full coverage to create a “mesh” that goes everywhere, with full strength everywhere. This is what airports and malls use. I think the Velop system that Mike mentioned above is one of these.

These typically come with a main unit, plus one or two satellites (although you can add as many as you want), and you place them strategically. I have a Netgear Orbi system with one satellite. The main unit is in our entertainment center near the front of the house upstairs, and the satellite is in my office in the basement at the very back of the house. The mesh covers the entire house with no dead zones or drop outs. I’m very satisfied and it was worth every penny.

A.J.

Oops — Jim, not Mike

Re: Unsecured means universal access

Bud

Thanks. Not what I was hoping for but good to know.

Bud

Re: Unsecured means universal access

David Bassett

I'm guessing at what you really want, but it seems like a VPN, Virtual Private Network, is it. It uses encryption, instead of dedicated wires, to create a private network. It's a little complicated to roll your own, but I've heard there are commercial solutions available these days for individuals. (My only experience was for corporate work-from-home solutions where the IT department did the heavy lifting.)

Another option would be a "WiFi Hotspot" for your group's use. It allows you to connect wifi devices to the data part of the cell phone network. We rented one on a vacation to Ireland and it was wonderful. Unfortunately I haven't found any comparable occasional heavy use plans in the US. (Plus the most capable devices all seem to be Huawei, which is on the US's s***-list right now.)

AT&T

Mike L

AT&T have a hot spot that works pretty well, so does Verizon. You might want to look at your Cell Phone plan and see what it would cost to add it. I know my ATT hotspot worked great while my power was out.

Hotspots

David Bassett

I thought of Hotspots too.

When I last looked (quickly) I found only plans that assumed a consistent monthly usage and did their best to lock you in. Our usage is very sporadic, a lot when we travel and nothing while we're home. Plus the Hotspot devices offered were less capable (number of connections & battery life) than the one we were rented in Ireland.

(The US carrier's devices were all much less capable than the newest Huawei models. But you don't seem to be allowed to bring your own device and I didn't want to end up on a US list for being a Huawei customer.)

As I recall we paid $100 for 3 weeks of 10GB 4G LTE data per day for 3 weeks as a short term rental on our families trip. The hotspot device provided was an older model and limited to 5 users and about 4 hours of run time. (But chargers on our tour bus and a external backup battery took care of that easily.) I don't know of an equivalent service available in the US or we'd probably use it for domestic trips.

As it stands we can use our cell phones as hotspots with unlimited 2G data on our current plan and that's the best option for us. (2G is plenty to sync a Nook / Kindle or download an occasional map or travel guide to a tablet. It'd suck for full Internet access, e.g. streaming movies or something.)

Re: OT- Wifi Extender

Walt

"I was told each extender cuts the bandwidth in half making for a slower connection speed. Please don't ask me to explain. That's what I was told."

If you have a hose bib with a Y adapter and two hoses each hose will deliver less water than if there were one hose. The faucet can only deliver so much water. Same deal, your internet connection can only deliver so much capacity. The more splits the less capacity available to each device.

Jim Matthews, re : Linksys mesh system

Yonak

Jim, I need a boost in my signal in my shop. I'm looking at the Linksys Velop system and have a couple of questions, if you would care to answer. (I did ask these questions on the Linksys product pages but got no response. In fact, they were never posted.)

Does one of these boxes replace my router and then I station another one in a place where I have a poor signal ?

Are you familiar with the difference between the dual-band and the tri-band and .. how would I know which one I need ?

What little I know... *LINK*

Jim Matthews

I ordered the highest pass rate WiFi 6 to get the most out of the upgrade. I would not recommend WiFi 5 (or earlier versions) as the stability, data rate and coverage with WiFi 6 are clearly superior.

https://www.tp-link.com/us/wifi6/

I've got two kids "remote schooling" and didn't want a half measure.

The Linksys app makes parental controls easy - but might not be necessary for you.

It can be ordered as a single unit, with another added if coverage is insufficient.

I would start with just a single unit to see if it provides better coverage than your current rig.

Our house is two stories, about 2500 square feet. The second unit was necessary as my Music server requires an Ethernet connection (which the Velop provides).

One unit connects to your internet router and broadcasts to any others.

I got mine on sale and stacked a Crutchfield coupon for more savings.

My second choice was the EERO WiFi 6 system which is much less expensive.


https://www.crutchfield.com/g_461350/Routers.html?tp=72117&pg=2

Re: What little I know...

Yonak

Thanks so much for the info, Jim. ..So I would continue to use my existing router and one unit is wired to that ?

Basic connections... *LINK*

Jim Matthews

Your internet provider probably rents you a router.

That device is connected to your phone line, cable or satellite dish.

That's the "gate" which controls maximum download speeds.

If they offer free upgrades, request that first.

That's the limiting step for everything else.

****

Your WiFi is connected to your router to wireless broadcast your internet signal through the house. It can't make a limited internet connection faster.

It can support more devices at once, with wider bandwidth.

****

The WiFi 6 standard offers the best current range, signal clarity (no drop outs or buffering) and stability for multiple users available today.

The Linksys Velop is expensive, but it hasn't failed and recovers whenever we have a power or internet disconnect - without my fiddling around.

I think of it this way - my Internet provider paves the road.

Their router is my car.

The WiFi gizmos are the tires.


https://www.cox.com/residential/internet/guides/improving-wifi/whole-home-wifi-mesh-networks.html

Clarification...

Jim Matthews

Most IP require their supplied router be used for compatability.

If you're paying for the router in your service plan, updates are generally on request.

If you're supplying your own equipment, a new one every 18 months should keep you current. My response was regarding the router supplied by the IP.