Setting up a router as a wireless extender through a wired switch

[Crow550]

So I am running a Cat6 cable to the Living room in a Gigabit switch but got a Chromecast and want the Wifi as close to it as possible.

So I have a spare router to connect to the switch and put behind the TV. What are the best settings to wire it to the switch and have the Chromecast connect to the Wifi on it?

The router I'm turning into a Wifi extender is: http://www.monoprice.com/Product?p_id=8071

Should I keep the SSID and WPA2 key on both the same or set up different ones?

Thanks!

 

[VirtualLarry]

The correct term for this is an Access Point (AP). A wireless extender takes a wireless signal, and re-broadcasts it. An access point, connects to ethernet, and gives you wireless access to it.

You should be able to do it no problem. Plug into a LAN port on the router, and set the LAN IP to one slightly different than your main router, but in the same subnet, and disable DHCP on the AP.

 

[JackMDS]

Using Wireless Routers (or Modem/Wireless Router) as a Switch with an Access Point - http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html

 

[postmortemIA]

As said by V.L., access point is what you want - it will forward DHCP requests to "main" router and it will be connected to it by Ethernet...

 

[avos]

To your question about the SSID. Yes, keep the SSID and the password/encryption type exactly the same. Though put them on different channels so you don't have to worry about overlap. Channels 1,6 or 11 preferably.

And as others mentioned. Most wireless routers have a setting that will put them into "Access Point" mode. If you can't find that as an option, just make sure DHCP is turned off.

 

[azazel1024]

So I am running a Cat6 cable to the Living room in a Gigabit switch but got a Chromecast and want the Wifi as close to it as possible.

So I have a spare router to connect to the switch and put behind the TV. What are the best settings to wire it to the switch and have the Chromecast connect to the Wifi on it?

The router I'm turning into a Wifi extender is: http://www.monoprice.com/Product?p_id=8071

Should I keep the SSID and WPA2 key on both the same or set up different ones?

Thanks!

Don't do that. Radio overload. Wireless devices typically want to be 3-4ft from a router/basestation. If you put it within a foot or two, you can cause issues with speed/connection reliability.

Put it near, do not put it effectively next to the chromecast. Signal strength follows the inverse square law. So if you have a very strong signal at 5ft (say, -25dBm, which is very strong), at 1ft it would likely overwhelm the radio in a consumer router/client (-15dBm).

 

[Crow550]

Thanks for all the help. Ah AP then like my main router. So set it up like a normal router but disable Firewall and such like explained in the previous posts....

I actually need to put it around the TV as sometimes when using the Microwave it will kill the Wifi lol!

Since it's 2.4ghz should I bother with 40mhz or leave it on 20mhz? Or dynamic?

 

[VirtualLarry]

Since it's 2.4ghz should I bother with 40mhz or leave it on 20mhz? Or dynamic?

It depends on how crowded / noisy your 2.4Ghz wireless environment is. If it's noisy, then it's generally best to stick to 20Mhz bands. And if some channels are used in your area, then choose an unused channel (the best that you can, and you should stick to 1, 6, or 11) and set the router to use a fixed channel.

I find letting routers auto-select the clearest channel will cause clients to disconnect suddenly, when the router switches channels.

 

[Crow550]

Thanks!