Wifi extender creates a second network...?

[Blanky]

I understand the basic difference between a repeater and extender. Apparently for home use a true repeater with a constant SSID throughout the house is a hassle, so I've been eyeing the Netgear AC1200 extender. Apparently this can only gain its connection via wifi (even though I could otherwise wire it to my router).

I guess this makes a second network and all my devices connect to it. It, not my router, then issues IP addresses.

However, I need devices all throughout the house to locally connect to one another. If I turn DHCP off on the extender will devices competently be able to get their IP issued by the router, so that it continues to be the central managing point of all IPs and thus devices can properly see each other?

 

[Fardringle]

If you want one unified network but need better wireless coverage, and you can get an ethernet cable to the location where the additional wireless is needed, the device you are looking for is an Access Point. You can either get an actual Access Point or just get a second wireless router, configure the wireless to match the settings of the existing wireless network (but use a different wireless channel), disable DHCP on that second router, and wire one of its LAN ports to a LAN port on the main router.

 

[Blanky]

If you want one unified network but need better wireless coverage, and you can get an ethernet cable to the location where the additional wireless is needed, the device you are looking for is an Access Point. You can either get an actual Access Point or just get a second wireless router, configure the wireless to match the settings of the existing wireless network (but use a different wireless channel), disable DHCP on that second router, and wire one of its LAN ports to a LAN port on the main router.

Thanks--will devices seamlessly move between the two routers, with the house nicely blanketed by both networks and the same SSID...? I guess that second router just functions like my existing switch, which also uses the master router's IP-issuing.

Is it possible to use a wifi-only extender (i.e. not an access point) in the same manner, though? Turn off its DHCP and it will then simply pass through IPs to its clients from the primary router?

 

[azazel1024]

Depends on the client and the application. Most clients will and most applications will. Some clients will be sticky and will want to stick with their current connected router/access point until the signal drops to a really low level.

Most applications work great, but a few (facetime) do not. As per example, facetime will disconnect if it roams to another access point. Others like Skype may do it as well, but I haven't tried. Video streaming, web page loads, file transfers, music stream all work flawlessly in my experience (I have 3 access points around and outside of my house with one SSID).

 

[Blanky]

Cool-if I go the wired AP route I suppose it doesn't matter which other router I go with? I have a dual band now, but sometimes I see some extremely cheap dual band routers go up for sale and they seem a good option for an access point (e.g. Buffalo has one that sometimes is as cheap as $20 on slickdeals).

 

[azazel1024]

Well it matters to the extent of "is it a crappy router/AP? Or not?"

Otherwise, no, it doesn't really matter. For a router, you either put it in access point mode, or you connect it LAN port to LAN port between the two routers and disable DHCP on one of them. Then you set a static IP address on that same router to an IP address outside of the DHCP reservation range of the router acting as a router and done.

 

[Blanky]

Well it matters to the extent of "is it a crappy router/AP? Or not?"

Otherwise, no, it doesn't really matter. For a router, you either put it in access point mode, or you connect it LAN port to LAN port between the two routers and disable DHCP on one of them. Then you set a static IP address on that same router to an IP address outside of the DHCP reservation range of the router acting as a router and done.

Thanks :biggrin: