Extending WiFi

[67Cuda]

I appreciate the time everyone is taking with their response, but much what has been shared is way, way over my head. I'm looking for plug-n-play with minimal programming required.

This has already been mentioned, I think, get a mesh router. It comes with 2-3-4 nodes, access points, that you place around the home.

Cost? Around $200 to $400 dollars. Research that and buy what fits your needs or budget.

[rttully]

I think that when you ask about "piggy-back", the term that you can look for or Google is usually "daisy-chain".

This is from one TP-Link Extender FAQ page:

Q3.6: Can I use more than 1 range extender in the house?

A: Yes, we recommend to have 1-2 range extenders in one network for better performance. If you have 2 range extenders in the network, please make sure that the range extenders are both connecting to the host router's Wi-Fi network directly. Please set the second extender up the same way as the first one.

If you need more than 2 range extenders, please take TP-Link Deco devices into your consideration. Click here to know more about Deco.

The Deco devices are a TP-Link Mesh solution.

There may be extenders, maybe even TP-Link, that you can "daisy-chain", but they probably build them no to so that you upgrade to a meshed system.

The performance of any router, access point or extender that you use will depend a lot on the device you are connecting with.

Tablets, phones, laptops and most desktops depend on poor internal antennas. You might find that a computer with a USB Wifi adapter that has an antenna sticking out of it, or even a USB Wifi device with an internal antenna will work fine when the built in Wifi adapter won't work.

[the86d]

Pay someone with a spectrum analyzer to check saturated channels, and throw another AP on a second once your OG is changed.

[HecklerNKoch]

Questions is, can I piggyback one WiFi extender to another extender...

You can but it is not advisable.

Or is there another solution available (that wont break the bank)?

You do not want to use use WiFi to WiFi. I won't trouble you with the technical details. It is poor judgement.



I have never used this device but given that you probably don't want to run ethernet cables through your house this is a way that will not break the bank.


Buy this:

https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-AV2000-Powerline-Ethernet-Adapter/dp/B07KGJ17J2/

Buy this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QXB4HNL

Buy this (specifically):

https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-AC1750-Smart-WiFi-Router/dp/B079JD7F7G

Set the above device as an Access Point in Operation Mode.

How do hospitals or large offices provide wifi web access

It is always hardwired. There is no substitution for hardwiring.

[jbj]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081ZWJ6FX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_K3m0EbB09RCMC

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[the86d]

If you already cut the cable cord, and do not use coax, you COULD use a NIM/MoCA/DOCSIS bridge to drop another AP (or router set as an AP, preferably on another channel?) in a dead zone...

Powerline is another option.

[ExtremeX]

https://unifi-network.ui.com/wi-fi

[Robotron2k84]

Give us the model number for your router.

Overall transmission energies are regulated by the FCC - there are no devices that are more 'powerful' than others. What manufacturers CAN change is how efficient those are via antennas, etc.

[rttully]

I like that TP-Link Deco P9 .

It has the powerline ethernet built in so it eliminates the need for multiple levels of complexity, and possible incompatibility.

It uses powerlines to get through walls and then provides mesh nodes without extra RF congestion.

I can't vouch for how well it actually works, but that is the first Mesh/Powerline hybrid I have seen and it sounds like a pretty good idea.

I am going to look at that, or something like that for my own house. I have one long ethernet cable on the outside of my house that I would like to get rid of.

Also, I haven't seen anyone mention this yet, but there are apps like WiFiman for android and WiFi Scout for Win 10 that you can use to very easily see WiFi SSIDs, channels, and signal strength of any of your neighbors WiFi systems that you might have channel problems with. These can also help you to avoid conflicts between your own devices.

These are not as useful as a spectrum analyzer to look for possible outside interference, but they are pretty useful, and they are free.

I think that most devices today automatically choose the best channel, but if you or your neighbors have a lot of channels in use that can get less reliable.

[Scotty]

I like that TP-Link Deco P9 .

I can't vouch for how well it actually works

I can. It's crap. Go on their support page, constantly dropping connections dating back to December with no fixes. I sent it back to Amazon after one day. Bought a different TP-Link mesh router, sent that one back too. Same problems.

Ended up with Eero pro, got higher download speeds and no drop connections.

[crufflers]

I like that TP-Link Deco P9 .

It has the powerline ethernet built in so it eliminates the need for multiple levels of complexity, and possible incompatibility.

Yeah the new combo products sound really cool...

There are also newer extenders that link to your router via powerline and from the wall eliminate a wifi deadzone plus give you a RJ45 plug or two.

The older powerline adapters I use are only wired only from the wall to the TV or whatever you are connecting. FWIW, the TP LINK powerline adapters i run (two different models) all work great together with RE450, Archer A7, etc...

[crufflers]

https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-AV1000Mbps-Powerline-WiFi-Extender/dp/B0725LPTZR/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=TP-Link+AV600&qid=1590776681&s=electronics&sr=1-4

[Fizz]

Consumer level equipment doesn't allow you to do that.

Secondly, if you need to commit a felony to increase the transmission energies, I'd hardly consider that as a valid counterpoint to the idea that transmission energies are regulated by the FCC and tx power is the same between different devices.

Are you advising him to commit a felony to solve his wifi problem? Or are we just getting jollies from being 'right'?

[Robotron2k84]

Consumer level equipment doesn't allow you to do that.

Secondly, if you need to commit a felony to increase the transmission energies, I'd hardly consider that as a valid counterpoint to the idea that transmission energies are regulated by the FCC and tx power is the same between different devices.

Are you advising him to commit a felony to solve his wifi problem? Or are we just getting jollies from being 'right'?

Call me when the FCC starts busting home owners en mass for WiFi Tx power. Leakage from your microwave emits more power than the FCC limit for WiFi. And the router is question is definitely a consumer device.

Do you enjoy being so misinformed?

For your pleasure, there is a perfectly good use case that requires higher power that doesn’t necessarily breach the confines of RADIATED emissions, and why the increase in capability was initially built into the router. Namely, the use of a tight-beam directional antenna. FCC limits pertain to how much interference your radio can generate as 2.4Ghz is UNLICENSED. Prior to the FCC locking the radios, all were approved for intended uses, which includes directional antennas.

FCC mandated locking of radios in 2015 IIRC, due to people being careless and not tuning their radios, thereby causing excess interference for OTHER WiFi USERS, not adjacent frequencies. WiFi is mandated to accept interference, so when your microwave leaks and steps all over everyone’s WiFi signal, the FCC won’t be a‘callin.

[Fizz]

It's your risk to take. You do you my man.