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Multi Wifi base station setup issues


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#1 ReadyABC

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Posted 28 August 2023 - 10:01 PM

Hi,

 

We have a home that has lots of Cat-5 cabling.  We have an internet router with the main connection to the internet and then cables to multiple WiFi routers in various locations with the aim to spread the WiFi over a large area.  All of them have the same SSID and password.  The thought was that if we moved from one room to another and lost signal from one base station it would reconnect to another but this is not working well and sometimes we have to turn WiFi off and one to get it to relook and sometimes that does not work and it looks like it is not connecting to the nearest one but one that is weaker.  We are predominantly running on Apple hardware.  I have thought about just getting a mesh network or just getting one large router with a strong signal.  Any other ideas?  Thanks.



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#2 Nukecad

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Posted 29 August 2023 - 04:19 AM

The problem with having multiple routers/extenders all broadcasting the same SSID is that your devices will get confused just which one they are communicating with.

Plus as you have found when moving a device about from room to room it will generally 'stick' with the one it is already connected to unless you force it to rescan, and often even then it will reconnect to the previous even though there is a stronger signal from another.

 

That's why mesh was developed, it works differently to overcome that problem.
But mesh systems can have issues of their own, ie. you need to set them up correctly you want to create a 'mesh' and not a 'daisy-chain', they can be subject to lag, they can reduce bandwidth, etc.
This is a simple guide, you'll find more detailed ones on the web.
https://www.hns-berks.co.uk/blogs/the-pros-and-cons-of-mesh-wifi

 

A single router, centrally located and broadcasting a stronger wifi signal may work just as well.
That will depend on distances, walls and other radio signal obstructions in the way, etc.


Edited by Nukecad, 29 August 2023 - 04:29 AM.

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#3 svim

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Posted 30 August 2023 - 03:05 PM

Without more exact details these suggestions are all just supposition but it sounds like you have a setup with multiple routers that are apparently not configured properly to work in unison with each other. Each router is acting as its own gateway, the default configuration for almost all consumer routers. It's NOT a matter where you just plug them in, set up their SSID/password to be the same, and they'll all just function as a single, local network (again, apparently, your intended goal). If you have four routers (four being just an example based on your 'multiple routers' reference), you essentially have four individual local networks, and a minus being with the same SSID/password you have four different local networks that inherently conflict with each other.

 

What you need to do is tear down your networking devices and start over but this time set them up properly. You need to have just one router set up to be the main, primary gateway and all the other routers set up to be just wired network switches (Ethernet)/wireless access points (WiFi). This will result in your household having a single local network that all your devices can connect to (for file and printer sharing) along with just one expanded WiFi network.

Just more guessing but it also sounds like you have an ISP-supplied, modem/router unit and one or more of your own discrete routers. The point being that '...internet router with the main connection' you referred to is likely to be provided by your ISP, the most common situation. And yes it is by definition a combined modem/router, typically there's a coax cable connection for online access (the modem) and several Ethernet ports for your devices (the router). So take your current discrete routers (that you bought) and add one one more, that's your total router count. You need to set up things up so only one of them is the primary and all the others are just secondaries that feed off the primary.

-- This isn't going to be simple project, it can be a bit daunting when you're not familiar with setting up multiple routers to work in conjunction with each other. Part of the process is accessing the setup menu in each router and configuring it properly, and then there's the positioning and orienting the actual routers which is less of a hassle if they're connected to each other via Ethernet cabling and more of a hassle if they're connected to each other over WiFi.

-- To start off with, reset your routers back their defaults and configure them accordingly.

-- If you're using WiFi to connect to your routers, don't rely upon nonsense WPS and instead set things up manually. (WPS is very insecure service, DO NOT USE IT. Really, just avoid it. You want make your local network more secure, not intentionally weaken it.) Also with WiFi connectivity, you need to put attention to setting up all your routers so they not only provide extended WiFi signal coverage but also each is receiving a good, solid WiFi signal. That's the more involved task, accessing your WiFi coverage properly. You don't want to place your routers too far apart from each other, check for the maximum signal strength and use about half that distance. Don't ignore this, if a router is receiving a crappy WiFi signal and will only be able to emit a crappy WiFi signal. Place them close enough to the primary router so they each get solid coverage.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/02/the-ars-technica-semi-scientific-guide-to-wi-fi-access-point-placement/

-- If you're using Ethernet cables to connect to your routers, avoid plugging your cables into their WAN ports and use one of available LAN ports instead.

https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/how-to-connect-one-router-to-another-to-expand-the-network/

The WAN ports involve the full routing functionality in each router (multiple local networks). Using just the LAN ports help to make just your chosen primary router to be your local network's sole gateway (one local network).

-- All the above is based (loosely given lack of details) on what you've implied you 'might' currently have. If you're budget allows, buying a mesh router, and however many necessary mesh nodes are required, is a viable option. In that kind of situation, you'll have your ISP-supplied modem/router feeding the mesh router, and then however many mesh nodes to expand your WiFi coverage. Mesh is more applicable in homes that are over 2000 sq. ft. or so (depending on construction type) so it might be overkill in a smallish household but it is easier to implement than multiple routers (in your case a modem/router with multiple routers vs a mesh router and multiple mesh nodes), a big plus point being a mesh router and its nodes all work more seamlessly with each other to more bandwidth throughout a local network than a multiple router local network.

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-wi-fi-mesh-networking-kits/



#4 ReadyABC

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Posted 30 August 2023 - 09:27 PM

Thanks Nikecad and Svim.  Just clarifying for Svim.  All but the primary ISP provided router are in bridge mode so all nodes can see each other and printers etc.  Following the suggestions I have tried to use one centrally located Wifi router to see how it goes.  Failing that I will investigate a mesh network.  Thanks to you both for taking the time to assist me in this.






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