Access Point vs Mesh clarification

[#1]

Hi,

I'd like to extend wifi into the garden (~5-10m beyond the rear of the house which doesn't have a great interior signal).

Have a wifi extender but it doesn't do much and I don't have any old spare routers available so looked at;

a) access point (AP) to create a separate wireless network or

b) mesh to extend the existing network.

Questions

Option a) - I gather this needs bridging/routing for devices on the two networks to see each other (hence the mesh option).  Is my understanding correct here?  Can this be done easily? 🤞

Option b) - I'm happy with the existing wifi setup (PlusNet router) so would prefer if the mesh extended that rather than creating it's own new network.  However implementing this seems to cause some users issues with some (variants of?) mesh products.  Has anyone done this?  How straightforward (or not) was it?

General -  most of the solutions available seem over-engineered for my needs (a no-frills 802.11ac with WPA2).  Can anyone suggest a reliable right sized solution?  I don't really need a pack of 3 mesh devices with AI learning capability...

Finally, have I missed any other options?

Any advice gratefully received!

Thanks.

[#2]

@padbit welcome to the forum

The problem with using wireless extenders is it relies on a strong wireless signal where the extender is positioned. 

To overcome this restriction would be to run an ethernet cable from the Hub to the location of the extender.

If running a cable is not practical powerline adapters are an alternative. These use the ring main as the medium for transporting the ethernet connection; TP-Link and Mercusys have as selection value products.

[#3]

> @padbit welcome to the forum

Glad to be here! 👍

Many thanks for taking the trouble to reply.

> ...run an ethernet cable from the Hub to the location of the extender...powerline adapters...

It's probably my lousy googlefu but haven't found any extenders with ethernet input/feed; results are for extenders with ethernet allowing devices to connect to the network rather than being the network feed. 😤

I do have a couple of very old powerline adaptors that probably still work.

Will search again for extenders and try to find the right search term(s). 😩

Thanks again!

[#4]

@padbit 

Take a look at TP-Link TL-WPA4220 KIT - AV600 Powerline Adapter WiFi Extender Kit, Wi-Fi Booster/Hotspot, Speed up to 300Mbps, 2+1 Ethernet Ports, Powerline WiFi Extender, Wi-Fi Auto-Sync, UK Plug, Plug & Play

I've used this for an extension for my garage for years, for me works well.

[#5]

> Take a look at TP-Link TL-WPA4220 KIT - AV600 Powerline Adapter WiFi Extender Kit, Wi-Fi Booster/Hotspot, Speed up to 300Mbps, 2+1 Ethernet Ports, Powerline WiFi Extender, Wi-Fi Auto-Sync, UK Plug, Plug & Play

Many thanks for your continued assistance! 😁

[#6]

@padbit can you actually run a length of cable from the router, or router and switch to the outside?

if so you can actually get something like TP-Link EAP225-Outdoor  and either use the same ssid or create a different ssid.

I don't know your budget, expertise or internet speed so i went low-end-ish 

[#7]

Many thanks for replying.

> @padbit can you actually run a length of cable from the router, or router and switch to the outside?

Router has 4 LAN ethernet ports so yes, this would be possible - not sure if router has PoE.

Ideally I'd like to site the actual wireless repeater indoors by a rear window rather than outside as mice have nibbled cables in the electrical cabinet which is located outdoors.

> if so you can actually get something like TP-Link EAP225-Outdoor  and either use the same ssid or create a different ssid.

Ideally I just want to extend the existing wifi network, not spawn a second one as this means additional passwords etc.

> I don't know your budget, expertise or internet speed so i went low-end-ish

Budget, expertise and internet speed probably all low. 😊

Happy with low end kit and 2.4Ghz would be OK (if that's significantly cheaper) as only 1 or 2 devices will connect to the wifi from the repeater.  Had decided to go for the TP-Link TL-PA7017 KIT AV1000 1xGigabit Powerline Adapter Kit as it's the same price as the TL-WPA4220 but seems to have a better spec.  However was just double checking that it did indeed transparently extend the existing wifi (actual product description is ambiguous) when I was notified of your post.

At first glance (edit) the product description your recommendation meets my needs. 👍

If cheaper, an indoor version would be fine - I'm still struggling to find a useable search term for "wifi repeaters/extenders/boosters that connect to the router via an ethernet cable and not wirelessly". 😫

Thanks again for your advice.

[#8]

@padbit 

The Hub two only has three LAN ports the one closest to the power socket is the WAN port used for Full Fibre.

I expect your choice of powerline kit will suit your needs

[#9]

Most low end "wifi extenders/repeaters" just repeat the same signal

so for example 2.4ghz ch8 in and 2.4ghz ch8 out. That will cut your speed dearly, even if you get full bars..

Go with the powerline for the time being, if you find that you need something more beefier then you change later.

[#10]

@padbit 

I'm confused by your post. If you use powerline then the master unit is connected to your router via an Ethernet cable. The Ethernet is then carried through the mains to the slave unit, which is plugged into the mains at the remote location. There are two types of slave. The 4220 kit recommended slave unit has both Ethernet and wireless outputs. The PS17017 kit is cheaper as it's Ethernet only output, there's no wireless.

The Wireless output of the 4220 slave will have a different SSID (wireless name) to the router but will be part of the same network as connected devices will still have their IP addresses managed by the router.

[#11]

@Dan_the_Van, @krusty thanks for all your advice and patience, much appreciated.

Will let you know how I get on!

Thanks again.

[#12]

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@Dan_the_Van wrote:

@padbit 

Take a look at TP-Link TL-WPA4220 KIT - AV600 Powerline Adapter WiFi Extender Kit, Wi-Fi Booster/Hotspot, Speed up to 300Mbps, 2+1 Ethernet Ports, Powerline WiFi Extender, Wi-Fi Auto-Sync, UK Plug, Plug & Play

I've used this for an extension for my garage for years, for me works well.

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also on an aside most av600 units have fast ethernet ports - ie 100mbits max, regardless of the wireless speed or powerline speed.

expect 10 to 50mbits from this setup. I have run av600 units before (now with sfp+ fibre run) with a mesh unit 

[#13]

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@Baldrick1 wrote:

...The 4220 kit recommended slave unit has both Ethernet and wireless outputs. The PS17017 kit is cheaper as it's Ethernet only output, there's no wireless...

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Ah, what confused me was that although Argos' product description did indeed state that the:

"...TL-PA7017 Kit ensures stable and high-speed wired connection..." yet further down it said "128-bit AES wireless security."?

So many thanks for clarifying that, I've learned from bitter experience that whenever I buy any tech online I have to absolutely nail down evey single unknown - otherwise I usually end up returning it.

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@Baldrick1 wrote:

...The Wireless output of the 4220 slave will have a different SSID (wireless name) to the router but will be part of the same network as connected devices will still have their IP addresses managed by the router.

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Just so I'm crystal clear on this, would a TP-Link TL-WPA4220 KIT AV600 Powerline Adapter Wi-Fi Booster setup mean a single password for the whole wifi (both SSIDs) or would each SSID be associated with a separate (or even the same?) password?  I've never done this before so haven't a clue as to how all the various bits and pieces interact.

Further, would devices "under" one SSID be able to connect seamlessly/transparently to one on the other SSID?

E.g. if I was in the garden on the slave's SSID would a device on the "main" (router) SSID be able to stream to the garden device in exactly the same way as it could to a device on the router SSID?  Hope this makes sense.

Thanks again for clarifying!

[#14]

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@padbit wrote:

Many thanks for replying.

Had decided to go for the TP-Link TL-PA7017 KIT AV1000 1xGigabit Powerline Adapter Kit as it's the same price as the TL-WPA4220 but seems to have a better spec. 

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just re-read, this will not work. All you be able to do is plug it in and and plug a ethernet cable in.

As you have rodent issues. and if you can run a cable internally, go with this https://www.amazon.co.uk/ASUS-Extendable-Parental-Scheduling-Compatible/dp/B0CPQ17L6W it can run in ap mode. its low end and there won't be many updates except for security issues.

just give it the same ssid and pw as the hub

[#15]

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@padbit wrote:

... results are for extenders with ethernet allowing devices to connect to the network rather than being the network feed. 😤

There are different devices in this space, with confusing names / terminology...

• Extenders or Repeaters take the WiFi signal and re-broadcast it - they might also have ethernet ports for local connections - they do not make for overly proficient use of WiFi
• Wireless Access Points (WAPs) require some form of back haul to the router - that can be via ethernet cable or (as in PowerLine adapters) over the mains circuit - they too can offer an ethernet port for local connections

What Google returns will depend on (knowing?) what you asked