As you can see from the picture above, there are two ways to use the extender:
1) Directly connecting the clients through the Wi-Fi Extender itself. (Top)
2) Using a 2nd Router/AP that will be connected to the extender via an Ethernet cable and then to the clients. (Bottom)
This is the scenario when wiring is not an option from the main Router to the Wifi Extender/Router.
Wifi Extenders when used as in the 1) method will give you a problem of retransmission, which means when you connect your mobile, any other wireless devices to the extender, the speed will usually be lesser than that of the main router. To solve this we use another AP/Router connecting it to the Wi-Fi extender while Disabling the radios (2.4Ghz/5Ghz) on the Wi-Fi extender in the same room.
Note: Using the same channel as the Main router causes the speed to fall, if the main router's channel is set between (Channel 36-48) use Upper band channels on the 2nd Router/AP (Channel 149-165),
If using (Channel 149-165) on the Main router, use Lower band channels on the 2nd Router/AP (Channel 36-48)
Instructions:
Step 1) Log in to the web interface of the Extender
Step 2) FInd the main router's SSID and connect to it, (Preferably 5Ghz)
Step 3) Using an Ethernet cable connect one end of the cable in the Wifi Extender, and then another end to the Router's/AP WAN (internet) port
Step 4) Once the router is successfully connected, you'll be able to see the web interface of both the Main router and extender through the Router/AP
Step 5) Disable the radios 2.4Ghz/5Ghz (SSIDs) on the Wifi Extender so that it doesn't broadcast it's own SSID.This is necessary to avoid interference and achieve max speed.
Step 6) Please read the Note above
Since I'm using the D-Link 1860 Wi-fi extender, this is one example of how you can optimize the Wifi speed of the extender. Always place the extender where the wifi signals of the main router are weak but make sure to check that the indicator of the Wi-fi states that the signal is strong enough.
On most TP-Link wifi extenders, it's either Blue or Red, Blue = strong signal, Red = Weak signal, but on the DAP-1860 which has 3 bars, gives a more accurate picture of the Signal, 3 bars meaning the strongest, 1 bar meaning the weakest, that's why D-Link DAP 1860 is one of the best Plugin type wifi extenders which unfortunately got discontinued.
Best plug-in type Wi-fi extenders:
The best plug-in type Wi-fi extender is the AC2600, but the WIfi 6 at the time of writing this tutorial only comes as AX1800, which means at most 1200 Mbps on 5 GHz is achievable which is slower than AC2600 class Wifi 5 extenders which can do 1733 Mbps @ 5 GHz provided you have a matching specced router.
Hope this helps!!!
Feel free to share your thoughts below
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