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spoony77 · 28 Sep 2016 at 19:41

Hi people
So I recently laid some network cable externally to a faceplate in my living room. From this I have a switch connected up supplying my tv, wii etc.
My question is if I connected up an old router via one of the ports on the switch would this work to provide wifi in my living room and another usable switch via the ports at the back or would this conflict with my existing network?
Advice appreciated...

DIABLO · 28 Sep 2016 at 20:27

spoony77 said:
Hi people
So I recently laid some network cable externally to a faceplate in my living room. From this I have a switch connected up supplying my tv, wii etc.
My question is if I connected up an old router via one of the ports on the switch would this work to provide wifi in my living room and another usable switch via the ports at the back or would this conflict with my existing network?
Advice appreciated...

Yes that would work fine, just give it a fixed IP, turn off DHCP, and point it at your actual router as the Gateway. I have exactly the same setup and works fine.

spoony77 · 28 Sep 2016 at 21:44

Brill thank you :thumbs-up:

spoony77 · 28 Sep 2016 at 22:39

Last question is it important to use the same ssid as my existing network or will it run happily alongside with a seperate ssid and password?

thenewoc · 28 Sep 2016 at 22:49

You can do either but if you use the same ssid then put it on a different channel.

bremen1874 · 29 Sep 2016 at 00:42

It should be on a different channel whether the same SSID is used or not.

If you're connecting a wireless router as an access point there's no gateway to set. It won't be doing any routing so it's irrelevant.

crinkleshoes · 29 Sep 2016 at 00:46

If you use the same SSID and password then the devices will auto-switch to the closest access point.

If you set different SSIDs, then the devices might hold onto the weaker connection when moved.

bremen1874 · 29 Sep 2016 at 00:53

crinkleshoes said:
If you use the same SSID and password then the devices ~~will~~ may, if you're lucky and depending on the device, auto-switch to the closest access point.

If you set different SSIDs, then the devices ~~might~~ will almost certainly hold onto the weaker connection when moved.

Using the same SSID/Password/Encryption is still usually going to be the best option.

crinkleshoes · 29 Sep 2016 at 01:39

Holding onto the weaker SSID also depends on the device... some auto-reconnect when activated... like iPhones... they have a habbit of picking the nearest AP when woken from sleep... but not always... it's hit or miss.

Most devices will pick the nearest AP if on the same SSID/password... but not always.

Like you say... same SSID/password/encryption protocol is the best option unless you want dedicated separate networks to switch between.