setting up new access point - having issues

unwashed potato! · 20 Jun 2014 at 14:19

Here's what we have.

Virgin media router (standard super hub router on their website) which has 5g and 2g wifi, it's currently set up as 2 different wireless connections but this comes from the same router. We'd like this to be one connection which seamlessly changes but can't seem to find a way. This isn't the major issue but one we'd like dealt with so suggestions are welcome on what settings we may need to change.

The 2g WiFi is getting around 50/60mbps speed on speedtest. The 5g gets 150mbps WiFi on speediest

We have a standard cat5 cable coming from the router to the lounge which goes into a switch box (tp link tlsg108).

We now are trying to connect a new access point (tp link tlwa901nd) as a repeater and are having issues.

If I have the AP sat in the hall it can only find the 2g WiFi, not the 5g, which it connects to fine and the 2g extends as though it's one long WiFi range. The speedtest drops to 14mbps at best. Any ideas why this might be?

If I then move the device after this point into the lounge and connect it via cat5 cable from the switch we have issues. The net goes from the 2g wifi, we can connect regardless of location but we have limited connection. The net also goes even for cable connections that are connected to the switch. I'm not sure if the net goes for devices connected directly to the router as I can't test that.

the same happens if I do a full reset of the AP and go through the setup wizard, as soon as I set it up with the password etc we lose net connection.

Any thoughts on what might be going wrong here?

bremen1874 · 20 Jun 2014 at 15:17

If you have it configured as a repeater the Ethernet connection won't be doing anything. It'll just be repeating the wireless signal from the super hub which explains why it stops working as you move it further away.

If you configure it as an access point it'll use its Ethernet connection for the data, but it'll be an independent access point. You can set the wireless credentials to match, but you'll probably not get the seamless transfer you'd like.

With unmanaged access points it's down to the connected device when they decide to swap connections. Most hang onto the first connection they get even when there's something better available.

unwashed potato! · 20 Jun 2014 at 15:53

Ok thanks for the advice. Would you know why the speed is severely reduced when it's connected as a repeater in a good location?

LordBarrass · 20 Jun 2014 at 16:57

Wifi extenders only extend the speed of wifi they are picking up so if it is only getting 20mbps it can only extend that out and again you will get a drop off as you move away from it again.

You either need the access point to be wired in via cat5e or you could look at using Powerline and using a wifi extender that way. I have my router in the lounge at the front of the house and my pc at the back of the house. practically the furthest point away. I use powerline. I have a wifi device in the back bedroom with ethernet out which connects to a switch and my pc / server and the wifi means that i get a good signal all over the house and in to the back garden.

unwashed potato! · 21 Jun 2014 at 13:14

that's petty lame then as the lounge area which gets the most use will have low wifi speeds.

is there no way to have the AP act as one wifi connection with the virgin 2g connection (just as it is atm by being a repwater), but have the AP connected by cable in the lounge so it doesn't drop to slow speeds? we have something like 150meg virgin but only getting 14 by the time it gets to use through all the devices we need.

bremen1874 · 21 Jun 2014 at 13:58

If you're going to use a repeater you need to locate it when it still has a strong signal from the primary router. You then have to hope that the repeater's signal will reach far enough to be helpful.

I sounds like the main problem is that the virgin hub isn't located in a sensible position. If you have virgin television in the lounge couldn't you get the hub moved?

unwashed potato! · 21 Jun 2014 at 16:30

ok thanks guys. i'll suggest moving the hub to the lounge as that's where the wifi is needed, the office room everything is cabled.

would a router work as a repeater? she has many old half decent routers and only bought this the other day as she thought it'd solve the problem but it sounds to be a waste of time if a router would do the trick