Simple ethernet WiFi access?

BUDFORCE

BUDFORCE

BUDFORCE

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Sorry I am a noob at networking.

I have setup a wired network in the house that works perfectly.

The only thing is the way it's setup the router is right in one corner of the house, so WiFi isn't great in the other corner. My network switch is more or less the opposite corner so would be an ideal area.

I wouldn't otherwise be bothered, as all the main devices are wired, but we are getting solar installed and that connects via WiFi, and that'll be in the loft and I'm concerned that won't get a signal.

So literally all I'm after is something I can ethernet cable from my network switch, which will then act as WiFi access.

Looking through seems there are all sorts of devices some several hundred pounds?

I had in my head maybe £20 for something like this?

Also, opinions of setting it up with same SSID and password as main router WiFi?

Edit: forgot to mention don't need PoE either there is a plug socket right next to it.
 
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You got a couple of options.

Run ethernet cable back to a central cab and move the router or run a cable from the router to a central cab.
Get powerline sockets - this depends on how good your power cables are running through the walls. This may limit speed though.
Get a Mesh type system that work as WiFi extenders. Depends how thick the walls are this might not be a good option either.
 
BUDFORCE said:
The only thing is the way it's setup the router is right in one corner of the house, so WiFi isn't great in the other corner. My network switch is more or less the opposite corner so would be an ideal area.

So literally all I'm after is something I can ethernet cable from my network switch, which will then act as WiFi access.
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Bouton Aide said:
You got a couple of options.

Run ethernet cable back to a central cab and move the router or run a cable from the router to a central cab.
Get powerline sockets - this depends on how good your power cables are running through the walls. This may limit speed though.
Get a Mesh type system that work as WiFi extenders. Depends how thick the walls are this might not be a good option either.
Click to expand...

This is one of those rare occasions where the op actually contained useful information. Op has wired ethernet where they need wifi so your first two points aren't really relevant. The third point would work, and if bandwidth isn't an issue, then at a push it may be one of the few times something like a wifi extender - though technically an abomination - could work as it's likely in budget. The much more obvious answer was an AP as that's literally what they're designed for, from a budget perspective an older router that will run in AP mode is also doable.
 
Avalon said:
This is one of those rare occasions where the op actually contained useful information. Op has wired ethernet where they need wifi so your first two points aren't really relevant. The third point would work, and if bandwidth isn't an issue, then at a push it may be one of the few times something like a wifi extender - though technically an abomination - could work as it's likely in budget. The much more obvious answer was an AP as that's literally what they're designed for, from a budget perspective an older router that will run in AP mode is also doable.
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Not if they run ethernet to extra WiFi APs. This would also be another option.
 
Wireless Range Extender would work fine, and the TP Link versions can also work as a wired access point (although they only have 100Mb Ethernet - still be more reliable, and probably still quicker than using half the wifi bandwidth to "extend" the network)

£35, so a little bit more than the OP had in mind, but the only cheaper alternative would be to reuse an old AP / Router to do the same thing.

www.tp-link.com

AC750 Wi-Fi Range Extender

The RE205 Range Extender boosts your router's signal into areas it can't reach alone and reduces signal interference, ensuring stable connections throughout your home or office.
www.tp-link.com www.tp-link.com


My basket at OcUK:

Total: £83.64 (includes delivery: £8.70)​

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Armageus said:
Wireless Range Extender would work fine, and the TP Link versions can also work as a wired access point (although they only have 100Mb Ethernet - still be more reliable, and probably still quicker than using half the wifi bandwidth to "extend" the network)

£35, so a little bit more than the OP had in mind, but the only cheaper alternative would be to reuse an old AP / Router to do the same thing.

www.tp-link.com

AC750 Wi-Fi Range Extender

The RE205 Range Extender boosts your router's signal into areas it can't reach alone and reduces signal interference, ensuring stable connections throughout your home or office.
www.tp-link.com www.tp-link.com


My basket at OcUK:

Total: £83.64 (includes delivery: £8.70)​

​
​
​
​
Click to expand...

Yes thanks, that's the kind of thing I was looking at, and that can be connected to my unmanaged 8 port network switch (as a pose to my router) and then plugged into a power socket, and it just works and gives WiFi?
 
BUDFORCE said:
Yes thanks, that's the kind of thing I was looking at, and that can be connected to my unmanaged 8 port network switch (as a pose to my router) and then plugged into a power socket, and it just works and gives WiFi?
Click to expand...

As long as your unmanaged switch is in some way connected to your router it should work fine.
 
When they install solar they will be routing the power from the roof/battery to the MCB most likely, is that location any good to get to your router, can they do you an ether net cable at the same time, some power cables for car charges for example carry both the mains and ethernet, it costs a little more but that could route to an AP in roof and be reliable? Have you asked if it also supports ethernet?
 
sandys said:
When they install solar they will be routing the power from the roof/battery to the MCB most likely, is that location any good to get to your router, can they do you an ether net cable at the same time, some power cables for car charges for example carry both the mains and ethernet, it costs a little more but that could route to an AP in roof and be reliable? Have you asked if it also supports ethernet?
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Yea I have just asked he's going to get back to me.

If the solar "control unit" is down near the consumer unit that's actually perfect as that'll be right next to where the router is anyway.

If not, assuming it'll go in the loft. If you can wire it it, again good, because I can very easily run an ethernet cable into the loft.

its just if you can't wire it, and the control unit is in the loft (I would assume) then I doubt it'll get signal.
 
@Armageus

or anyone really.

I got this one as linked :1 x TP-Link RE305 AC1200 Wi-Fi Range Extender (SKU: NW-218-TP) = £39.95

I've plugged in into my network switch, I am getting the green light on the network switch side of the connection, but not on the device side, and my home network (chicking through on my Fritbox router) and trying the IP throug a web broser cannot see it either. And yes its plugged into the main power socket so I am getting the power light.


I have read the instructions but all talk about setting it up as a range extender, which is not what I am trying to do.

On the product description it definately says : - Built-in Access Point Mode: RE305 is more than a wireless range extender. Simply plug the Ethernet cable into its Ethernet port to easily turn your wired internet connection into a dual band wireless access point.


Am I doing something wrong?
 
Orcvader said:
Reading the manual, the steps are in chapter 6. It seems you have to set it up as an extender first, and only then will it give you the option it set it as an access point.
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Ok thank you, yea managed to figure it out what a faff.

You'd think they would make these things more user friendly.

But yes as you say, I think they intend most people will use it as a WiFi extender not an access point.

Anyway seems to be working.
 
BUDFORCE said:
Am I doing something wrong?
Click to expand...

As Orcvader says - it looks like you have to set it up as a wired extender first, i.e. with the phone app etc then you can switch it from Repeater Mode to Access Point mode

RE205 & RE305 V3 User Guide | TP-Link

RE205 & RE305 V3 User Guide - Chapter 6 More Features of Your Extender
www.tp-link.com

(oddly the full manual isn't available for the latest version V4 of the RE305, you have to look at hardware revision V3 to get a link to the full manual)
 
Armageus said:
As Orcvader says - it looks like you have to set it up as a wired extender first, i.e. with the phone app etc then you can switch it from Repeater Mode to Access Point mode

RE205 & RE305 V3 User Guide | TP-Link

RE205 & RE305 V3 User Guide - Chapter 6 More Features of Your Extender
www.tp-link.com

(oddly the full manual isn't available for the latest version V4 of the RE305, you have to look at hardware revision V3 to get a link to the full manual)
Click to expand...
Huh, the one I linked before is for the V4. Download link was here: https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/download/re305/
 
Orcvader said:
Huh, the one I linked before is for the V4. Download link was here: https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/download/re305/
Click to expand...

Definitely wasn't there on the UK site:
opbLcWX.png



but is on the US/Global one :D
 
Yea I muddled through but not straight forward.

Admittedly I'm not the best when it comes to network related anything really.

Trying to decide now whether to set it up on the same SSID and pass or not, I did have a similar setup previously using homeplugs as a WiFi access point and had all sorts of weird issues with it, but not sure if that was due to the homeplug element of it.
 
BUDFORCE said:
Yea I muddled through but not straight forward.

Admittedly I'm not the best when it comes to network related anything really.

Trying to decide now whether to set it up on the same SSID and pass or not, I did have a similar setup previously using homeplugs as a WiFi access point and had all sorts of weird issues with it, but not sure if that was due to the homeplug element of it.
Click to expand...
As long as they don't share the same channel (eg 2.4GHz, channel 1 for the router and channel 6 for the other) I found that avoided most issues when using the same SSID. It'll still be up to the client device to swap between the two points however, even if they have different SSIDs.
 
I will say one thing, I'm very impressed with the coverage on this, it's putting my fritzbox router to shame.

On the Fritzbox WiFi, near my network switch I get 1 bar sometimes switching to data on my phone.

On the new tp link WiFi I get full whack down near the Fritzbox router.

Both are opposite corners of the house.
 
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