Good afternoon. The situation is as follows: there is an Asus RT-AC51U router in the apartment. Half of the apartment is in the coverage area, and the other part is completely without Wi Fi. In the far room from the router there is a network cable that I want to connect to the add. equipment so that it distributes Wi-Fi to the rest of the apartment.
I started to study the question, I see there are Repeaters, and there are Access Points, I can't figure out what suits me best. The repeater, as I understand it, simply amplifies the Wi Fi signal, and if it is not in the back room, then there is nothing to amplify, as I understand it, then the repeater does not fit. I want to connect the equipment via a network cable and so that it distributes Wi Fi in this area.
Hence the questions:
- What equipment is right for my purposes?
- Will the Internet be seamless or will it be necessary to reconnect to the access point and re-enter the login and password?
- I want a single Wi-Fi coverage area throughout the apartment without re-registering between the router and the access point, what to buy for this?
Thank you for attention!
Answer
Good afternoon. Good question, let's try to figure it out. In fact, the topic of organizing a Wi-Fi network in a large house or apartment is very relevant. Especially when it comes to seamless Wi-Fi network with fast roaming. Of course, you can hang up several regular repeaters, or access points, but such a Wi-Fi network will work very unstable. There will be constant drops, drop in speed, devices will switch between access points somehow. If they switch at all.
A few words about a regular Wi-Fi network built from a router, and an amplifier or access point (or several amplifiers or access points). Such a network will work. Yes, the repeater (aka a Wi-Fi network amplifier) must be installed in the area of a stable Wi-Fi signal. It connects to the router via Wi-Fi and amplifies the signal. Access points are connected to the router via cable. Both the repeater and the access point can be configured so that there is one Wi-Fi network. That is, the devices will see one network from two access points (router + repeater or access point). But as I already wrote, switching devices between access points in this scheme is very unstable. Since these devices do not support fast roaming (certain protocols).
Yes, now some manufacturers are already producing routers and amplifiers that support fast roaming (802.11r, 802.11k, 802.11v protocols). But your Asus RT-AC51U does not support them judging by the characteristics. In your case, you can't build a seamless Wi-Fi network using the Asus RT-AC51U.
Which equipment is right for my purposes?
In your case, the ideal option is a Wi-Fi Mesh system. I think that a system of three modules will be more than enough in your case. And even 2 is enough. You can buy a system of two modules, and if it is not enough, buy another module (but not all manufacturers sell 1 module, you need to watch it), or an amplifier with fast roaming support. There are already many inexpensive, good mesh systems out there.
By default, the Wi-Fi Mesh modules of the system are connected via Wi-Fi. But they can also be connected via a network cable, if you already have one. The only problem is that only one module can be connected via the cable. Since there are usually 2 LAN ports on 1 module. In one you connect the Internet (it is, as it were, the main one, instead of your ASUS router), and to the second LAN port you can connect a device, or the second module of the Mesh system. Well, if the Wi-Fi network signal does not completely cover your large apartment, you will need a third module, then it will connect to the network via the Wi-Fi network. You can see an example of setting up a Wi-Fi system TP-Link Deco M4.
This is an ideal Wi-Fi network for a large apartment.
Will the Internet be seamless ... I want a single Wi-Fi coverage area throughout the apartment
Yes, Wi-Fi will be seamless. Only here the fast roaming function, as a rule, is disabled by default in the settings of Wi-Fi Mesh systems. This is to ensure compatibility with older devices (clients that will connect to Wi-Fi). After all, to work in a seamless Wi-Fi network, devices must also support certain standards. To quickly and invisibly for the user switch between access points when moving around a large apartment. I wrote about this in detail in the article: Seamless Wi-Fi. Fast roaming (802.11r) in Wi-Fi Mesh system settings.
Read, see, maybe this option will suit you. I think that two modules of any Wi-Fi system will cover your entire large apartment with a signal (a lot, of course, depends on the layout, walls, interference). Turn on fast roaming in the settings and everything should work fine. You will not even notice that your network is built of two access points.
I am in touch in the comments below. Good luck!
11.02.20
7
Asked by Kirill
