So I have a Cheapo Netgear 'something something' 3000 and it works fine. The only problem is it mimics the master wifi routers channel and if I am right, because it only has a simple radio board of some sort it can't work on a separate channel of it's own, it has to rebroadcast on the same as the master's (if that makes sense). I want another WiFi extender (not a mains solutions) and wondered if the combined might of the collective Brisky Mind-Hub may know of a reasonably priced bit of kit that would satisfy my needs, ie the master router is on channel 6 and I want the extender to be on channel 11 etc 

 

 

Any 'normal' router can be attached to the existing network and then given it's own ID and channel number.

Most people have at least one spare hanging around.

Any 'normal' router can be attached to the existing network and then given it's own ID and channel number.

Most people have at least one spare hanging around.

I wanted to receive and extend an existing WiFi network, can a regular router do that?

I wanted to receive and extend an existing WiFi network, can a regular router do that?

 

Yes, but if halves the bandwidth (as it recieves on half and forwards on the other half)

Yes, but if halves the bandwidth (as it recieves on half and forwards on the other half)

Ah I thought a traditional router only had the ability to be a 'master' thingummy if that makes sense, but I suppose as it can receive data from the things that connect to it wirelessly, so that makes sense. Mind you my old routers are SKY ones and I think they are locked down quite well, at least for none IT peeps like myself.

What you can do is use a pair of powerline adapters and a WiFi access point . So you plug in one near you main router and connect that by Ethernet cable. Plug the other one where you want you wireless and connect that to the WiFi access point. Set the WiFi access point up and bob's your uncle. I have two WiFi access points set up this way.

I think you can get powerline WiFi access points as well so you may not need a separate device.

I've also tried one of the plugin wifi range extenders (TP Link wre760) it worked some of the time but kept losing the WiFi connection to the main router.

I don't think you can have them on different channels as devices will get confused which to connect to and give up.

Is there a reason you want to occupy another channel?

What you can do is use a pair of powerline adapters and a WiFi access point . So you plug in one near you main router and connect that by Ethernet cable. Plug the other one where you want you wireless and connect that to the WiFi access point. Set the WiFi access point up and bob's your uncle. I have two WiFi access points set up this way.

I think you can get powerline WiFi access points as well so you may not need a separate device.

I've also tried one of the plugin wifi range extenders (TP Link wre760) it worked some of the time but kept losing the WiFi connection to the main router.

 

I did wonder about this, but I gave my powerline thingies to me Dad last year, I thought I didn't need them

 

I don't think you can have them on different channels as devices will get confused which to connect to and give up.

Is there a reason you want to occupy another channel?

Using an App I see the signal strength of both the WiFi channels is similar in the area I use my Laptop and one or two other things. I hate the idea of co-channel interference.

If you're not wire-averse....

 

Run a cable to an old BB router and set that up as a simple WIFI AP.

I didn't want to go down the way of wires or mains linked devices, but I might have found a solution with my old SKY WiiFi bridge device.

You can have both on different channels, that how large coverage areas work.

Throughout our office we have 6 access points all on different channels.

So long as they all have the same network name, your device will roam around them and connect to the one with the best signal.

I'd definitely recommend adding the second one via a power line adapter. Set the ssid, password and importantly the security protocol the same as your netgear and away you go

Edited 4 April, 201610 yr by softscoop

Would these not suit ?

I got them for my sons Xbox One and to get better wifi upstairs.. Work a treat :clap: 

http://www.ebuyer.com/524736-tp-link-tl-wpa281kit-300mbps-av200-wifi-powerline-range-extender-starter-kit-tl-wpa281kit-v3-

You can have both on different channels, that how large coverage areas work.

Throughout our office we have 6 access points all on different channels.

So long as they all have the same network name, your device will roam around them and connect to the one with the best signal.

I'd definitely recommend adding the second one via a power line adapter. Set the ssid, password and importantly the security protocol the same as your netgear and away you go

The trouble is that the cheaper extenders only have a simple radio board and can't transmit on a separate channel. I wanted to know if there was a cheap extender that could do what I wanted, but have now found an old alternative bit of kit to get me buy.

 

Thanks for the ideas guys

I've never seen any Wi-Fi access point that doesn't let you set the channel?

Take ALL of the channels.....! Please name them after your neighbours to avoid yourself becoming the bane of the neighbourhood. :)

This will do what you need.

http://m.ebuyer.com/263390

Link it to your main router with Ethernet and create a network with the same ssid and password as the existing one. Set the channel on this to be several apart from your current one.

Your devices will then roam between the two automatically

OK guys. I could not change the channel on my Netgear WiFI extender, at least away from the donor channel. This isn't negotiable. I have got a fix now though with the afore mentioned gear. Thanks for the input but I think the thread has  now  run it's course.

 

 

Btw I did say I didn't want to use a mains connected device (I have used them in the past , but find them a hassle in my house - long story). Thank you all for your advice but I am closing this thread now if I can find the button to do it.