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Question

Multiple Range Extenders?

Jan 27, 2015 1:28AM PST

I have a Linksys RE1000 Range Extender set up as part of my home network. This totally solved the problem in the part of the house where the signal was weakest.
As that was such a success I'm wondering if I should add a second one - this time to improve the weakish signal in the attic.
But I don't want to shell out for it and then find that you can only have one extender on the same wireless network or that setting up the second one causes problems with the one that currently works fine.
Grateful for advice from anyone who knows about this.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Well, that's a deep question.
Jan 27, 2015 1:39AM PST
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PS. The 802.11n channel issue.
Jan 27, 2015 1:49AM PST

While it's supposed to be automatic, 1 802.11n channel is so wide that 2 makes for trouble. 3 is going to sometimes cause issues. You can see the issue with 802.11n 40MHz OFDM at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_WLAN_channels

So either use the 20MHz OFDM mode or set them to 802.11g which at 54 megabits should be ample for today's systems.
Bob

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Thanks for the answer, but . . .
Jan 27, 2015 1:53AM PST

Thanks Bob. I actually have tried the powerline devices before buying the first wireless extender (I borrowed a working set from a friend). Whenever I plugged the network cable into the router it just cut off the incoming internet completely. It was quite bizarre (and disappointing). It might have been some incompatibility issue. All my network kit is Linksys, The powerline devices were a different make. Also the router (Wireless-G) is over 10 years old, so maybe it just isn't up to it.

.

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Odd result.
Jan 27, 2015 1:58AM PST

I think I've deployed about a dozen so far so it's anyone's guess why it did that. There were routers that keeled over due the "broadcast flag" issue. That's a router bug by the way and while some faulted makers and Microsoft for turning that on, well, it was like low tide in the bay where the rocks show up.
Bob

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Might have been my fault
Jan 27, 2015 3:11AM PST

Did some more research after reading your post. The ones I borrowed came with no instructions so I didn't/couldn't RTFM. Researching now, I noticed that at least one make of these (Linksys) requires you to plug one specific unit into the router and the other into the receiving device. I have to confess that it didn't occur to me that that might be the case with the ones I borrowed. The two units looked the same - although I only gave them a fairly cursory look.
I think maybe I should revisit your original suggestion and try a pair of Linksys PLEK500 units!

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Tip. When I'm scouting for gear I check best seller lists.
Jan 27, 2015 3:17AM PST
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Good point!
Jan 27, 2015 3:25AM PST

Thanks, I hadn't spotted that, although I could live with wired connection to the PC at the other end.

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That helps, but . . .
Jan 27, 2015 1:59AM PST

Thanks for the reply, Bob.

I have tried the powerline kit (borrowed a working set from a friend). When I connected the network cable to the router it just cut out the incoming internet connection.

My router is quite old (10) and maybe not up to the job with the powerline kit.

What I was worried about with the RE1000 setup is what will happen when the install software for the second extender finds two devices? I suppose I could switch off the first one, set up the new one, then turn them both on.

Any thoughts?.

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So far I don't use install software.
Jan 27, 2015 2:05AM PST

For over a decade I use the router or device's web interface to configure. With so much pollution of apps today I dodge the bullet of such software trying to install browser bars and more.

As to setting up two extenders, I have to write I'm not a fan of extenders for a few reasons but folk do use them.
Bob