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Forum Discussion
x2 Netgear EX7700 as mesh network?
Hi,
Before purchasing a second Netgear EX7700 to extend my WIFI network, I would like to confirm that two EX7700 will allow me to have one SSID between both access points (mesh)? If successful I hope to disable the Linksys based WIFI AP that are constantly causing me grief by dropping, makes working from tragic! oppose to the EX7700 which doesnt quite reach the other end of the house.
Below is my current setup if it helps:-
Back of house
- Linksys EA6200 router (1x 5Ghz SSID & 1x 2.4Ghz SSID)
Front of house
- Netgear EX7700 AP (1x 5Ghz SSID), linked to router via powerline adapter.
- Firmware currently - V1.0.0.152
Hope someone can help.
Thanks!
4 Replies
Its a gray area.
I'd like to say its black and white but home structure and setup make it gray.
the problem is that occasionally the EX7700's can get connected to each other.
things that can cause it: being to close to each other or their signals overwhelm the routers signal, or a router that the ssid drops can cause them to connect to each other when they lose the routers signal.
some have great luck running 2x ex7700s. they usually have them setup like so:
EX7700<--------router--------->EX7700
That reduces the chance that their signals pick up each other. sometimes you can reduce their signal output on 5ghz so it doesn't broadcast as far/through as much so the other extender doesn't pick it up.
If it does, you simply set on of the extenders with their own unique ssid.
With it being a gray area, its why I usually recommend people move to a full mesh system like orbi if they're needing more than 1 extender.
Hi,
Thank you for your reply.
Not as a clear cut as I assumed then :( and not the 'mesh' I hoped for!
To clarify I would be disabling the router based SSID's, the only one's that would be visable would be the Netgear SSID.
The current Netgear SSID is visible and detectable at the other end of the house, but the signal is really poor resulting in choppy\slow performance.
Will the above in mind would I be advised to either buy a second ex7700 and have a seprate SSID?
Or
Buy full-on mesh AP's?
If you're disabled the router ssid, what do you think the extender is connecting to?
Or are you implying you'd only disable the broadcast so its hidden? That woudn't change anything.How big is your home? sq ft and levels
What is the interior walls made of in the home?
Many times optmizing placement of a router and an extender can help more than adding a second extender.
