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knguyen555's avatar
knguyen555
Follower
Apr 08, 2016
Solved

Can you use 2 wifi extenders at the same time?

Can you use multiple wifi extenders?

Hello there, I just purchased a Wi-Fi extender 7000 and it works great downstairs but the signal is weak upstairs. My question is if I bought another wifi extender the same one EX7000 can i use both of them at the same time or will having the same network extension make it conflict? Thank you in advance.

 

Editors Note:

Solved: Yes you can use 2 extenders at the same time, with some caveats - read on for more details. You may also consider a WiFi 6 Range Extender or a WiFi Mesh System such as Orbi for stronger signals and more WiFi range and flexibility.

  • Yes, you can use 2 extenders with a few caveats.

    1. Do not wirelessly connect one extender to another.  Performance for the second extender will usually be unsatisfactory.  Therefore, each extender should connect to the main router.
    2. Both extenders should not broadcast the same SSID as the main router.  This is the default setting but many people often set up an extender to broadcast the same SSID to avoid programming devices with two separate SSIDs.  You won't be able to do this with two extenders because there is a risk of them connecting to each other instead of the main router.  This restriction doesn't apply if you are able to wire the extenders to the main router via Ethernet (or Powerline).

34 Replies

  • Yes, you can use 2 extenders with a few caveats.

    1. Do not wirelessly connect one extender to another.  Performance for the second extender will usually be unsatisfactory.  Therefore, each extender should connect to the main router.
    2. Both extenders should not broadcast the same SSID as the main router.  This is the default setting but many people often set up an extender to broadcast the same SSID to avoid programming devices with two separate SSIDs.  You won't be able to do this with two extenders because there is a risk of them connecting to each other instead of the main router.  This restriction doesn't apply if you are able to wire the extenders to the main router via Ethernet (or Powerline).
    • Alaind's avatar
      Alaind
      Initiate

      Great answer, thanks !

      I understand the second Extender needs a different SSID but how do I do that ?

      • TheEther's avatar
        TheEther
        Guru

        The extender, by default, broadcasts a different SSID from the main router, so you should not have to do anything.  It's possible it will broadcast the same SSID as the other extender, but that's ok.

    • sxx's avatar
      sxx
      Aspirant

      TheEther wrote:

       Therefore, each extender should connect to the main router.


      I'm already using one EX7000 connected to a router thru RJ45 in a multiple floor building...

      Is it possible to connect a second EX7000 to the first EX7000 thru RJ45 instead of a direct connection to the main router?

    • Gregory1234's avatar
      Gregory1234
      Initiate

      Hey .. I has a simple qu on multiple (three units, on multi story villa) ACCESS POINTS (with these EX7000 Range Extenders with cables back to the master modem) .. when I set up each unit (EX7000) the Setup Wizard makes me enter a NEW ACCOUNT (email & pword).

      Can I use the same one each time, or do I need to use 3 different emails??

      Maybe I have to turn off the 1st Unit I setup & then setup & login to the next one separately (but with the same email ??)

    • Meoper's avatar
      Meoper
      Aspirant

      I have the ex 7000. Can I add the ex 8000 and use the same name on both?  Thanks. 

      • DarrenM's avatar
        DarrenM
        Sr. NETGEAR Moderator

        Yes the ex8000 will allow you to use the same SSID.

         

        DarrenM

  • found that my house are not suitable to use wifi extender as there are too many inteference

     

    i end up getting power line adapter and setup 2nd router as access point on 2nd floor
    now i have excellent wifi signal cover whole house

    • DarrenM's avatar
      DarrenM
      Sr. NETGEAR Moderator

      Hello blnh

       

      Yes you can and you will want each extender to connect directly to the routers wifi network also you may need to rename the SSID on the new extender in setup to cause less issues.

       

      DarrenM

      • blnh's avatar
        blnh
        Initiate

        Just confirming that I was able to successfully setup two wifi extenders using the same username and password. The modem is on the second floor. I configured the first unit while the other was unplugged. I added _AC1200 to the 2G and 5G networks. I then unplugged it. I configured the second one adding _AC1900 to the 2G and 5G networks. I plugged in both externders to their respective locations at opposite ends of the house on the first floor. I can easily distinguish all networks.

  • I installed the AC1200 and it works great. I need to add another extender at the other end of the house and purchased the AC1900 arriving tomorrow.  The AC1200 automatically appended _2G, _5G, _2GEXT and _5GEXT to the primary network name. So, there are 5 networks to choose from. Will I have to configure anything special in order to use both extenders?  Will the network names be duplicated automatically or will I be able to distinguish between the AC1200 and AC1900 networks?

  • Yes, you can use 2 extenders with a few caveats. Do not wirelessly connect one extender to another. Performance for the second extender will usually be unsatisfactory. Therefore, each extender should connect to the main router.

    • ihawk's avatar
      ihawk
      Tutor

      You can, I have 3 extenders. 1 connected to the main 1 router and 2 daisy chained off with no loss of signal or traffic flow


      • ihawk wrote:

        You can, I have 3 extenders. 1 connected to the main 1 router and 2 daisy chained off with no loss of signal or traffic flow


        If you aren't using fastlane with a triband extender, then there will be a loss of throughput.  However, your bottleneck might be your internet connection speed, and not your wifi.

  • I have a similar problem as shown above, I can connect to my first EX7700, but not the other (right next to my router.  I verified latest firmware version, did a factory reset, but can only connect to the first extender via WPS or the app.  In the App, see both extenders (connected to my R9000), but one of the extenders shows up as a white box rather than the icon.

     

    Any tips or pointers would be appreciated. 

    /RW

     

    • olympos1625's avatar
      olympos1625
      NETGEAR Employee Retired

      Hi @Rixter6969,

       

      Thank you for reaching out. How are the 2 extenders connected o the R9000 router? Are the 2 extenders configured as wireless extenders or access points? Did you try turning off the working extender and just have the 1 extender( affected) connect to the main router and see if it behaves the same?

       

      I am looking forward to your response.

       

      Regards,

       

      Oliver

      Community Team