is it really extending the Wifi or create a new one

Question

I have a netgear EX6100's wifi extender, but it doe not extend my Wifi, it create a new one, here is what I expect it to do and what is really happening

I put the original Wifi in my 1st floor, and my extender in the basement , I see 3 networks w, w_2gext and w_5gext I expect that if I'm on the first floor and connect to w, when I step into the basement at some point I will move between the original router and the extender smoothly (without even knowing about it) and wil stay on the same network (w) - because the extender suppose to broadcast the w ssid.

instead I lose connectivity on w, and have to manually disconnect and connect to w_2gext (for example) in order to keep wifi connection in the basement ,

is that how it works with this device ? or is it a configuration issue ?

thanks

nhann · Answer

Hi nir_melamoud,
&nbsp;
Please see the following link to set up the same SSID for your network: https://community.netgear.com/t5/WiFi-Range-Extenders-Repeaters/Can-I-use-same-SSID-with-EX6100-as-the-R7000-router/m-p/971296#M9762
&nbsp;
Let us know how it works for you.
&nbsp;
Regards,
NhanN

nir_melamoud · Answer

I actually changed the configuration to be like that i.e I have two ssid's wirenir (for my original router and 2g network, and wirenir_5GEXT for the 5G network - I think its not working, here is why

1. im in area that I can not connect to wirenir but can connect to wirenir_5G - so it does not broadcast the wirenir to that area - BTW when I had separate 2G network that area worked great as well (so its not just 5G range vs 2G range)

2. the wizard warn me not to do that (same SSID as the router) -but I did it anyway, why is it not recommended - if it worked to extend the original router range it should be the default

3. when I walk with my phone connected to wirenir from an area that wirenir cover to an area that the extender's wirenir is covering I lose connectivity and get automaticaly connected to wirenir_5gext

I thought the feature is suppose to be done automatically (not by setting the SSID to be the same) when I check the "broadcase ssid checkbox" but maybe Im wrong - whats the purpose / meaning of this checkbox ?

nhann · Answer

The loss of router connection and reconnection to extender is normal.Depending on your device (tablet, pc, mac, etc) you can rank and prioritize your networks to automatically connect.
If you disable broadcast of the SSID, only devices that have the correct SSID can connect. This means that the network is now hidden from devices unless you have the SSID.

nir_melamoud · Answer

so &nbsp;does it or does &nbsp;it not extend my ssid ? I know other devices that extend other SSID, that has no need for additional SSID (although they have that option) does your device does that or not ?&nbsp;Just to be clear Extending my SSID mean that the extender broadcast the original router SSID and route all traffic through it to the original router, so there is no need to disconnect and connect when you walk through the house its the same network the extender suppose to be silent extender .&nbsp;if your device does not have that functionality please say it clearly - yes or no ?&nbsp;BTW the reason connect and disconnect is NOT NORMAL is that the phone will disconnect only if the signal level is really really low, but when it get half way through the bandwidth is really low and the device stop or almost stop working with the network, and only after a while or if you walk far enough it will actually disconenct and connect,&nbsp;&nbsp;so I have areas in the house where I have no WIFI Im connected the the original router but the signal is not bad enough to disconnect and not good enough to actually work - bottom line its not working.&nbsp;

netwrks · Answer

It doesn't roam the way you would&nbsp;like it to, as you are using it in Extender mode. The idea of an extender is, when you lose connectivity to your&nbsp;router's wireless network, you connect to the extender, that's why they suggest you keep the SSID's different,so you can connect from one to the other. Your best bet is to configure it as an&nbsp;Access Point&nbsp;- Page 16. The success&nbsp;of wireless&nbsp;client roaming, is based on the wireless client, not that AP.

Forum Discussion

is it really extending the Wifi or create a new one

7 Replies