Multiple Extender(E8000/E7000) config issue & DHCP table not showing all devices on r7000

Question

I am using an R7000 Router with an E8000 Mesh plus two additional E7000 Extenders. Using latest firmware on all devices.

a) The R7000 list of DCHP clients is missing several devices. Refereshing keeps updating but not consistant each time. Editting device types and names on R7000 gets ignored by R7000 in the attached device list.

b) With "One-SSID on" on the E8000,the E7000s ignore the E8000 and try to go back to the R7000 (weaker signal). Switching off one-SSID and configuring the E8000 to a different SSID appears to get better results with the two E7000s when i point them to the E8000 SSID.

c) The admin ports on the E8000 and 2 x E7000 devices keep being unavailable (net timeout). Also lost in DCHP list of R7000.

1. Am I asking too much of the R7000?

2. Why does R7000 not maintain a true list of DHCP devices. There are 30-60 devices at anytime on my net.

3. Putting two E7000's off the E8000 should work right?

Thanks

Nev

TheEther · Answer

You may be asking too much of the R7000. How many of those 30-60 devices are wirelessly connecting to the R7000? The R7000 has a limit of 32 devices per wireless band (i.e. 32 for the 2.4 GHz band and 32 for the 5 GHz for a total of 64 clients).

Is the E8000 wired to the R7000? If so, you should put it into AP mode.

Nevillep · Answer

Thanks for the info. was unaware of r7000 limitation.

All my devices are wireless. no wired connections

I fix specific IPs for the DCHP for the Extenders.

Config is R7000<--Wireless3band->E8000<---Wirless 2 band--->E7000<---Wireless 2.4G--->E7000

Wireless devices connect connect to any device. All 4 have different SSIDs now.

Nev

TheEther · Answer

It's not recommended to wirelessly connect the EX7000s to each other. Unlike the EX8000, which has a dedicated Wi-Fi radio to connect back to the R7000, the EX7000s must share their radios between clients and the Wi-Fi network they are repeating.&nbsp; Even though you are using the 2.4 GHz band on the second EX7000 to avoid the usual 50% speed penalty from repeating, I suspect that you'll still get better performance by using 5 GHz to connect the second EX7000 to the first.
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But, if at all possible, you should try to wire the extenders together.&nbsp;&nbsp;Wire the EX7000 to the EX8000, if possible. If you can do this, switch the EX7000 to Access Point (AP) mode. This will eliminate the 50% performance penalty.
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You can do the same with second EX7000; wire it to the first EX7000. It would be ideal if you can wire the first EX7000 to the EX8000 and the second EX7000 to the first EX7000.&nbsp;
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If you can't do this, you can do just one. That is, wire the second EX7000 to the first EX7000, while the first EX7000 is still wirelessly connected to the EX8000.&nbsp;Less preferred is to wire the first EX7000 to the EX8000 and leave the second EX7000 wirelessly connected to the first.

Nevillep · Answer

Appreciate your suggestions. unfortunatley i am trying to wifi cover several buildings on a small ranch from one terestial radio internet service.I dont have the luxury for wired connections.So far things appear to be settling down but i guess a new router more capable than the r7000 is the next step. Any suggestions for a router capable for 60+ wifi devices? R9000 the Nighthawk X10?Nev

TheEther · Answer

The following Netgear article states the 32 clients per band limit:
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If you look carefully, the R9000 is not listed, so it's not clear if the article hasn't been updated or if the R9000 has different limits. Given that the basic features are pretty common across all Nighthawks, I would say that the limits do apply, so the R9000 may not work out any better.
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You might want to consider investing in a SOHO/Business class non-Wi-Fi router.&nbsp;While Netgear has some&nbsp;UTM and VPN firewalls&nbsp;that could serve as a router, I don't really think they are a strong player.&nbsp; The&nbsp;Ubiquiti Edgerouter&nbsp;is very popular.&nbsp; I use an Edgerouter Lite.&nbsp;&nbsp;Mikrotik&nbsp;is another option.&nbsp;
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To get across buildings, either use buried Ethernet or a point-to-point wireless bridge.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Netgear&nbsp;doesn't have any point to point bridges.&nbsp; Here, I'm thinking of the&nbsp;Ubiquiti Nanobeam.
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Then use wired APs inside each building.&nbsp; You can reuse your Netgears as APs or get purpose-built units.&nbsp; Netgear has some&nbsp;business class wireless&nbsp;APs or you can look at other brands.
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Note: My recommendations are not quite as straightforward to use, but once set up, they should be very reliable.&nbsp; If you are willing to invest the effort, it can be very rewarding.
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Multiple Extender(E8000/E7000) config issue & DHCP table not showing all devices on r7000

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