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Forum Discussion
Range Extender EX2800
When installing range extender on WPA2 network, installation requries a new SSID for the range extender. However, the device that I want to connect to it is a light bulb camera and the SSID can only be changed when plugged into an RJ45 ethernet port on the router (which the Netgear extender doesn't have). So, is there a way to set this extender up as a mesh extender on the same SSID to boost the signal but not require a different network name? Device Not supported by Nighthawk app.
4 Replies
I went back through the installation Genie and saw that it says I can set the network name on the extender (2.4Ghz) to be the same as the primary network, but I won't know when I'm actually connected to the extender network. I tried it, but have no idea if it is extending the network or not.
You can set the extender with a custom name.
If you're only trying to attach the light to it, why not set your router with a temporary ssid (that'll be the extender ssid to use) and setup the light to connect to that ssid. The simply change the routers ssid to the one you want.
I'd do it this way instead of setting the router and extender with the same ssid. Reason why is that extender isn't a mesh extender and is going to have significantly slower performance than your router just because of the way extenders have to work.
That is a good thought. However, I don't think the extender is going to serve my purpose because I don't think 2.4Ghz is going to penetrate aluminum storm shutters on windows and doors or concrete block. The signal is good without storm shutters, but blocked when they are closed. I think I am going to try a mesh extender up under the soffit in the attic - or if that doesn't work - drop it through the soffit so that it has line of sight to the light. I might need 2 mesh extenders to accomplish what I want to accomplish - which is to get signal on the outside of my house. Also, the primary router is an AT&T router and I'm going to switch to XFINITY soon, so don't want to go through that setup right now. Thank you for the good suggestion.
