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range extender with ethernet cable vs as an access point
I've been using a EX7300 as a range extender to a single access point, but have had some dropouts. I was planning to set up a second access point.
As I read it, it looks like the EX7300 can be used also as an access point OR as a hard wired range extender. In this application, what would be the difference? WOuld it perform better as a range extender or as an access point? - in either case, it would be connected to the router via ethernet.
As an access point the EX7300 needs to be hardwired in. So there isn't a "hardwired extender mode".
Its simply access point mode.
If you have it hardwired in and running as an access point, it'll actually function faster than it would in extender mode. In extender mode, the wireless chip has to send/recieve from router---->extender and then extender---->devices. And they can't do both at once. So they take a 50% speed hit. They don't take that same speed hit when its hardwired in.
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a follow-on: If the answer is range extender, would I need to change any setup, other than plug directly in the ethernet?
As an access point the EX7300 needs to be hardwired in. So there isn't a "hardwired extender mode".
Its simply access point mode.
If you have it hardwired in and running as an access point, it'll actually function faster than it would in extender mode. In extender mode, the wireless chip has to send/recieve from router---->extender and then extender---->devices. And they can't do both at once. So they take a 50% speed hit. They don't take that same speed hit when its hardwired in.
Thanks. I had had a good understanding of access points ans range extenders, then I read some Netgear documentation which seemed to mean you could connect a range extender using ethernet, and I didn't understand. It turns out that documentation was only talking about the CONFIGURATION process! All is good. Using it now as an access point.
Related question: When used as a range extender, Google Speedtest indicated ~ 190MBPS download. When I changed it to an access point, that dropped in half, in virtually the same location. Does MU-MIMO slowly train itself to improve? (either way, I've plenty of BW for anything I need.)
are you using the smart connect?
2.4ghz is much much slower than 5ghz. so it matters which band you're connecting to for speedtesting.
And in access point mode, its actually should have faster speeds than extender mode.