NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.

Forum Discussion

jasonatam's avatar
jasonatam
Aspirant
Jul 02, 2020

RAX120 with 3 x EAX80 mesh extenders - HELP

To give a bit of context: Previous Setup =  RAX 120 router (no smart connect, AX disabled) + EAX 80 mesh extender (Fast Laneway: 2.4ghz in and 5ghz out) Current Setup = RAX 120 router + three EAX 8...
jasonatam's avatar
jasonatam
Aspirant
Jul 02, 2020

At the moment of writing this reply, my setup (temp) as I look more into it on the weekend is this (which is so far working..)

 

Router - Enable AX (on), OFDMA (both 2.4 and 5 are off), smart connect (Off). So I now have 2 SSIDs (1 for 2.4 and 1 for 5)

 

In terms of answering your question of "setup". This is what I plan to set up

 

EAX80 (1st) <------------- RAX120 ------------------> EAX80 (2nd)

                                                                            I

                                                                            l

                                                                           V

                                                                       EAX80 (3rd)

 

Currently the 3rd extender is turned off given, I'll need to spend time to investigate over the weekend and test. But right now, router is using the above settings and both my 1st and 2nd EAX 80s have fastlane (OFF) (i.e. using "Basic" and beaming both frequencies) and with single SSID (ON). I've also managed to move my 1st EAX to another spot.

 

At the moment, everything is working fine and family haven't experienced any dropouts (crossing fingers).

 

But what would happen when I turn the 3rd EAX on? I wont be able to use the "star" formation because the 3rd one is too far away from the RAX120. I'm not sure about daisy chain either? Have you got any thoughts or ideas?

 

I was initially thinking of turning the the 3rd one ON and also making this "Basic" connection with fastlane (OFF). Another thing to note is the space between the 2nd and 3rd is the backyard as the 3rd one is placed in our granny flat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

plemans's avatar
plemans
Guru - Experienced User
Jul 02, 2020

Another thing you can try? give the 3rd one its own unique ssid from the others. When you're not running a true mesh system (with a controller) devices can end up connecting to the wrong extender/router. Or even give the 2nd one in the step the unique ssid. You can trial both and see how it works. I usually recommend to people needing more than 1 extender to move to an actual mesh system like Orbi since it has a main controlling device. But you're kind of already bought into it.