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Forum Discussion
Wireless range extenders
I just installed a Nighthawk CAX80 router/modem and I would like to add something like the EAX80 wireless range extender to the network....However, I would like to connect the EAX80 directly to the CAX80 using Ethernet cables already embedded in my walls, then setup the EAX80 so that it transmits the same SSID & requires the same PW as the CAX80 wireless router. Thus creating a roaming network under the same umbrella access codes. I did this previously using the old Apple Airport wireless routers and it worked great for years...but they got fried by lightening this past weekend. The position where I want place the EAX80 is on the edge of the range of the current CAX80...which is why the wireless mesh default configuration is not ideal, and why I'd prefer an ethernet backbone connection to the main router. Is this possible with these two Nighthawk devices?
9 Replies
Mark_Br wrote:
I just installed a Nighthawk CAX80 router/modem and I would like to add something like the EAX80 wireless range extender to the network....
Neither of those devices is one of the Nighthawk WiFi Routers covered in this section. Your best bet would probably be the one for the EAX80 wireless range extender.
However, I would like to connect the EAX80 directly to the CAX80 using Ethernet cables already embedded in my walls, then setup the EAX80 so that it transmits the same SSID & requires the same PW as the CAX80 wireless router.What you describe is a effectively a "Mesh" network. The EAX80 is one of Netgear's extenders.
Might be worth checking the section where they chew over the CAX80 to see if it is compatible.
Cable Modems & Routers
Nighthawk Mesh System - NETGEAR Communities
WiFi Range Extenders & Nighthawk Mesh - NETGEAR CommunitiesThe Nighthawk WiFi Routers covered in this section don't include those technologies.
Thanks Michael and all the other community responders. Great suggestions, but I am limited to only a few models (2 NetGear models & 2 Arris models) of cable modems that my local ISP supports and Orbi isn't on that list. We live in a very rural part of Virginia....with not other ISP providers to choose from.
FYI - Before Mesh networks were a "thing" there was a thing called roaming networks (yeah...I'm an old guy). The end user experience is effectively the same but the difference is that the roaming nets were constructed using access point wifi extenders. There are two advantages to that approach: (a) you save a lot of bandwidth by not having to use a wifi link between the base wifi router and the extender routers, and (b) you can space the wifi transmitters a lot farther apart thereby increasing the geographic footprint (I got a big house with brick walls all around placed on 2+ acres). The disadvantage is that you have to have an ethernet backhaul to connect the AP to the base router. The break through with mesh nets is that you no longer need that wired link , which gives you a lot of flexibility but costs you in bandwidth on both wifi routers (base & extender).
In case, you're interested, I also contacted NetGear support via chat and they advised that I could install the extender as an AP using the same SSID & Password and it would function as I want - effectively doubling the reliable video streaming range of my base CAX80 since the extender is placed near the edge of the base's coverage. The installation instructions can be found at this link: https://kb.netgear.com/000060286/How-do-I-install-my-NETGEAR-WiFi-range-extender-as-an-access-point?article=000060286
I just brought it online and tested it with an ipad streaming a movie as I walked around my brick & masonry house & property. I performed flawlessly as it dynamically switched between the routers. I watched as the signal dropped while I walked and then at the second strip/arc/bar signal level it automatically switched routers and the signal popped up to full bars with no interruption on the video streaming or audio.
Thanks again to you and everyone!
The EAX80 doesn't support the mesh function and smart roaming when ran in AP mode (what mode it needs to be when hardwired in).
You can set it with the same ssid/password as the CAX but it won't roam as efficiently as if it was in mesh mode.
If it was me? I'd return the CAX and purchase a mesh system like the MK nighthawk or Orbi system. Both of those support both a wired and wireless backhaul setup.
plemans wrote:
The EAX80 doesn't support the mesh function and smart roaming when ran in AP mode (what mode it needs to be when hardwired in).
Is that just an AP mode thing? Netgear says that the EAX80 is a "Nighthawk AX8 8-Stream WiFi6 Mesh Extender".
Is the issue the modem/router? Doesn't that have to support a Mesh AP?
Maybe I threw in a red herring by mentioning Mesh.
michaelkenward its just when in AP mode. One of the mods (not sure which one) had been messaging with me about how the smart roaming features are disabled when in AP mode. Not sure why exactly. Maybe it was eating into the orbi/mk nighthawk section.
Thanks Pleamans and all the other community responders. Great suggestions, but I am limited to only a few models of cable modems that my local ISP supports and Orbi isn't on that list. But -- I got it to work as an AP and performs perfectly as a roaming net (more below).
I also contacted NetGear support via chat and they advised that I could install the extender as an AP using the same SSID & Password and it would function as I want - effectively doubling the reliable video streaming range of my base CAX80 since the extender is placed near the edge of the base's coverage. The installation instructions can be found at this link: https://kb.netgear.com/000060286/How-do-I-install-my-NETGEAR-WiFi-range-extender-as-an-access-point?article=000060286
I just brought it online and tested it with an ipad streaming a movie as I walked around my brick & masonry house & property. I performed flawlessly as it dynamically switched between the routers. I watched as the signal dropped while I walked and then at the second strip/arc/bar signal level it automatically switched routers and the signal popped up to full bars with no interruption on the video streaming or audio.
Thanks again to you and everyone!
The EAX80 would work well with the CAX80 if you were to install it as a wireless extender connecting it wirelessly to the CAX80.
Mark_Br wrote:
I just installed a Nighthawk CAX80 router/modem and I would like to add something like the EAX80 wireless range extender to the network....However, I would like to connect the EAX80 directly to the CAX80 using Ethernet cables already embedded in my walls, then setup the EAX80 so that it transmits the same SSID & requires the same PW as the CAX80 wireless router. Thus creating a roaming network under the same umbrella access codes. I did this previously using the old Apple Airport wireless routers and it worked great for years...but they got fried by lightening this past weekend. The position where I want place the EAX80 is on the edge of the range of the current CAX80...which is why the wireless mesh default configuration is not ideal, and why I'd prefer an ethernet backbone connection to the main router. Is this possible with these two Nighthawk devices?
Thanks Furrye28 and all the other community responders. Great suggestions, but I am limited to only a few models of cable modems that my local ISP supports and Orbi isn't on that list. I also contacted NetGear support via chat and they advised that I could install the extender as an AP using the same SSID & Password and it would function as I want - effectively doubling the reliable video streaming range of my base CAX80 since the extender is placed near the edge of the base's coverage. The installation instructions can be found at this link: https://kb.netgear.com/000060286/How-do-I-install-my-NETGEAR-WiFi-range-extender-as-an-access-point?article=000060286
I just brought it online and tested it with an ipad streaming a movie as I walked around my brick & masonry house & property. I performed flawlessly as it dynamically switched between the routers. I watched as the signal dropped while I walked and then at the second strip/arc/bar signal level it automatically switched routers and the signal popped up to full bars with no interruption on the video streaming or audio.
Thanks again to you and everyone!
Thanks to all the other community responders. Great suggestions, but I am limited to only a few models of cable modems that my local ISP supports and Orbi isn't on that list. I also contacted NetGear support via chat and they advised that I could install the extender as an AP using the same SSID & Password and it would function as I want - effectively doubling the reliable video streaming range of my base CAX80 since the extender is placed near the edge of the base's coverage. The installation instructions can be found at this link: https://kb.netgear.com/000060286/How-do-I-install-my-NETGEAR-WiFi-range-extender-as-an-access-point?article=000060286
I just brought it online and tested it with an ipad streaming a movie as I walked around my brick & masonry house & property. I performed flawlessly as it dynamically switched between the routers. I watched as the signal dropped while I walked and then at the second strip/arc/bar signal level it automatically switched routers and the signal popped up to full bars with no interruption on the video streaming or audio.
Thanks again to everyone!
