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Forum Discussion
Cliffh999
Mar 20, 2024Aspirant
R6020 as wireless AP
My main router is a TPLink AX4400 connected to a Spectrum fiber optics modem. I'm trying to use a R6020 as an AP to extend the range of my wireless network (trying to cover as much of 5 acres as pos...
- Mar 20, 2024
Cliffh999 wrote:
I'm going to start shopping for some dedicated range extenders. There's only a couple of places I can put the extenders, so I'd need a couple that are omnidirectional and at least one directional. Would y'all have any suggestions on those?
Five acres probably means outdoors. Netgear's product range there is tiny.
You might need to look for something specialist. That's a bit beyond this place.
michaelkenward
Mar 20, 2024Guru - Experienced User
Cliffh999 wrote:
My main router is a TPLink AX4400 connected to a Spectrum fiber optics modem. I'm trying to use a R6020 as an AP to extend the range of my wireless network (trying to cover as much of 5 acres as possible).
You might do better to buy something designed for the purpose. Five acres is a stretch and the R6020, from 2017, is pretty well the cheapest and least capable Netgear router of recent years.
According to Netgear's manual for this device, not always the most reliable source of information, the LAN and WAN ports support only 10BASE-T or 100BASE-TX. That makes it slower than many newer internet services and most modern network hardware. It also slows down whatever is going on in your local network. Newer devices support at least 1000BASE-TX.
- Cliffh999Mar 20, 2024Aspirant
That's what I've been thinking since posting this question. As you said, it's old & slow - not that slow is a problem here, the internet connection would only be used for inactive cell phones to playback radio & maybe YouTube videos.
I'm going to start shopping for some dedicated range extenders. There's only a couple of places I can put the extenders, so I'd need a couple that are omnidirectional and at least one directional. Would y'all have any suggestions on those?
- michaelkenwardMar 20, 2024Guru - Experienced User
Cliffh999 wrote:
I'm going to start shopping for some dedicated range extenders. There's only a couple of places I can put the extenders, so I'd need a couple that are omnidirectional and at least one directional. Would y'all have any suggestions on those?
Five acres probably means outdoors. Netgear's product range there is tiny.
You might need to look for something specialist. That's a bit beyond this place.
- Cliffh999Mar 20, 2024Aspirant
Most of it is outside the house. The current router gives good coverage inside, and covers some areas outside.
Thanks for the help.