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Need hard connection upstairs ... EX2700 or WN3000?
I need to provide a hard connection to the WAN and my LAN for computers and NASs (upstairs) to the primary wifi router (downstairs). I had this working at one time with a Asus router configured as a "client". The Asus bit the dust and as a low cost alternative I replaced it with a TP-link extender configured as a "hotspot"...it connects to the primary wifi and provides a hard connection to the WAN...HOWEVER, it does not provide a connection to my LAN because it establishes a different subnet (192.168.0.x) and according to TPlink this is necessarily so. The primary router issues IPS on the 192.168.2.x) subnet. Therefore there is some difference between the function of the Asus versus the TPlink that I do not understand, and that fails my requirements.
It's been suggested that I look at powerline extenders but I don't think they'll work because the circuits are different. I'm looking at the Netgear N300 wifi extenders, specifically the EX2700 and the WN3000RP, but I don't understand the difference between the two--IE, can either work like the Asus or will both work like the TPlink? Please advise ...
TIA :)
Just thought I'd close this topic out with having solved this. Amazon.ca offered the EX2700 on sale for less than $25 (CAD!), so I figured I had little to lose by buying/trying it in place of the TPlink. All that was needed was the quick setup, and the configuration allowed for upstairs hardware obtaining the 192.168.2.x subnet that I needed. All is working great and the signal strength through the floor was 95%. I'm good!!
Holidays' Cheers!!
6 Replies
What's the model of your TP-Link extender? It's odd for it to establish its own subnet. Can you disable its DHCP server?
The EX2700 and the WN3000RP look very similar. I found one comment on Amazon that suggested that the WN3000RP has better electronics and better setup dialogs for correct placement of the device. Either should work like your Asus in that they will appear like a client to the primary Wi-Fi router.
TheEther wrote:What's the model of your TP-Link extender? It's odd for it to establish its own subnet. Can you disable its DHCP server?
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The TPlinK is the TL-WR802N, and I thought is lack functonality was strange too, but I wasn't going to argue with TPlink support, with whom I'd been on the phone with for an hour.
Thanks for for the info regarding the WN3000RP. If it were confirmed to work by anyone here I'd buy it despite its price being twice the EX2700. I wish I understood what it was about the TPlink router that reduced its functionality in this regard-- I'd know what feature to shop for, leastwise knowledgeably ask about(?)
thanks again! :)
Ah, so you have one of their travel routers. I happen to have a TL-WR702N, which is a similar, albeit slightly slower, model. It's a nifty, little (literally) device.
The TP-Link travel routers are special by supporting 5(!) different modes of operation: wireless router, hotspot router, access point, range extender and client. I think it's a real challenge to explain the differences between all these mode to a lay person. Unfortunately, their instructions don't do a great job at this.
You probably have your TP-Link set to one of the two router modes, in which case it is going to establish its own subnet for LAN devices. You should, instead, be using either the range extender or client mode. Use range extender if you want to handle both wired and wireless devices. Use client if you have only wired devices. Either mode will use Wi-Fi to connect back to the primary router. Plus, there won't be a separate subnet. If you have multiple wired devices, you may be able to use an Ethernet switch.
Beware, once in range extender or client mode, it may be more difficult to log into the TP-Link. I don't recall if it uses DHCP to acquire an IP address in either of these modes. If it does, then you may want to set up your router to assign a reserved IP address. Or set up the TP-Link with a static IP address outside of the range of IP addresses managed by your primary router. Either way, write that IP address down! Of course, if you ever have trouble, you can always perform a factory reset and restore it's default 192.168.0.1 address.
The one downside of the TP-Link is that it doesn't have great range, so while the tips I have given you may help you avoid buying a new extender, an extender with external antennas may provide better performance.
- I dunno about the range. All of the reviews I've read say that it's not good, like 30 feet. It's meant to be used in a single room environment, not necessarily across floors.
I suggest that you try to get client mode working in the same room as the primary router. Then move it to the other floor. Just thought I'd close this topic out with having solved this. Amazon.ca offered the EX2700 on sale for less than $25 (CAD!), so I figured I had little to lose by buying/trying it in place of the TPlink. All that was needed was the quick setup, and the configuration allowed for upstairs hardware obtaining the 192.168.2.x subnet that I needed. All is working great and the signal strength through the floor was 95%. I'm good!!
Holidays' Cheers!!
