Two R7000 Trying for BIG FAST home network

[R7KUser]

I tried to squeeze the idea into the subject.

"Regular" home and internet needs:

Home Theatre (Xbox, PS, BluRay, TV, etc)

Tablets

Laptops

Smart Phones

I have a cable modem and pay for 100/Mbps DL, 10Mbps UL

The two units (R7000’s) can be connected directly but only through a wireline adapter

(TP-LINK TL-PA6010KIT AV600).

What has happened in the past is a connection that is either b/w 95 -110Mbps or 40-50 Mbps depending on where you are in the house. Then sometimes it'll creep down to 20Mbps

I have the 2.4 set up on Auto (But after doing some reading here, have been playing around with each channel, 5 seemed pretty good - but Auto as a basic rule)

I have the 5 ghz set up at 153, (same thing, playing with channels)

I was told 2.4 low channels and 5 ghz high channels are usually good.

20/40 was shut off also per reading notes here

Qos was off and remains off

Windows User

Latest Public Release Firmware

Home Network

I hope I covered all the important details.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Best regards.

[netwrks · Accepted solution]

When you use the AP mode of the router, it will disable features that are used in router mode, so you won't need to go through disabling features.

- you can decide whether you give the AP a static address or let the DHCP Server do it for you.

- Wireless channel settings need to be different on both R7000's

- SSID's can be the same, if your intent is to roam devices (some devices roam better than others).

-  router passwords can be the same

- wifi passphrases should be the same (ensure they are STRONG passphrases - no dictionary words - easily hacked).

- Yes, leave WMM on.

[netwrks]

If you have a modem only device from your ISP, one R7000 should be in router mode, and the other should be in AP mode (best solution - ethernet connection back to your base R7000 router). Powerline is hit or miss. You may have to move the powerline adapters around to test best connectivity. If you are in North America, channel 5 is a bad selection, as it is an overlapping channel and will cause additional grief for you, and, your neighbours. Don't leave 2.4ghz in auto  (pick a non-overlapping channel (1,6,or 11)). make sure WMM is enabled on your router.

[R7KUser]

Thank you for the update.

I neglected to mention WMM was enabled per another read reccomendation.

I did not know about channel 5 (I am in North America), I will make that change.

I will also experiment with the powerline, there may be an option to move the cable company internet drop line to a better location.

If that happens, I wouldn't need the powerline adapter.

Lots of things to play with, I'll be working on the changes tonight.

Thanks again for the info.

Also, FWIW - if there are any other settings that I missed (like the WMM) please feel free to let me know 🙂

Thank you.

[R7KUser]

So I'm having connectivity issues to the AP unit.

I'll be rerunning the cable drop to get it linked in. 

That I can solve on my own.

However...

Question about the AP unit settings:

*Do they have to match all the settings on the main unit?

(removing 20/40, QoS off, WMM on, etc)

Or when I make the switch over to AP, all of those are a non issue, like DHCP?

(I read I don't need to disable DHCP prior to making the unit an AP b/c that would happen automatically)

So,

I changed the name & pw of the AP to match the main unit.

*Do I have to have them on matching channels, or not matching channels?

Not sure if it has to...to match, or isn't supposed to...to avoid conflicts

Thanks, as always.

[netwrks · Accepted solution]

When you use the AP mode of the router, it will disable features that are used in router mode, so you won't need to go through disabling features.

- you can decide whether you give the AP a static address or let the DHCP Server do it for you.

- Wireless channel settings need to be different on both R7000's

- SSID's can be the same, if your intent is to roam devices (some devices roam better than others).

-  router passwords can be the same

- wifi passphrases should be the same (ensure they are STRONG passphrases - no dictionary words - easily hacked).

- Yes, leave WMM on.

[R7KUser]

Thank you for the answers!

Of course, it leads to more now 🙂

In regards to the a static IP, for the AP:

1. Benefits vs. Router DHCP

2. How to do it?

Yes, Roaming is the goal...fast, consistent, expansive...Roaming!

Thanks again for your help.

[JamesGL]

Hi R7KUser,

1. The advantage fro static IP for the AP is for you to easily access the routers page after setting it to AP mode. You can no longer access the UI after setting it to AP you may need to enter the IP address in order for you to access it.

2. To configure it please check this KB article: 

http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/24104/related/1