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

Forum Discussion

rpiccand's avatar
rpiccand
Aspirant
Nov 06, 2023

Connect EAX15 to another EAX15

Hi - I have installed an EAX15 extender, which works great.

 

I would need to further extend the wifi coverage and was wondering if I could use another EAX15 if the signal already comes from another repeater (not the router).

 

When I look at the documentation, it says that the EAX15 connects to the router - hence wondering if I could further extend or not, if I don't get any signal from the router.

 

Thanks

Regis

5 Replies

  • plemans's avatar
    plemans
    Guru - Experienced User
    Nov 06, 2023

    Can you? Yes. 

    Should you? Thats another question. 

    Problem with single/dual band extenders is that they use the same wireless chip to go router---extender and then extender---device. And they can't broadcast at the same time. So their throughput (speed) is cut in half from what they receive. Add another extender in there and that 2nd extender can be at 10-25% speed of the router. Plus it has higher latency. The other issue you can run into is the extenders can connect to each other when they're setup in their mesh configuration as there isn't anything controlling the system. 

    So speed/stability issues can arise when daisy chaining extenders. 

    Best recommendation is if you have to do it, to set it up in star configuration. 

    Star: 

    Extender<----------router----------->extender

     

    That way they aren't daisy chained (helps speed drops) and they're less likely to connect to each other. 

    Usually if someone is needing more than 1 extender, I recommend the switch to a tri-band mesh system for the dedicated backhaul that preserves throughput and has a router managing the system for stability. 

    • rpiccand's avatar
      rpiccand
      Aspirant
      Nov 06, 2023

      Thank you for the detailed explanation - makes a lot of sense now ...

       

      What I am trying to achieve is bring Wifi connectivity in the basement, where there is very little to no signal today. 

       

      I was thinking of daisy-chaining in order to get some signal for the repeater to catch. 

       

      Going with a star-like setup won't get signal in the basement, unfortunately. 

       

      Thanks,

      Regis

      • michaelkenward's avatar
        michaelkenward
        Guru - Experienced User
        Nov 06, 2023
        rpiccand wrote:

         

        What I am trying to achieve is bring Wifi connectivity in the basement, where there is very little to no signal today. 

         

        Basements are a beast when it comes to wifi.

         

        Is it wifi you need down there or a wired Ethernet connection?

         

        In either case, tou could try Powerline Ethernet.

         

        This hitches a ride on the building's mains circuit. As long as the wiring isn't too "noisy", and doesn't come with fancy isolators and trip switches, you can sometimes achieve fast Internet speeds than wifi.

         

        Then you can use the ethernet connection in the basement to feed an access point top deliver wifi there.

         

        Just about any router or wifi extender has AP mode.

         

        At the moment I have a MS90 satellite on the receiving end of an Ethernet connection back to an MR90 router. The MS90 has a couple of Ethernet ports that I can also use as well as the wifi.