Using MK62 System With Another Router

[ThomasMagnum]

I ordered a set of MK62 mesh wifi router pair (1 satellite) on sale in hopes of getting reliable wifi coverage to a back bedroom but I have several wired connections to my existing RAX35 (which I'd like to remain wired for the stability/speed). If I replace my network with this new mesh system, what's the most logical way to use my existing router? I don't want things to get overly complicated and I have some homekit lights and speakers that need to be on the same network as the appletv (and possibly my phone).

Additional thought/question: Was this purchase a mistake? My house only 1600sqft so would a cheap range extender have been a better option? I might be making my life more difficult. 

[FURRYe38 · Accepted solution]

You could set the MK to AP mode and connect to the RAX router. This would avoid a double NAT condition. You could disable the wifi radios on the RAX and use the MK in AP mode for the main wifi signal. Or, you could use both the RAX and MK wifi however would need to be on far apart channels on 2.4 and 5Ghz and would use different SSID names between them. 

https://kb.netgear.com/20927/How-do-I-change-my-NETGEAR-router-to-AP-mode
https://kb.netgear.com/000061927/What-is-the-difference-between-router-mode-and-AP-mode
https://kb.netgear.com/26765/Disabled-Features-on-the-Router-when-set-to-AP-Mode

[FURRYe38 · Accepted solution]

You could set the MK to AP mode and connect to the RAX router. This would avoid a double NAT condition. You could disable the wifi radios on the RAX and use the MK in AP mode for the main wifi signal. Or, you could use both the RAX and MK wifi however would need to be on far apart channels on 2.4 and 5Ghz and would use different SSID names between them. 

https://kb.netgear.com/20927/How-do-I-change-my-NETGEAR-router-to-AP-mode
https://kb.netgear.com/000061927/What-is-the-difference-between-router-mode-and-AP-mode
https://kb.netgear.com/26765/Disabled-Features-on-the-Router-when-set-to-AP-Mode

[ThomasMagnum]

Thanks for the quick reply and for the links! I'll read it more thoroughly but I'm not sure what it fully means to "extend the existing wifi..." If the MK is set up as an access point, does that mean it (and its satellite) sort of become a second wifi network (different ssid) but deferring other wifi settings to the RAX? 

[FURRYe38]

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@ThomasMagnum wrote:

Thanks for the quick reply and for the links! I'll read it more thoroughly but I'm not sure what it fully means to "extend the existing wifi..." If the MK is set up as an access point, does that mean it (and its satellite) sort of become a second wifi network (different ssid) but deferring other wifi settings to the RAX? < Yes, most ll router functions on the MK are disabled so only the wifi MESH system is left operating. So the RAX still would handle the main router functions, and the MK would be the main wifi system on the same network. 

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