Adding a new Wi-Fi router to an existing setup
in IT Support ·
wearymason4 said:- In residential settings, 2.4GHz offers better range than 5GHz (higher frequencies struggle more with obstacles like walls or doors).
- For 2.4GHz, you need a 40MHz channel width to hit 300Mbps; otherwise, you're stuck at 150Mbps. Basically, wider channels mean higher speeds but sacrifice range. It's the same deal with 5GHz channel widths.
- Obviously, for those speeds to matter, the user devices have to support them too.
- Real-world speeds are usually about half of what those theoretical numbers claim.
- You can set up an additional Cisco unit without killing the existing Wi-Fi on the Ubiquiti router, but try connecting it via Ethernet to a spot where the Ubiquiti signal is weak. Just make sure both use the same SSID and password, and instead of leaving channels on "Auto," manually set them so they are at least four channels apart from the Ubiquiti setup.
- I wouldn't recommend using a Netgear Extender (repeater mode) because, unlike a Cisco unit, it cuts your speed in half compared to what your ISP provides. If you go with a Cisco unit, just ensure it has a Gigabit LAN port to match the Ubiquiti one.
I might be double-posting here, but I haven't checked this forum in quite a while, so please excuse me if this belongs in a newer thread.
It seems I’m dealing with a similar headache to sch35, though he clearly knows his way around technical jargon far better than I do. My setup involves a fixed coaxial connection through an Ubiquiti evw32c router https://www.ubiquiti.com/?product=evw32c. The router isn't exactly in a prime location; it's sitting on a mid-floor in a peripheral part of a multi-family building, covering the ground floor and the upper level.
I'm based in California, and this router is supposed to provide Wi-Fi to five separate rental units/apartments. Downstairs, I'm on a wired Ethernet connection connected to my PC via a Linksys Router https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-network/router/tl-wr743nd/, which I’ve set up with its own unique username and password.
I've been trying to fix the weak signal upstairs using signal boosters, but honestly, it feels like a band-aid solution rather than a real fix. I also have the option to add another router upstairs via Ethernet, provided it has specs compatible with the Ubiquiti evw32c, unlike my current Linksys Router 150 Mbps.
Here is my question:
Can I configure all three devices to share the same SSID and password, while keeping guests or tourists isolated on the signal boosters using a different login?
In every room, I also have the option to add a Wi-Fi Access Point/Client Router with appropriate specs. I realize I'm mixing technical requirements with security concerns here, but this is the best explanation I can manage from my layman's perspective. Thanks in advance for any advice.