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Which is better for my network, an extender or another router? (toast.ooo)

submitted 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) by [email protected] to c/selfhosted

23 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Background: I am migrating from a Gen 1 Google WiFi mesh router and pulled the trigger and bought this router on prime day. TP-Link Tri-Band BE19000 WiFi 7 Router (Archer BE800) - https://a.co/d/en9OlMz

Huge upgrade, outside a few spots in my house where it's pretty spotty. I cannot easily move the router due to not having a basement, nor approval from the wife to break through a bunch of walls to wire it up how I want it.

So the question is... Do I get the BE11000 range extender that is currently $300

TP-Link Tri-Band BE9300 WiFi 7 Router Archer BE550 - https://a.co/d/bUat5G4 which is currently $250. The speed difference isn't a deal breaker for me on the other devices. My computers are hard-line and happy next to the router.

Or do I just say screw it and return it and go back to a mesh system.

I am currently unable to connect the second node to a wired connection, but I have a plan on getting that done this coming year once I get wife buy-in...

Any help is appreciated, thanks in advance!

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[–] [email protected] 36 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (2 children)

Neither router you linked to is supported by OpenWRT or DD-WRT.

Plenty of supported TP-Link routers exist, and probably for cheaper.

What you need is a cheap access point.

"Extenders" actually slow down your network since WiFi isn't full duplex but half duplex. That's why you can't have really have more than one.

Run an ethernet cable to an access point and you will be glad you did.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (2 children)

His router is tri-band though meaning it has 2 5ghz transceivers. With an extender usually you use one of them as a backplane for ap->ap communication so it doesn't interfere with your performance.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

His router is tri-band though meaning it has 2 5ghz transceivers.

Unfortunately, for many models - like the Linksys WRT 3200ACM - that second antenna (technically the third one if you include the 2.4Ghz one) doesn’t function at all without the manufacturer’s firmware. It’s a dead stick with any third-party firmware, and is 100% software-enabled.

I have found this fact to be reliable whether it is DD-WRT or OpenWRT, and across several different manufacturers including Asus and D-Link.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago

This thread is just full of super useful info. Cheers and thanks!

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

I'm living in WiFi 5 world so this is new info to me. Neat. Thanks for the heads up.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago

Wifi 5 vs 6, 6E and 7 are worlds different. A LOT has changed in that time.

It was either 6 or 7 that was designed with mesh/extenders in mind, and it actually works really well if you have good hardware.

Also even in the wifi 5 days they made mesh/extenders explicitly with duplex issues in mind. Just about every high end wifi 5 system had at least dual band wifi, with most having 3.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Ok, thanks for the help - I will look into what I can do with an access point and I should be able to get something going and it looks like significantly cheaper.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

No problem, also look at [email protected]' comment in reply to mine. They have some info I wasn't aware of regarding tri-band WiFi routers. I'm living in WiFi 5 land, so I wasn't aware of this cool trick:

His router is tri-band though meaning it has 2 5ghz transceivers. With an extender usually you use one of them as a backplane for ap->ap communication so it doesn’t interfere with your performance.

So an access point is still a good solution, but it sounds like you can use it as an "extender" without an ethernet cable as long as you can use one of your spare 5ghz bands to communicate with it. Which is super cool and I was totally unaware of.