Wifi extension in a large house: seeking advice and critiques
I recently faced the problem of weak WiFi signal on the upper floors of my 3-story house. The router is on the first floor, and moving it isn't an option due to the location of the cable entry point. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands and set up a DIY WiFi extension system. Here's what I did:
1. Placed a second router (in bridge mode) on the second floor, connected to the main router via a long Ethernet cable run along the baseboards.
2. Used an old router flashed with DD-WRT as a WiFi extender on the third floor, wirelessly connected to the second router.
3. Configured all devices to use the same SSID and password for seamless roaming.
It's working pretty well so far, but I feel like there's room for improvement. The connection on the third floor is still a bit spotty at times. Any advice on how to optimize this setup? Am I missing something obvious? I'm open to all suggestions and critiques!
First off, kudos for taking the initiative! Running Ethernet is always the best option when possible. A few things to consider:
1. Make sure the second router is positioned optimally - central and away from obstructions.
2. If the third floor extender is dual-band, try using the 5GHz band for the wireless backhaul to the second router. Less range but faster speeds and less interference.
3. Play with the extender's antenna positioning to find the sweet spot for reception.
Hope this helps!
@Zen Solid effort, but a few potential pitfalls with your setup:
1. Daisy-chaining extenders can lead to latency and speed degradation. Each "hop" adds a bit of lag.
2. DD-WRT is powerful but can be finicky. Make sure you've got the right build for your router model.
3. Using the same SSID across all access points can sometimes confuse client devices when roaming. Consider using different SSIDs for each floor to force manual network switching.
Just my two cents based on past experiences. Keep us posted on your progress!
If you're still having issues with the third floor extender, you might want to look into a directional antenna. They can help focus the signal where you need it most.
