Zen July 13, 2024, 10:24 p.m.

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!

MaxD July 14, 2024, 11:18 a.m.

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!

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dddd July 15, 2024, 8:29 p.m.

Wait, so you're telling me I can use my old routers to extend my WiFi? I thought they were just paperweights at this point. Definitely gonna try this in my house!

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Woozy July 16, 2024, 7:06 p.m.

@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!

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1896 July 17, 2024, 9:44 p.m.

Any reason you went with DD-WRT over something like OpenWrt or Tomato? I've found OpenWrt to be a bit more user-friendly for DIY network projects.

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step 2 July 18, 2024, 10:18 a.m.

This thread is a goldmine of info. Taking notes for my own house. Can't wait to see how your setup evolves, @Zen!

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dub July 18, 2024, 7:32 p.m.

One thing to watch out for with long Ethernet runs is signal degradation. If you're pushing past 100 meters, you might need to look into a signal booster or switch to fiber optic cabling.

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bad_robot July 20, 2024, 1:19 p.m.

Have you considered using powerline adapters instead of that long Ethernet run? They're not perfect, but they can be a decent alternative if you're having trouble with the cable.

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storm July 21, 2024, 10:36 p.m.

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.

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biowolf July 23, 2024, 11:41 a.m.

Just a heads up for anyone else considering this: make sure your old routers are compatible with third-party firmware before you start flashing. Bricked a couple of mine learning that lesson the hard way. ))

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mc777 July 25, 2024, 3:22 p.m.

@Zen Impressive setup! Have you thought about adding a Pi-hole to the mix for network-wide ad blocking? Could be a fun next step for your DIY network.

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Alli July 26, 2024, 6:43 p.m.

Love seeing these kinds of grassroots networking projects. Keeps the DIY spirit alive in the face of all these turnkey mesh systems. Respect!

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