Nighthawk AC1900 - Repeater mode work?

[Mr Bob]

I purchased a Nighthawk AC1900 and it doesn't reach certain areas of my house.

Rather than being in the center of the home (where it only reached about 60% of the house, I was thinking about moving it away from the center, and use two in order to cover a wider area.

I don't want an "extender" or one of those fake repeaters that just make a new network. I don't want to have to change networks every time I move locations.

I noticed the Nighthawk AC1900 has a "repeater mode" and I just wanted to know how well this would work, or if there's another/better device that I could use instead?

 

[pauldun170]

I purchased a Nighthawk AC1900 and it doesn't reach certain areas of my house.

Rather than being in the center of the home (where it only reached about 60% of the house, I was thinking about moving it away from the center, and use two in order to cover a wider area.

I don't want an "extender" or one of those fake repeaters that just make a new network. I don't want to have to change networks every time I move locations.

I noticed the Nighthawk AC1900 has a "repeater mode" and I just wanted to know how well this would work, or if there's another/better device that I could use instead?

What is your current network setup, sq footage of house and layout? What band are you testing against?
AC1900 should have excellent range and coverage.
See link for info
http://www.purplewifi.net/repeat-after-me-repeaters-vs-access-points/

 

[Mr Bob]

I want to purchase additional equipment.

The house is around 8,000 sqft, mostly divided in the center.

Based on the range of the nighthawk, I know where I would want to place a 2nd one. So location is not a problem.. it's more so the hardware I need.

I don't want to try to tweak any other settings, at this point, I just want to toss in more hardware and increase where the signal is reached

 

[Mr Bob]

Is this really a complex request? I'm surprised there aren't more people chiming in here.

With all these fake repeaters these days (most seem to just make a 2nd network), I would think more and more people would be wanting a continuous network.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I've used repeaters, but they still kinda suck.

Part of the "continuous" network problem (roaming) is that not all devices handle roaming effectively. iPads and iPhones in particular are notorious for desperately clinging to whatever WAP they originally established a connection to, even if stronger signals for the same SSID are close by. But it's hardly specific to them. You can't really get an effective roaming network going unless you have "Smart" (managed) WAPs that hand clients off to each other, which is transparent to the client.

I think Ubiquiti offers this feature. (?)

Personally, I had a couple of different repeaters/range extenders set up on my own network, but I ended up just creating a "LocalNetwork-Upstairs" and a "LocalNetwork-Downstairs" network and manually switch between them as I go about my business.

(Thanks to the wall placement, the routers used, and how the house is constructed, I can actually get mediocre coverage throughout the house with the "Downstairs" network, while the "Upstairs" one gives me excellent coverage, but only over ~1/2 the house. It's weird. But I usually just stick with the "Downstairs" network unless I'm going to do something file-transfer-heavy.)

 

[Mr Bob]

Part of the "continuous" network problem (roaming) is that not all devices handle roaming effectively. iPads and iPhones in particular are notorious for desperately clinging to whatever WAP they originally established a connection to, even if stronger signals for the same SSID are close by. But it's hardly specific to them. You can't really get an effective roaming network going unless you have "Smart" (managed) WAPs that hand clients off to each other, which is transparent to the client.

- That's why those "just clone your SSID" devices simply don't work. The ones that actually boost/repeat the same signal, make a real difference.

I figured there would be something readily available for the home market, especially with these newer/higher end routers.

 

[JackMDS]

Real Roaming has nothing to do with the issue above.

Real roaming means investing in Pro system with Radius server (or similar appliances).

About Repeaters

Repeater does Suck. It has to be placed somewhere in the Middle of the range to further Repeat the signal thus it starts with lower signal to begin with, then it cuts the lower input signal post the Repeating into half.

If cables is totally out of the question.

You can try things like Repeater and Poweline while taking into consideration that you cam return the hadrware if it does Not work.

Many people end up (after wasting time and money) finding Cable solutions when they realize that "Verbal solutions" are Not Technological reality.

When cable solution is On, using a Network of Ubiquity APs can provide sort of acceptable roaming.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...quiti+wireless

 

[Mr Bob]

I'm ok running cables to get a better overall experience for the wireless users.

With these Ubiquiti APs, since it's roaming, I am able to walk around the home while staying on a continuous network, right? I assume I just need to set the WiFi signal to run on the same channel.

One of the reviews I was reading mentioned something that didn't quite sound right: "This will NOT work to extend (repeat) from another brand of wireless router or access point. It will only repeat another Ubiquity access point signal."

It looks like they have an outdoor model too: http://www.amazon.com/Ubiquiti-UniFI...words=ubiquity

 

[dave_the_nerd]

https://community.ubnt.com/t5/UniFi...stions/UniFi-What-is-Zero-Handoff/ta-p/412719

Ubiquiti Zero-Handoff roaming should be enabled. The WAPs will discuss amongst themselves and handle the rest.

https://community.ubnt.com/t5/UniFi-Wireless/3-1-1-Zero-Handoff-setting/td-p/461537

Setup directions.

You'll need to replace your Nighthawk though. It only works with other UniFi devices.

::waves goodbye to Nighthawk router::

 

[Mr Bob]

You'll need to replace your Nighthawk though. It only works with other UniFi devices.

- From quite a few comments over at Amazon, it sounded like it these devices work regardless of the router you're using. Or maybe they were referring to being able to Extend the signal, but not actually enable roaming?

 

[JackMDS]

Some Wireless modes (WDS for one) are not standard and might not work with a source that has incompatible chip set.

https://community.ubnt.com/t5/Insta...e-Mode-on-both-end-AP-and-Station/td-p/618853

 

[dave_the_nerd]

- From quite a few comments over at Amazon, it sounded like it these devices work regardless of the router you're using. Or maybe they were referring to being able to Extend the signal, but not actually enable roaming?

Ubiquiti's zero-handoff feature requires an all-Ubiquiti WiFi environment. Sure, you can use a different router to be a router, but not as a WAP.

Cisco has a similar feature that requires Cisco hardware.

Yeah, if you don't have all Ubiquiti stuff, they'll work in the old fashioned repeater or WDS mode, but then your client devices have to handle roaming, and that way lies madness.

 

[Mr Bob]

Ubiquiti's zero-handoff feature requires an all-Ubiquiti WiFi environment. Sure, you can use a different router to be a router, but not as a WAP.

Cisco has a similar feature that requires Cisco hardware.

Yeah, if you don't have all Ubiquiti stuff, they'll work in the old fashioned repeater or WDS mode, but then your client devices have to handle roaming, and that way lies madness.

- I think that will work in this case, all new hardware. I guess I would only be out a router.

I still wonder if there's a way to just add-on a device to accomplish this, even if it would be more expensive? Just some kind of standalone addon that turns a cat5 into the ability to repeat the same exact wifi signal.

 

[Mr Bob]

I was looking at that product line and I don't see any specific routers that they sell.

What device is needed to use that roaming mode?

 

[JackMDS]

It comes from installing the Hardware and using.

http://blog.gowifi.co.nz/2013/11/configuring-unifi-zero-handoff-roaming.html

 

[Mr Bob]

Ah ok.. So we still utilize the nighhawk (for DHCP and hard wired connections where router is at), and then disable WiFi. Then place a bunch of these AP units around the house?

Then we need a computer to act as the controller, which I assume would disable the WiFi once the computer restarts?

 

[JackMDS]

https://community.ubnt.com/t5/UniFi-Wireless/UniFi-AP-without-Controller-software/td-p/301678

 

[Emulex]

Apple products repeat themselves with very little overhead and simplicity that is unmatched! All keeping the same SSID no less!