Wifi access points

My internet is currently networked round the house as follows:

Netgear DGN2200 wireless/router
A number of TP-Link TL-PA211 AV200 Mini HomePlugs
TP-Link TL-SF1005D 5-Port Fast Ethernet Desktop Switches
and a TP-Link TL-WA830RE Wireless-N Range Extender (300Mbps) being used an access point.

The network is stable and works well with a number of devices. However, I would like to improve the wifi coverage in the garden and have considered adding a further access point (a second TL-WA830RE).

Would this work? Would my network support a third access point?

I welcome your comments.

Should work fineee

If you are connecting the extra TP-Link TL-WA830RE to the current main router via a cable that's cool...
If you are going to wirelessly repeat the signal I'd advise against.
If this is the case I would replace your homeplugs with ones that broadcast a wifi signal as then it's all wired in (even if it's over the home wiring) which always beats wifi repeating IMO.

With the current TP-Link TL-WA830RE are you repeating the wireless or is it wired into the DGN2000?

Wireless repeating is really not good.

In reply to a post by ukhardy07:

If you are connecting the extra TP-Link TL-WA830RE to the current main router via a cable that's cool...
If you are going to wirelessly repeat the signal I'd advise against.
If this is the case I would replace your homeplugs with ones that broadcast a wifi signal as then it's all wired in (even if it's over the home wiring) which always beats wifi repeating IMO.

With the current TP-Link TL-WA830RE are you repeating the wireless or is it wired into the DGN2000?

Wireless repeating is really not good.

The TP-Link TL-WA830RE is connected by ethernet cable to a TP-Link TL-SF1005D 5-Port Fast Ethernet Desktop Switch, which is connected to a TP-Link TL-PA211 AV200 Mini HomePlug via a ethernet cable.

I plan to connect the new TL-WA830RE to a TL-PA211 via ethernet cable to pick up the internet.

How does that sound?

Sounds fab it's all wired and good!

You can have as many WAPs as you want - well maybe not limitless but a 100 should be manageable.

I was playing around with my home network and I have 5 WAPs running normally and upped that to 11 all though the same switch.

Thank you for all your help and ideas.

I am going to try the 300Mbps AV200 Wireless N Powerline Extender (TL-WPA281). I will let you know how it performs.

11 standard APs in a home (even a very large home) is going to cause a hell of a lot of collisions, both on 2.4 and 5Ghz bands - it depends if you literally want some sort of coverage for internet browsing or any sort of throughput in which case I imagine it would be quite low. Have you thought about a managed system? Would be more expensive but if you want throughput its essential.

That said, with 802.11ac it might be worth holding off till that is properly ratified.

I did say playing ... back to 4 or 5 again now! Having steel plates over my floors to spread the heat means signals don't get through!

The TL-WPA281 did not work out as well as planned.

Back to the drawing board.

Ideally I would like an external wifi antenna, but the cable run would be tricky.

I would keep the TL-WPA281 as an "infill" access point for garden use - plug it in to a mains extension cord as needed. As well, pay attention to what Solwise are offering - there is a two-band HomePlug AV500 wireless access point that works on both hte 2.4 and 3GHz bands but this one's on back-order. From what I have seen with their website, I would place Solwise as an expert with the HomePlug AV segment or advanced wireless networking.

Similarly a router repurposed as an access point and connected via one of its LAN sockets to the HomePlug AV segment could become another solution to your needs.

With regards,

Simon Mackay

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