Wi-fi repeater/router/AP doesn't seem to work.

[joddle]

I have never had any of my three systems "drop out" but have had some slowing occasionally on one of them - i.e. the wifi does slows a bit. When that happens a re-boot seems to do the trick. Its only once or twice a year so not really an issue at all. I have more problems with my router than that :)

[madon37s]

Thanks Joddle (y). Will these adapters enable me to connect the ethernet cable that runs into the TV in the conservatory (from the router of course) into the adapter and then the adapter connects to the TV?

 

Are there any more powerful TP-link devices at all or are they all 300mbs?

 

Thanks for all your help so far.

Edited September 5, 2019 by madon37s

[joddle]

I have not looked at anything more powerful or faster as the AV500 series is plenty fast enough for watching Netflix and other video material. I get at least 30 meg around any part of the house and in some parts nearer 50! which is a fast as many people have from a fibre broadband connection!!!

 

To help answer your connectivity question, my own system is as follows and should give you the info you need

 

I have one input module connected from my router by cable in a room downstairs at the front of the house.

 

In my lounge I have a wifi unit which is connected by lan cable to the TV and to the PS3. As well as the cable connections the wifi in the lounge is really strong and persists through most of the rest of the downstairs of the building.

 

Upstairs I have another wifi unit which is sometimes used to connect a laptop by cable but more normally is used for wifi for phones and tablets and a laptop. It also connects by wifi to a Roku streamer for the kids to watch Netflix in their room.

 

In addition I have another simple unit in one bedroom to connect a non wi-fi PC by cable.

 

The distances involved are about 9 metres from the router to the lounge wifi unit and the actual mains cable distance is around 15m. The router wifi does not penetrate there as there are two very thick stone walls between the room where the router is and the lounge.

 

The distance to the upstairs wifi unit is around 22 metres from the router. However the mains cable run is a lot longer as it goes via the fuseboard then up through the attic area first.

 

Despite the long runs the signal is really good throughout the house mentioned earlier - and many times better in terms of speed and signal strength than I got with a wifi extender unit. We often have two sessions of Netflix running at the same time over the TP link system without any issues.

Edited September 7, 2019 by joddle

[joddle]

This is a pretty good idea of how to set it up - ignor the American fittings the principle is the same

 

[joddle]

This might be better for you as it is exactly what I have less the phones and tablets which can connect to any of the wifi links

 

[madon37s]

Hi Joddle,

 

Many thanks for the diagrams I really appreciate it. May I ask is this kit below ok to use?

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TP-LINK-TL-WPA4220-KIT-AV500-2-Port-WiFi-Powerline-Extender-like-ñew/401869307845?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

 

Sorry for this but I have just one more question if I may, Does the input module have to be in the same room as the router? or, does it not matter so long as the input module is connected to the router via an ethernet cable? I ask because I have an ethernet cable running from my router in our spare bedroom to the conservatory at the back of the house and was wondering if that would still work ok? I'm really sorry to be a pain :).

[joddle]

That is the basic kit I used - I simply added more to it later - it should not matter too much about a longer lead from the router to the first tp-link within reason - its really the same as if it is going direct to a pc - but any slowing of the signal due to lead lenght (which should be very small unless the lead is excessive or poor quality) will be reflected in the whole of the new network. I have my router connected by a 2M lead to the tp-link and its fine. However if possible I would keep the first tplink unit close to the router and connect with short lead to maintain the best possible speed for the rest of the network. You can if you want to, still use the existing cable to try it and see - you dont have to then keep it connected if a closer connection works better! Edited September 8, 2019 by joddle

[madon37s]

I have now received my TP-Link starter kit and I have connected it all up as per instructions although I did have a bit of trouble doing it as I wasn't really sure if what I was doing was the right way if that makes sense. I used the WPS button to link the router to the input module and then paired (i think I did anyway) the input module to the wifi extender and I do think it's working ok now.

 

Can I ask, if I buy another wifi extender does it have to be paired with the input module as well or is that not possible?

[joddle]

Pairing addition units is really easy

 

Step 1 Press and hold the Pair button on your new Powerline adapter for 1 second.

 

Step 2 Press and hold the Pair button on one of the existing Powerline adapters for one second . (This step must be taken within 120 seconds after step 1 is finished.)

 

Step 3 Wait for about 60 seconds while your Powerline adapters are trying to connect. The Power LED on Powerline adapters will stop flashing and become solid light when the connection is made successfully.

[joddle]

See this video also

 

I should also mention that the little utility supplied on the cd is really useful and gives great control over the wireless adapter - you can change passwords, the ssid, force reboots and set it up exactly as you want - In our house we make the ssid different for each wifi unit from the router and also use a different password. This means we know exactly which wifi network we are using when a device connects up.

 

Edited September 18, 2019 by joddle

[madon37s]

Hi Joddle,

 

Sorry it's been a while but I was testing this TP-Link for a few weeks and I'm not sure if it's working properly.

 

I have taken a video of me doing the set up exactly as the support video you put on here above for me and I think if you listen to the words at each step it seems the Wi-fi extender isn't doing what it should re how the lights should be working!

 

What do you think?

 

Also, the instructions seem to suggest that these powerline adapters and extenders should be connected in the same power circuit! eg, upstairs ring main OR, downstairs ring main but not one adapter in the one ring main and the extender in the other ring main...

 

 

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eO9NiDF8Ko

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eO9NiDF8Ko&feature=youtu.be

 

[joddle]

Not sure why you should be having issues. I now have three systems all working in different properties and all working perfectly and doing exactly as they should and two of them were second hand from ebay!

 

From the video it looks like maybe the units are not pairing and so I suggest you factory reset before attempting to pair again. As a rule I do not connect the ethernet cable when attempting to pair units. I simply get the units to connect together first then plug into them. I then test connectivity by connecting a lan cable to the wireless unit and attaching my laptop to ensure the lan is working. Only then do I worry about setting up the wifi.

 

Are you using the utility? - it very good and allows you to check things easily

 

Re. ring mains, having the units on different rings in the same house normally won't greatly affect the performance but could slow it down a little, but they have to be on the same phase which is the case in most domestic properties. If your building has three phases then you may have an issue. On, one of my systems the sending unit is running from one circuit connected to the other via the fusebox and another circuit over 30 metres away and still works fine.

[madon37s]

I have done a factory reset and I think that has worked. I have also paired them I believe , both the adapter and extender are showing the top two LED's as solid lights.

 

I have the Utility icon on my computer desktop but don't know how to use it if I'm honest.....

 

I don't think my house wiring is 3 phase (I don't even know what 3 phase means anyway).

 

I shall see how it goes and if the Wi-fi signal is still a bit weak in the conservatory I may connect the adapter in the power socket in the conservatory by the ethernet cable I have already in that room and then have the extender next to it!

 

Who know's I may get it to work properly one day....

[joddle]

It looks like you are half way there now. The wireless unit should be plugged in somewhere near where you need wifi access - preferably in the same room. If you want wifi in the conservatory simply plug the wifi unit in there. No point asking the signal to go through walls if it does not need to. Plugging an ethernet cable into the wifi unit will give very little if any difference in signal as the limitation is made between the sending and receiving units. The name of the wifi in the conservatory will depend on how you have configured the unit but if a clone of the main unit, you may find you have to disconnect kit form the wifi then reconnect once in the conservatory or it may try and hang on to the weaker signal coming from your router - that's why I always have a separate ssid for the wifi units.

[madon37s]

Ok, I have chatted online with TP-LINK support and they got me to connect my mobile phone to the wi-fi connection that came up on my phone saying TP-LINKxxxx and after I had entered the password for the extender (written on the label on the extender itself) my phone then received full (4 bars) of wi-fi signal. I am now chuffed to see it working.

 

I have just purchased two more extenders so I can add wi-fi signal in the daughters bedroom and the utility which is an out building but has a power cable to it connected from the house fuse box so I am hopeful this will work also.

 

 

Thank you again for all your help and patience on this matter :).

[KenB]

Glad that you are finally having some success with this.

Hope it all works out for you :)

 

My thanks too to joddle for adding to the thread.

[joddle]

The unit on the end of the extension should be OK but you may experience a slight slowdown - With three wifi units on the same system you may wish to consider using the utility to control them. It is realty easy to use and works a treat

[joddle]

Glad that you are finally having some success with this.

Hope it all works out for you :)

 

My thanks too to joddle for adding to the thread.

Just glad to have been some assistance - having had problems with extenders in the past I was really glad this system worked so well for me that I thought if it could help others then great!

[madon37s]

Thanks again, are there any instructions available on how to use the Utility program thingy? do the program come with instructions?

[joddle]

just load it up then run it - its pretty obvious from there on. Once you have it you can set your wireless end to do what you want i.e. change the ssid or the password or both even so you can have one wi fi network called conservatory and another called lounge or whatever you want.