Wi-Fi Range Extender

I recently installed the TP Link Deco 5 mesh system and so far have no regrets. Setup is VERY simple and uses an app on your phone or tablet. Relatively inexpensive @ $160.

With extender, usually the second network has same name with a _2 extension, and requires same password.  Some allow to rename or change password to something else.

Since home audio installations typically are stationary (the components are not moving around the house), the two-network thing has been an absolute non-issue for me.  Set it and forget it.

If you use phone to control, pretty simple to switch wifi networks.  Takes 2 seconds.  Some (I think, don't quote me on this) will work across networks.

I feel like I've controlled my dac/streamers in two separate locations with my phone, where one of those dacs using main network and one using extended network, without switching networks on phone, but I'll have to test that to be sure.  Either way, easy.

Yes they work very well with little loss of speed or signal. Even all the way across to a shed at the far end of the house.

They’re easy to connect to but the one I used (a more basic model to the one you’ve listed) needed to be plugged directly into a wall socket as did the receiver.

Luckily there were plenty of wall sockets available.

I don’t know if it created a separate network but there was a slight break in connection (a few seconds) when you re-entered the house and it reconnected to the home router.

@falconquest  - I don't know, with any certainty, that all wi-fi range extenders require 2 separate networks. However, the one I had did require the extended area to have a different network name, link network-ext.

A mesh network is a group of mesh nodes that all talk to each other creating a blanket of the overall area. You can add additional nodes to extend the coverage area. the whole area is a single network, so you can move yourself, or your devices, around the coverage area and always have great signal quality and always be on the same network.

I appreciate all the comments.

@jjss49 Can you explain "mesh"? I have seen that term in my searches but don't understand it.


@reubent I appreciate the comments about two separate networks which is why I wanted to float this by the A'gon community. This is stuff you don't see in the details about equipment.

I went with Linksys Velop 3-Node Mesh and all of my connectivity issues were resolved. It's been very stable and I have excellent coverage and speed. Also, each node can have a wired ethernet connection if you need it.

I had an wi-fi range extender previously, but didn't care for it as it was two separate networks. Couldn't move from one to the other without disconnecting/reconnecting.

I recently switched to Ubiquiti and have had really good results. 

I’ve had better luck with Netgear than TP-link. Ymmv

go mesh if you want a good truly reliable result

tp link will work... sometimes