Using a Wi-Fi extender, how would I know whether I'm connected to the AP or the extender?

[anton.sazonov]

The whole point of Wi-Fi extenders it to provide seamless roaming, right?

Trying to troubleshoot an issue here with the laptop most likely being in the range of the extender and using 5 ghz. The signal is okay at -60db. The speeds are, three to five minutes after the boot, are fine (as in, 60-70mbps up and down, considering AP is providing 100mbps). Then it goes to 3mbps down/1mbps up. The problem doesn't replicate when connecting to the 2ghz AP (obviously, still the same AP, physically, and the very same extender).

The weird thing is the issue comes and goes. As in, one week it's alright, then one evening it's literally crawling on 5ghz (crawling, as in 3mbps download/0.5mbps upload). No malicious software on the laptop detected, the built-in (task viewer's one) network monitor doesn't show anything out of place in terms of weird traffic. No rogue clients on the AP.

I could turn off the wireless repeater altogether, and will probably do that to isolate the issue, but in the meantime, any way to understand whether you're connected to the extender or the AP? Different BSSID or something?

Thanks.

Specs:

AP: Asus RT-AC66U/latest official firmware/connected to WAN via Ethernet/100mbps
Wi-Fi Extender: TP-LInk RE650/latest official firmware.
Laptop: A year or so old mid-range Lenovo with an internal Intel Wi-Fi adapter/Windows 10 Pro with all updates applied.

 

[USAFRet]

"Seamless roaming" is not as seamless as we'd all like.

Generally speaking, the client (PC or laptop) is in control of the current connection.
And does not like to give up on a working connection, even if there is another one that is somewhat stronger.

This is both good and bad.

Bad, because it can hang onto a slower connection.
Good, because the change threshold might otherwise be too sensitive. Standing directly between two near equal strength connections, it might try to bounce back and forth between the two. Giving an overall worse experience.

 

[anton.sazonov]

That makes a lot of sense. Also makes me and my three cats sad. Prolly the wife too, whose laptop I'm talking about.

Still, if it's all different to the laptop, or rather Windows 10, if the preffered network is "Fruityloops_5G", can I see if it's changing what it connects to? Because it's gonna be "FruityLoops_5G" all over, however far or close I am to the AP. Because roaming.

Also why would it make a difference (in fact, no difference at all) at 2ghz? Those, ugh, inconsistencies only happen at 5ghz.

Alternatively, any way to bind a Windows 10 laptop to the extender? It having the same SSID and all.

If so, kindly advise a freeware/shareware something for Windows.

Thank you.

 

[bill001g]

You are believing the marketing hype. If repeaters where such a good solution large corporations would be using them.

Repeaters should only be used when your other option is no signal at all. So if you get anything you need to be happy.

The repeater just because the way it operates will cut your bandwidth by at least half. You now have 2 radio signals instead of 1 that can get interference so you get even less performance.

Your best option is to not use the repeater function. You would be better served by using ethernet or powerline device to hook back to the main router and use the remote wifi device only as a AP.

This does not solve the roaming issue which is a fundamental design issue with WiFi that can not be fixed.

 

[anton.sazonov]

You are believing the marketing hype. If repeaters where such a good solution large corporations would be using them.

Repeaters should only be used when your other option is no signal at all. So if you get anything you need to be happy.

The repeater just because the way it operates will cut your bandwidth by at least half. You now have 2 radio signals instead of 1 that can get interference so you get even less performance.

Your best option is to not use the repeater function. You would be better served by using ethernet or powerline device to hook back to the main router and use the remote wifi device only as a AP.

This does not solve the roaming issue which is a fundamental design issue with WiFi that can not be fixed.

See, I have a two-bedroom apt, one of them housing the big tv, the SteamLink, the works. Including a Chinese Android TV Device that I use exclusively for watching movies via Plex. It's alright, if only on the hot side and has horrible Wi-Fi reception. That's basically why I bothered with the Wi-Fi Extender.

Before installing the extender, I couldn't stream 720p video from my desktop with Plex; nowadays I can stream 1080p with no interruptions whatsoever. So that's speaking of them "marketing tricks". I'm okay with the trick if it works.

The issue is why a laptop with a near-perfect connection can do 60-70mbps/70mbps after a reboot. And then, after 3 minutes of uptime, downgrade to 3mbps/0.5mbps. Being connected to the same extender.

Downgrading to the 2.4 AP (also serviced by the same extender) makes it ok in terms of speed achievable with 2.4ghz with no slowdown whatsoever

I don't even know where to start looking.

The laptop is connected to the power mains, permanently, so everything that has to do with energy saving is disabled.

I even updated to the latest Wi-Fi driver off the Intel website which came out like yesterday. But did it ever help anyone?