Dual router setup: what's best ?

[Vinzz]

Hi,

I have a pretty long house where I use 2 wireless routers (both asus rt-ac66u with merlin firmware) to cover the whole surface.
The house has 3 ethernet wall plugs in 3 different areas (let's call them left, middle, and right) which I use as follows :

• left : router 1 as wireless router
• middle : nothing
• right : router 2 as access point

I set the same SSID for both routers on both frequency bands. (good/bad idea ?)
I set the channels to auto (good/bad idea ?)

My issue is that when I move around in the house and go through the middle area, I get disconnected for about 10-20 seconds before it connects to the other router. This is particularly annoying when having a skype conversation for instance. Worse: when I stay in the middle area, my phone seems to be confused and constantly switches between the two wireless signals.

What would be my options to avoid this ?

• change the SSID/channels configuration ?
• enable the routers roaming assistant ? (currently disabled. I already tried without much success...)
• add a wireless extender in the middle ? or another router ?
• buy a different wireless kit ? (with zero handoff or the like ?)

Thanks

 

[flyoffacliff]

Same SSID is good. Does the connection drop with all devices, or just one? What is the signal strength like on both routers around the middle of the house?

 

[MichaelCG]

You need to better understand the signal strength of the AP to the client as well as the client to the AP as you traverse the home. Generally it is up to the client on when it decides to let go of one AP and move to the next. Some APs can "help" with it by kicking clients off sooner than later...but you have to make sure you have even coverage across the environment.

Single SSID = good
Roaming Asst = not sure, depends on how it works and how it is configured
WiFi Extender = generally not a good idea unless you don't mind the performance impact
Different WiFi = lots of options...just need more details on the issue before making any recommendations

 

[Vinzz]

The connection dropped with my previous smartphone (LG G2), still does with the current one (S7 edge) and with my wife's (Galaxy A5 2017).

I used an android wifi analyzer app to check the signal when standing in the middle of the house.
It's roughly as follows :

Left AP 5Ghz : -83dBm (ch 40(42))
Left AP 2.5Ghz : -78dBm (ch 11)
Right AP 5Ghz : -88dBm (ch36(42))
Right AP 2.5Ghz : -89dBm (ch 6)

 

[MichaelCG]

If your signal that the phone sees from the more powerful AP/Router is that bad, just think how weak the signal is from the client back to the AP/Router is. Guessing the phones don't let go of the old AP soon enough mostly because they don't see another better option yet. Putting an additional AP in the middle part of the house will probably help out a bunch.

 

[Vinzz]

Ok so thanks to you, I now know that I must boost the signal in the middle to try to solve the problem.

Now, what would be your recommendation for this ?

The ethernet wall plug in the middle is just the ethernet cable connecting left to right that has been cut in half. One end being the wall plug and the other end is plugged in and continuing towards the right part. So adding another router would add a new single point of failure I guess, no ? If that router fails, the entire right part would be left without network access.

Would it still make sense to add a third RT-AC66U ? Or are there better alternatives ?

 

[MichaelCG]

The easiest solution is to add another AC66 put in AP mode. You can use the switch ports to connect up the left and right sides to it and it should participate nicely. Are there other options? You betcha. No matter what, it is a matter of getting another AP in the middle. It is up to your budget and time if you use another Asus device or replace with dedicated APs across the board.

A used AC66 can be picked up pretty cheap these days...I just got one for $25 off of Craigslist to replace my N66 media bridge.

 

[Vinzz]

In my country, used asus routers are not so common and more around 80€....but I guess I'll try to find one.

Thanks a lot for your help !

 

[MichaelCG]

For that price, I would suggest starting your journey with Ubiquiti. What can you get a UAP-AC-LITE for there?

 

[Vinzz]

A single uap-ac-lite costs 85€. Can a ubiquiti AP easily be added to an existing network ? In which way is it better than a RT-AC66 ? Maintenance-wise, getting a third router of the same model sounds easier, doesn't it ?

 

[pege63]

Or go for the UAP-AC-LR in your case

 

[MichaelCG]

Short-term ease, an AC66 is the simpler setup. Longer-term ease, Ubiquiti is the simpler setup. This all comes down to a personal choice on where you want to go with your setup today and over the next couple of years. Yes, you should be able to add a UAP device to an existing network. I am a big Asus and Ubiquiti fan, so I can't say you will be on the wrong path with either. The Asus gear may be a tad faster on a single client, but I bet the UAP gear will be more consistent as more clients are active at the same time. I have two UAP-AC-LR as my primary WiFi and use a N66 and an AC66 as media bridges. I have had pretty good luck in general with both platforms over the past couple of years, but I am for sure moving to Ubiquiti for all of my WiFi duties over time.

Short-term (AC66)
- AC66 is easier
- You are already familiar with it
- Ubiquiti has more learning curve

Long-term (UAP)
- Ubiquiti moves you to a dedicated AP platform for WiFi
- Better tools to help see what is really going on with the WiFi and help "push" clients from AP to AP
- Allows for scalable deployment and upgrades independent of your router
- Can easily add more coverage/capacity/speed by adding/swapping an AP without touching the rest of the network