Hey everyone! I'm having some trouble with my WiFi connection in my room, which is pretty far away from the main router we've had for a while. We've also added a couple of smart devices and a Ring doorbell recently, and I think they might be hogging some of the bandwidth. My Steam Deck struggles to maintain a good connection up here. I've heard that adding a second router as an access point could help, but I'm not sure how to set it up correctly. Also, running an Ethernet cable isn't really an option for me due to my dog and my family's preferences for keeping the house looking tidy. So, I'm looking for some advice on whether getting a secondary router is the best route to take or if we need to upgrade our existing one. Any suggestions?
4 Answers
Using a mesh WiFi system might be the best solution for your situation! If your current router isn't WiFi 6, consider upgrading to one that is. Mesh systems have a main router and additional satellites that extend coverage throughout your home, so you wouldn’t have to deal with dead spots. If you’re not ready to make that change, WiFi boosters can also help improve the signal strength in your room. Just keep in mind that they work best when placed strategically, ideally closer to the router to get a strong signal to retransmit.
If you have an older router, you can actually repurpose it as a secondary access point. You’d need to configure it correctly—usually, you can disable the NAT and DHCP settings. Ideally, you'd connect it to your primary router via Ethernet, but if that isn't feasible, just ensuring it receives a strong signal from the first router is key. You could look into wireless repeaters, but they typically reduce network speed. Mesh networks generally handle these situations better and keep connections smoother.
Also, try unplugging any appliances near the router that may cause interference. Sometimes devices like transformers can mess with your signal. A signal repeater set up near the main router could help as well, just make sure it's not too far from it!
Check out Powerline Ethernet adapters too! They use your home's electrical wiring to extend your network. You just plug one in near your router and another in your room, which can often be a neat solution instead of running long cables. Just remember that their effectiveness can depend on your home's wiring.
I recently found out our router is only WiFi 4, which definitely explains my issues too!