Can a Hub 1 router be used as an access point?

[#1]

I recently received a Hub 2 router to replace my Hub 1 router and am wondering if it is possible to use the Hub 1 router as a wi-fi extender as the wireless signal isn't very strong in a couple of rooms? I do have cabling around the flat so could connect it to the wired network. I am needing to get a stronger signal in the other rooms for my mobile phone in particular.

if this is possible how do I go about setting this up?

[#2]

https://community.plus.net/t5/My-Router/Can-I-use-my-Hub-One-as-an-Access-Point/td-p/1961592

[#3]

Yes it can . The direct link to the instructions are in the first post of https://community.plus.net/t5/My-Router/Using-a-2nd-Plusnet-Hub1-as-a-Wireless-Access-point/td-p/138...

For a more generic guide/ discussion I recommend https://www.avforums.com/threads/faq-using-two-routers-together-extending-wi-fi.1554662/

[#4]

how do I connect the Hub 1 router to my PC? Do I have to disconnect the Hub 2 router to do this?

[#5]

So, you leave your Hub2 as the primary device.

Then you use a long ethernet cable to connect the old Hub 1. It's possible that you have an existing cable connected to a PC, so use that, then connect the PC to the old Hub1 too, with another ethernet cable.

[#6]

thanks. I've managed to change the IP address and so on. When the Hub 1 is switched on the light on it is an orange colour and there is a red flashing icon which is the same as what I was getting previously before making these changes. I'm not sure what these things mean. Also I'm not sure that my phone is changing to this automatically and changing back as I move from room to room. I can certainly get my phone to join the Hub 1 and the speedtest is much better than before.

[#7]

The light will flash I'm afraid its not a problem, put some tape over it.

[#8]

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@basilfaulty wrote:

...I'm not sure that my phone is changing to this automatically and changing back as I move from room to room.

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This is because your phone is hanging on to the weaker signal. If you drop the WiFi connection on the phone it should change when you reconnect.

The only way to guarantee seamless transfer between nodes is to do the job properly and invest in a mesh router and satellite(s).

[#9]

something else I've noticed is that even when I have the Hub 1 router switched off I can see it showing up as an available network in the living room and can join this network. Doing a speedtest it isn't nearly as fast as when it is switched on but still a reasonable speed. How is this possible?

[#10]

@basilfaulty I don't know the exact setup you have but connecting to device that is switched off is impossible. So you must be connecting to the Hub2 wifi.

[#11]

@Baldrick1 says: This is because your phone is hanging on to the weaker signal. If you drop the WiFi connection on the phone it should change when you reconnect. The only way to guarantee seamless transfer between nodes is to do the job properly and invest in a mesh router and satellite(s).

Please may I pick your brains a little further? I have the same problem going back some years. Our setup is 70MB FTTP, Hub Two in study at one end of house, TPLink mains extender plugs at lounge far end. We use 1m ethernet cable from plug to TV as I was fed up messing with wifi (turned out to be faulty Devolo extenders failing at two yrs.) TV connection is faultless but we need wifi for iPads which as you say won't change automatically from Plus Two to TPlink slave, and vice versa. We have to enter settings and switch wifi which is becoming a nuisance as everything else works so well.

I can run ethernet cable via the roofspace and have been thinking of using old Plus One as access point and TV cable connection instead of tplink plugs. Could you confirm that this won't work seamlessly, and I have to bite the bullet and invest in router and one mesh connector in the far end? I take it the Plus Two won't support mesh?

Mike

[#12]

@Longliner 

Running an Ethernet cable between the two units may not improve the situation, you may still find that devices may hang on to the weaker signal. It all depends on the performance of the individual devices.

The Plusnet Hub 2 will not support mesh.

My advice would be to install the Ethernet cable and try it. If there's no improvement then install mesh and use the Ethernet cable as a wired mesh backhaul, giving you guaranteed best possible performance.

Be aware that if you buy a standard mesh set up, for example, a TP-Link S4, it will include the router built into the master unit.

[#13]

As always, thank you very much for your advice.

Mike