[Electronics-Talk] router extenders

[Tony Malykh]

Your wifi extender created a separate wifi network with _ext suffix. 
That's the main disadvantage of such extenders. I'm too lazy to switch 
to another network on my phone every time I go to another room. That's 
the benefit of mesh systems - the router and all the satellites form a 
single wifi network and your phone will dynamically reconnect from one 
router/satellite to another as you walk from one room to another. So 
it's not just gimmick, it is very useful if the signal from a single 
router cannot reach all the corners.

When I mentioned accessibility, I meant that Orbi's web console is fully 
accessible. I know that these days NetGear offers a mobile app to 
configure router, but I prefer good old web console, so I cannot comment 
as to whether the mobile app is accessible.

--Tony

On 11/9/2020 10:07 AM, Rik James (MT) via Electronics-Talk wrote:
> I may be not as informed as  some.
> But when you are saying accessible as to extenders, what is it that is expressed?
>
> My own experience is limited to the one extender I have ever had. I purchased a Netgear wifi extender. After it was configured to use, it uses the same network name but with an underscore and E X T after the name, and it works fine. I will connect my particular device, to either that extender or to the router with the online network downstairs, which is the network name without the  e x t.
>
> I was hearing about Orbi and other mesh systems. So I asked the kid at the store.
> As this person at Staples explained his understanding of the mesh system to me, he said that the mesh was pretty much the same ass using this wifi extender that I just described above.  And that he thought all the mesh was just a new commercialized gimmick, as far as he was concerned. So I did not buy anything new at this time.
>
> As to its accessibility, however, I don't know  what else I need to know. OF course he was not versed in  anything of that nature.
>
> In getting the Netgear extender configured, I had to download the Netgear software called the genie, and use it to more easily get it to find the extender.
> Of course there is the needed use of a reset button on the extender itself, when changing to another connection. And of course it does not talk. But other than that, I don't know. I was just using my screen reader and the website and that genie installer software I described.
>
> Do you meanthat these devices actually do give a verbal indication as to status? That would be a horse of a different color of course.
>
> I hope that some of what I described above, is more useful than not. But if someone can further explain why this mesh system is better, I am interested.
>
> Thanks.
> Rik
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Electronics-Talk <electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Tony Malykh via Electronics-Talk
> Sent: Sunday, November 8, 2020 10:08 PM
> To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>; Rob Kaiser <rcubfank at sbcglobal.net>
> Cc: Tony Malykh <anton.malykh at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] router extenders
>
> The biggest problem with extenders is that they create a separate wifi network, and your devices won't transparently switch between your router's network and your extender's network. More expensive extenders allow you to create a network by the same name, which is even more confusing, since now all your devices would only see a single network, but in fact there will be two separate networks, without transparent switching between them, so your phone might be connected to the one in the farthest  corner.
>
> What you probably need to get is a wifi mesh network - this will allow your devices to transparently switch between router and satellites. But it comes with a router of its own. I recommend Netgear Orbi, but I've also heard good things about Eero. Web interface of Orbi is fully accessible, not sure about eero.
>
>
> On 11/5/2020 10:21 PM, Rob Kaiser via Electronics-Talk wrote:
>> I didn't know the best list to ask this question so I'm sending this
>> to both lists. It looks like I'm going to need a router extender. How
>> much do they run, &, does anyone know the best brand of extender to
>> get? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
>>
>>    
>>
>>    
>>
>> Rob Kaiser Email;
>>
>> rcubfank at sbcglobal.net
>>
>>    
>>
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