TP Link 300Mbps Wifi Extender - £16.49

ThisRegard · 16-06-2014 03:34PM

MBSnr wrote: »

You sure? I have 3 wifi APs at work on Ch 1 / Ch 6 / Ch 11 and as I walk about the building my phone re-authenticates with each.

I will admit it can take a few seconds for it to realise that there's another AP with the same SSID and password but that's a polling wifi issue I'd imagine. To say it doesn't work is incorrect in my experience.

It's a bug that has been reported on the google forums, most recently here, https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/nexus/93GcQ8O75q8 and the the second post has a link to other similar bug reports.

There's a few apps on the store that 'fix' this issue. I'd be interested to see why your device switches. I have 3 android devices and neither will switch to the strongest signal on the same SSID.

MBSnr · 16-06-2014 03:37PM

same ol sh1te wrote: »

Repeats on the same channel as it only has one radio

You sure about that?
TP specs page lists the Frequency as 2.4~2.4835GHz which cover the Ch 1 to 14 range.

Ch 1 is 2.412 GHz
Ch 14 is 2.484 GHz

ThisRegard · 16-06-2014 03:38PM

But if it has only one radio, won't it need to use the same channel ?

same ol sh1te · 16-06-2014 03:39PM

MBSnr wrote: »

You sure about that?
TP specs page lists the Frequency as 2.4~2.4835GHz which cover the Ch 1 to 14 range.

Ch 1 is 2.412 GHz
Ch 14 is 2.484 GHz

That is the range of frequencies the radio in the device covers

MBSnr · 16-06-2014 03:41PM

ThisRegard wrote: »

It's a bug that has been reported on the google forums, most recently here, https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/nexus/93GcQ8O75q8 and the the second post has a link to other similar bug reports.

There's a few apps on the store that 'fix' this issue. I'd be interested to see why your device switches. I have 3 android devices and neither will switch to the strongest signal on the same SSID.

Base vanilla 4.2.1. Just tested there to be sure. As I walk away from Ch6 AP and towards the Ch11 one, the signal drops until one bar, then a 10 sec delay and refreshes to a full bars with a signal on Ch11.

Confirmed with WiFi Overview 360 as changing as well.

MBSnr · 16-06-2014 03:42PM

same ol sh1te wrote: »

That is the range of frequencies the radio in the device covers

Oh d'oh. Yes sorry I see now... I was thinking of an AP sent a LAN signal via RJ45 (which is what I was writing about above...). Of course this isn't as it uses the radio to communicate with the router......:eek:

same ol sh1te · 16-06-2014 03:45PM

ThisRegard wrote: »

But if it has only one radio, won't it need to use the same channel ?

Yes, which I already explained the drawbacks of. Make your own mind up based on your own needs

ThisRegard · 16-06-2014 04:13PM

same ol sh1te wrote: »

Yes, which I already explained the drawbacks of. Make your own mind up based on your own needs

It was an answer to MBSnr.

@MBSnr, I'm intrigued as it has been wildly reported as an issue as far back as android 2.1. I'm running on Jelly Bean and Kit Kat. Unless the signal drops completely, android will hang on to the death to the weaker one. Hence the plethora of fixes for it.

TP Link even acknowledge the issue and point towards such apps to resolve the issue
http://www.tp-link.com/en/article/?faqid=592

same ol sh1te · 16-06-2014 04:20PM

I have the same issue in Android on both a Nexus 5 and 7. I use the best wifi app to keep connected to the strongest signal
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pintacdesign.bestwifi

ThisRegard · 16-06-2014 04:26PM

I use WiFi Roaming fix on all my devices and it does the job in the background without you even knowing it's there.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.heleron.wifiroamingfix

I tried Best WiFi but preferred WiFi Roaming Fix, for reasons I can't remember anymore.

MBSnr · 16-06-2014 04:31PM

ThisRegard wrote: »

It was an answer to MBSnr.

@MBSnr, I'm intrigued as it has been wildly reported as an issue as far back as android 2.1. I'm running on Jelly Bean and Kit Kat. Unless the signal drops completely, android will hang on to the death to the weaker one. Hence the plethora of fixes for it.

TP Link even acknowledge the issue and point towards such apps to resolve the issue
http://www.tp-link.com/en/article/?faqid=592

Well that's it then. My phone also has a slightly more limited wifi range compared to others, so thinking about it, it's dropping the weaker signal 1st.

Need to test with another phone.

EDIT: Just tested with a HTC M8 and again same as my Wiko Stairway - seamless switch from the Ch6 AP to the Ch 11 AP. The only thing I can say is the AP devices are Apple airport ones - perhaps that makes a difference....

same ol sh1te · 16-06-2014 05:05PM

MBSnr wrote: »

I can say is the AP devices are Apple airport ones - perhaps that makes a difference....

No, roaming is completely handled by the client device. It may be something that HTC have added their own fix for though

ThisRegard · 16-06-2014 08:03PM

same ol sh1te wrote: »

No, roaming is completely handled by the client device. It may be something that HTC have added their own fix for though

Probably something like that, I think Samsung released their own fix too.

NATLOR · 16-06-2014 09:45PM

Anyone buying make sure to bring your spend up to £25 to get free delivery as one its own postage is nearly £7

rocksolid · 16-06-2014 10:20PM

NATLOR wrote: »

Anyone buying make sure to bring your spend up to £25 to get free delivery as one its own postage is nearly £7

or you could work around trick and not pay postage at all and still only buy one, and im not talking about the old BT trick, or any thing illegal, just a system glitch i discovered and have used 3 times in the last 2 weeks and worked each time....

Tinie · 16-06-2014 10:23PM

NoelDoran wrote: »

or you could work around trick and not pay postage at all and still only buy one, and im not talking about the old BT trick, or any thing illegal, just a system glitch i discovered and have used 3 times in the last 2 weeks and worked each time....

Shhhh keep it to yourself. We don't want it being fixed by Amazon now do we !!

Can someone answer this please. I'm not 100% sure how this works. Does it take the broadband signal over electricity like a home plug and broad cast it in with its own SSID, or is it a extender basically?

NATLOR · 16-06-2014 10:26PM

NoelDoran wrote: »

or you could work around trick and not pay postage at all and still only buy one, and im not talking about the old BT trick, or any thing illegal, just a system glitch i discovered and have used 3 times in the last 2 weeks and worked each time....

Very informative...

sweetie · 16-06-2014 10:58PM

i'm guessing order another item to bring the total over £25 then cancel that item leaving you with free delivery on the homeplug...

Mantis Toboggan · 16-06-2014 11:05PM

Or you could ship it to parcel motel for free and get delivered to your depot of choice for 3.50

irishpancake · 17-06-2014 01:15AM

same ol sh1te wrote: »

I have the same issue in Android on both a Nexus 5 and 7. I use the best wifi app to keep connected to the strongest signal
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pintacdesign.bestwifi

Thanks for that mr. sh1te....:)

I have been wondering just what app to use, as I have an oldish Solwise homeplug AP with the same SSID, and it is a bugger, my phone or tablet hang on to whichever original sig, and there is no seemless roaming.

I will try that app, thanx.

Davy · 06-09-2014 05:34PM

Down to £18.49 for today

Link

TP Link 300Mbps Wifi Extender - £16.49

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