I know very little about setting up networks, so I would like to ask you all for advice. In my house I currently have a router that emits wifi signals at 2.4 GHz and 5Ghz. My router is placed at ground level and I have a couple of ethernet cables running through my house, all the way up to the attic. What I would prefer to do is to have some sort of access point in my attic, that is connected to the router through one of ethernetcables, that will function as ‘amplifier’ for my wifi.
What I saw online is that a repeater performs this job, but is usually presented as a device that picks up the wireless signal and amplifies that instead of signals coming from a wired connection. Can I set a repeater up in the way I described?
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what you are looking for is an access point
I think u could add another router upstairs, connect Ethernet to lan cable, turn off dhcp and upnp. The router will become your access point and be more reliable than most AP’s.
Yes, most devices marketed as repeaters that have at least one Ethernet port can be used to provide a wireless connection from a wired connection, usually called AP Mode. TP link Explination of modes of multimode devices
I would recommend a dedicated Access Point (AP) device rather than a multi-purpose device though.
As other commenters have said, this is what a wireless access point (AP) does. You’ll put the AP in the attic, connect it back to your router with one of the Ethernet cables, and it will broadcast a wifi network throughout your house. Examples that suit most cases are the TP-Link Omada EAP670 or the Ubiquiti Unifi U6 Professional.
How big is your house, and how many levels? This will affect the best option for you.
Thank you for your reply. My house has three levels in total, where on the first floor the signsl is wuite strong, but gets really weak on the third level. Would it be easy to set up an AP with the same SSID as my router? I tried using a mikrotik hAP AC2 as AP, but everytime I connected it, I lost all internet connection in my home (router is an Asus AX3000). The userinterface is not quite noob-user friendly.
Preferably, I would have to change wifi network with my devices when moving from one floor to the other.
The mikrotik probably still in router mode and it conflict when you connect it to existing network. Download Winbox to config it and just plug ethernet from the mikrotik to PC, don’t connect to main network first. then follow the part 1 https://tehnoblog.org/mikrotik-router-how-to-convert-hap-or-hap-lite-into-ordinary-switch-or-wireless-access-point-bridge/
Would it be easy to set up an AP with the same SSID as my router?
Yes, definitely. u/leewhat’s comment explains why you had trouble with the Mikrotik; a dedicated AP doesn’t have a router mode you need to disable, so all you have to do is specify the same SSID and your devices will take care of connecting to the one with the strongest signal.
Since you have a 3-level house you may find you need two APs. As you have discovered with your existing router, wifi signals are usually shaped like a squashed dome; they have a better range horizontally than vertically.