Problems using WIFI powerline adapters - HELP!

[markhig2]

Hi,

I recently purchased 2 Tplink 500mbps wifi powerline adapters as my house has internal brick walls and the wifi signal is awful downstairs. The problem is that both android devices in the house, S3 mini and S4 mini NEVER seem to be connected to the strongest signal unless the wifi is turned off then back on again.

My wifi signal always seems very weak until i switch it off and on, forcing it to go searching for a signal and choosing the strongest. There are 4 "other" wifi devices in the house and 2 laptops that dont seem to have this problem and automatically connect to the AP with the best signal.

The powerline adapters just replicate all the routers AP credentials and as far as im aware all devices should connect to the best signal. It looks like im always on the limits of 1 AP and the android devices dont want to drop this connection .

Anyone got any ideas on how to solve this?

Thanks,

Mark

 

[Rukbat]

Multiple APs should have different SSIDs, for starters.

For another, all powerline communications systems (that's what this is, like wireless intercoms) must have all devices on the same power line leg which you'd probably need an electrician to determine for you).

And the nearest source isn't always the strongest one - install Wifi Analytics to see what's happening.

 

[mikedt]

Multiple APs should have different SSIDs, for starters.

Thing with these power-line WiFi adapters, AFAIK they're dumb devices and just replicate or repeat whatever SSID and MAC is being sent out by the main AP. So the device doesn't know any difference between the original AP or what it's receiving via the power-line adaptor.

There's plenty of situations where one might have the same SSID across multiple overlapping APs, but usually they'll have different MAC addresses. e.g. airports and hotels.

Multiple APs should have different SSIDs, for starters. For another, all powerline communications systems (that's what this is, like wireless intercoms) must have all devices on the same power line leg which you'd probably need an electrician to determine for you).

I'm thinking that's probably OK, because the OP states other devices are having no problem locating the strongest WiFi. Power-line transmission like this likely wouldn't work a across different distribution boards, legs and phases.

 

[mikedt]

Hi,

I recently purchased 2 Tplink 500mbps wifi powerline adapters as my house has internal brick walls and the wifi signal is awful downstairs. The problem is that both android devices in the house, S3 mini and S4 mini NEVER seem to be connected to the strongest signal unless the wifi is turned off then back on again.

My wifi signal always seems very weak until i switch it off and on, forcing it to go searching for a signal and choosing the strongest. There are 4 "other" wifi devices in the house and 2 laptops that dont seem to have this problem and automatically connect to the AP with the best signal.

The powerline adapters just replicate all the routers AP credentials and as far as im aware all devices should connect to the best signal. It looks like im always on the limits of 1 AP and the android devices dont want to drop this connection .

Anyone got any ideas on how to solve this?

Thanks,

Mark

I know these TP-Link ones, all they're doing is just repeating the AP but to a different location. Don't know if there's a more "intellegent" one, that can set its own SSID and MAC so the phones know the difference between the original AP and the power-line one.

 

[markhig2]

Thanks for your replies,

Electrician not required to determine if they are all on the same radial as houses in the uk mainly only have 1.Besides they do work,its just the way they work thats the problem.

Surely having different SSID's would still result in the same problem where it wouldn't automatically drop from the other AP?

I'll install the wifi analytics tool you have suggested and see whats going on,thanks!

I agree that these should be able to work by replicating the credentials,theres no need to have multiple SSID's in a home environment. All the tablets and other phones are smart enough to switch...

Thanks,

Mark

 

[markhig2]

Mikedt...

Just noticed the second part of your comment,all of what you have said seems spot on!

Maybe androids the smart one hanging on to every last bit of the wifi signal!

Cheers