Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2025 17:17 Post subject: How to set up a two router/switch MESH
Hi I hope someone can help.
I have two TP link WR1043ND V2 routers.
The main one in the Kitchen and a second hard wired to the main one as a slave/switch in the loft.
Currently they both have different SSID and passwords.
If I use a MESH radio mode on the Slave/Switch in the loft can they have the same SSID and password and therefore extend the range/coverage of my WiFi in the overall house.
If this is possible, can someone point me into the correct settings required in the second router/switch.
Both of them are on DD-WRT v3.0-r61848 std (06/24/25) which may need updating.
Further on from this the loft router antennas currently are all pointing Vertically up, as I want the signal to go down to the first floor what would be the best position/angle for the antennas.
Thanks for looking
Cheers
Andy.
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2025 4:41 Post subject: Re: How to set up a two router/switch MESH
andybrody wrote:
Hi I hope someone can help.
I have two TP link WR1043ND V2 routers.
The main one in the Kitchen and a second hard wired to the main one as a slave/switch in the loft.
Currently they both have different SSID and passwords.
If I use a MESH radio mode on the Slave/Switch in the loft can they have the same SSID and password and therefore extend the range/coverage of my WiFi in the overall house.
If this is possible, can someone point me into the correct settings required in the second router/switch.
You don't really need a MESH, but you can indeed set both routers to the same SSID/PW and channel for that matter. You will need to adjust the TX Power settings so they do not walk on each other too much. If you go with a MESH, the wired connection between your two routers basically becomes useless. ie. it is not used except to access the router UI.
andybrody wrote:
Both of them are on DD-WRT v3.0-r61848 std (06/24/25) which may need updating.
Debatable.
andybrody wrote:
Further on from this the loft router antennas currently are all pointing Vertically up, as I want the signal to go down to the first floor what would be the best position/angle for the antennas.
This will require some experimentation. Move them and test, move them again and test and so on. _________________ - Linksys EA8500: I-Gateway, WAP/VAP 5ghz only. Features: VLANs, Samba, WG, Entware - r60xxx
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Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2025 19:46 Post subject: Re: How to set up a two router/switch MESH
Hi Lexridge thanks for taking time to answer.
lexridge wrote:
You don't really need a MESH, but you can indeed set both routers to the same SSID/PW and channel for that matter.
Do the two routers have to have the same Channel number? At the moment the main one is fixed to channel 9 and the second fixed to 6. Is it best to fix both to the same channel or put both on auto channel.
Thanks again Andy
To add a bit of detail...I have 6 mx4300...3 in mesh, one as primary and dhcp server and a few other things and two regular secondary...What you want to do is easier than you think...
Since I spend a lot of time playing around with configurations at 2 houses. I'll tell you what I did.
Set the first router up or keep it as normal. For me its jonny2 for 2.4 and jonny4 for 5gz. You might only be looking for 2.4 ghz cause that covers the most distance so just worry about that.
5ghz doesnt penetrate walls and floors so well so generally you need more routers but essentially the process is the same.
Get some signal checker app wifi analyzer pro is my favorite.
Pick your best channel based on interference from your neighbors, 1,6,11 all the rest are splits over those 3 channels.
Set everything us the same on each for signal. I use n/g mixed, wide 40hz and channel 1 in my environment. But to test I change one SSID to jonny3 and leave the primary at jonny2. Then you can walk with your signal checker and adjust the power settings to where you are mostly covering the signal with one or the other routers. You dont want one stepping on the over or switching will take more time/not switch.
Then, what I usually do but its not necessary is to hand switch in several places and see how my speeds are looking. That might allow some fine tuning as to signal strength or placement or orientation like you are wondering about with the top level antenna.
After you have that all dialed in then simply switch your jonny3 back to jonny 2.
In theory when you walk from one area of signal to the other, your device should switch to the better signal on the other AP. Even though they are both SSID jonny2 it should pick the better signal to lock onto. So lets call mine Main and Second So if im on the first floor and lets say start walking upstairs, at some point my phone will realize that the signal for main is dropping and second is getting stronger and switch to that. Then when I head back downstairs is should switch back to Main once that signal gets strong enough. In theory anyways....
To help that out, you want to set the fast switching protocol
Now go into the fast switching on the routers and set up that as to the different instructions 802.11r / Fast BSS Transition which is on the roaming tab on wireless. I use r/v/k all and dialed a few of those in but it depends on your router and settup.
Some devices will handle it better and you might need to play a bit with say an android phone to get the best setup on that for switching properly. Some work better than others...its all kinda fine tuning. Some devices switch well, some dont. If you find one that wont..i kinda think iphone is picky about this..i dont have one, but read up on hints onto how to get that to work the best.
Hope this helps and if anyone has any hints to add, they are well appreciated.
Set everything us the same on each for signal. I use n/g mixed, wide 40hz and channel 1 in my environment. But to test I change one SSID to jonny3 and leave the primary at jonny2. Then you can walk with your signal checker and adjust the power settings to where you are mostly covering the signal with one or the other routers. You dont want one stepping on the over or switching will take more time/not switch.
Hope this helps and if anyone has any hints to add, they are well appreciated.
Do I need to set the Channel number to the same on both Wi-Fi signals.
Currently they are set to Channel 11 on the main router and Channel 3 on the second one.
They are set to these channels as others clash badly with the neighbors Wi-Fi signals.
Thanks again
Andy
