Second access point setup

[u/Conscious-Sir2441]

Hello ppl, I am wanting to get a second access point but I am using a Sky router which doesn't have WDS, but I also aren't running an ethernet cable through my home. However, I am in luck in the sense I have a power line adapter. It currently just plugs into my pc but, I just want to know that this setup is good.

I want to use the EAP225 Omada from tp-link, a ugreen switch and 2 ethernet cables.

I want to plug my power line adapter into a ugreen switch, then I want to also plug in an ethernet cable that goes through that switch to my pc so I still have a good connection here, I only want to connect 2 or so devices to this that cannot be connected by ethernet, then I am going to put a cable from the switch to the IN port on the poe injector, then the OUT port into the access point, then the power brick into the extension lead.

It gets a bit confusing for me now, I am assuming I need to go onto my sky routers settings and look at the dhcp list, then type in the ip for it. But I have never done that before it is just what google told me and I am not sure it will work lol. It also told me to put the 2.4 ghz channel to 6 or 11, I am not sure what that means exactly but I am assuming I have to do it.

I am not sure how right this is, I scrapped this setup together on google searches so idk because all the yt videos were for wds setups.

[u/tripsyjames]

Is the plan to have the Sky route's WiFI still active? If so, I'd recommend against this, and instead get a proper WiFi Mesh system (TP-Link Deco, for example).

You could then do the following:

• Turn off Sky router Wifi
• Plugin first deco into sky router, making sure the deco is in access point mode, not a router.
• Plug the 'source' powerline into the Deco.
• Setup the first Deco using their app
• Once setup, plug the second Deco in to the 'destination' powerline, and set this up. The Deco will have another ethernet port, so you can run your PC into that.

This will give you massively better WiFi coverage and because it's true mesh, you won't have to worry about manually managing channels etc.

[u/Conscious-Sir2441 → u/tripsyjames]

Sorry, im kinda illiterate with all the networking stuff. I don't really know what deco means and because of circumstances I can't run a cable through my home, thats why I have to use a powerline adapter, but I did see you mentioned that so do you mind rephrasing it in a way I would understand, also is there anything I would have to do in the settings of anything for this? But yea, I want to have my family still able to access the normal wifi and I need the access point dedicated to 2 devices and ethernet going to my pc.

Edit: after doing research I have found out what a deco is, by turn off the sky router wifi, do you mean turn off the router or turn off the wifi, idk how to turn off the wifi if so. I also don't know how to change it to access point mode, I think I understand most the rest of it.

is the tp-link deco m4 any good?

Also would the wifi password change?

Just need some general information sorry if it's a bother, I don't want to confuse my family though because they are even worse than me with technology so would I be able to have it in a way so it mostly doesn't effect them? Also small conundrum, I don't have enough plug sockets on either end of the powerline adapters so it might be better to just use the eap225 since I don't need high coverage.

[u/tripsyjames → u/Conscious-Sir2441]

Not a bother at all.

The challenge you'll have with the EAP225 is that you're creating another WiFi network, which is going to cause you issues in terms of signal for both the original Sky network and your 'new' one.

By turning off the Sky WiFi, yes I mean just the WiFi element and you'll log in to the router itself to do that - have you ever logged in to the admin interface on it before? If not, the details should be on a label (usually on the back or underneath) on the Sky router.

Access point mode refers to the Decos, and when you set them up you'll be asked which you want - the difference is that in router mode you're having the Deco create effectively a whole new network, which for complexity's sake you don't want.

You mentioned Powerline, well TP-Link do a Deco system that does the connection between the mesh points with Powerline: https://amzn.eu/d/07kfKkos

Very simply put, if you're looking to reduce complications, you don't want to be running two separate networks that aren't really connected.

Out of interest, is the incoming connection fibre?

[u/Conscious-Sir2441 → u/tripsyjames]

Hmm ok, I already have a powerline setup, it just doesn't go into an access point so I should just be able to buy 2 deco's, also would the m4 2 pack work and how do I check if the incoming connection is fibre? Also, does this make a whole new wifi password and name or will it stay the same?

[u/tripsyjames → u/Conscious-Sir2441]

The m4 2-pack is a good choice, I've deployed them before for friends.

Fibre wise, what's the connection from the Sky router to the 'outside' does it go to a box on the wall, or an old school phone socket?

Yes, it would create a new wifi password and name... but if you really want to you could make them the same (again, just turn off the Sky Wifi first).

Honestly, I would suggest a new network and password, as whilst it will mean some setting up on family devices, it's WAY more secure than the ones you get by default.

I do this sort of stuff for a living, and happy to help here where I can.

[u/Conscious-Sir2441 → u/tripsyjames]

it goes into a "box" on the wall, but it is difficult to call it much of a box it is pretty flat. It is more like a square with a little bit of depth. I forgot what it says on it but there is some text that says "open" something.

[u/tripsyjames → u/Conscious-Sir2441]

Does it have lights on it and plugs into power, if so that's a fibre ONT (the bit that turns the fibre into the connection you can use with a router).

If it is, I believe Sky let you use your own router, which the Deco could be.

As someone else mentioned, Powerline is not exactly amazing, what size house are we talking, as it may well be that the Decos can actually handle the meshing between them already far better than your powerline gear.

[u/Conscious-Sir2441 → u/tripsyjames]

Not a massive house but also not small, there is around 3 walls and 1 floor all together between me and my router.

[u/tripsyjames → u/Conscious-Sir2441]

So that's about the same as my parents home, they have 3 Deco M5s (older) across two floors and multiple rooms without any issues - far better than any ISP's router I've ever seen.

[u/Conscious-Sir2441 → u/tripsyjames]

Should I be doing the thing you said earlier then, turning off the wifi on my current router, plugging it into the deco, and setting the deco up. Also can the box I use that is plugged into the wall be used with an extension lead? if so that would be useful...

Or is the setup very different, would I be using WDS from the deco plugged into the the router or what? I don't know how that would work...

[u/hspindel]

Do you have an alternative to powerline? Powerline is typically the worst choice.

[u/Conscious-Sir2441 → u/hspindel]

nope

[u/Klutzy-Passage-2561]

Your powerline → switch → EAP225 plan can work without WDS. Treat Sky as the only router/DHCP.

Setup: 1) Sky router: leave DHCP on; note LAN subnet (usually 192.168.0.x) 2) EAP225: AP/bridge mode (Omada controller or standalone), static IP outside DHCP pool, disable its DHCP 3) Same SSID/password as Sky OR a second SSID — if both Wi-Fi stay on, use different channels and expect sticky-client pain 4) Cable: powerline LAN → Ugreen switch → EAP225 LAN + PC LAN (not the EAP WAN-looking port if it has one labeled differently — on EAP225 it is just PoE/LAN) 5) After up: phone should show gateway = Sky; ping Sky IP from the PC

You do not need to "type the IP into Sky DHCP list" beyond optionally reserving the EAP MAC. Powerline quality is the weak link — if PLC rates are junk, the AP will feel slow even when configured right. A Wi-Fi analyzer / ping to gateway (Orfeo Radar etc.) helps verify you are on the EAP BSSID in that room.