Problem solved - Wifi Extender

Gary Wise

My Internet setup consists of AT&T Uverse DSL (using a Motorola DSL Modem/Wifi router combo) and a Wifi extender in my shack.  The extender receives the 2.4GHz signal from the Motorola and provides 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wifi plus four ethernet ports.

I had been using a Netgear WN2500RP extender.

With this setup, the radio (Flex6500) would not receive an IP address from the DHCP server (the Motorola) on the first power up.  The radio was connected to an Ethernet port on the extender.  I always had to start the radio twice in order to get an IP address assigned that was within my local LAN segment.  This was not a problem with Windows computers, only the radio.  This has been discussed here and apparently has to do with a timing issue, with Linux not receiving a proper and timely IP address assignment, and defaulting to a direct connect IP address.

I received my Maestro recently (love it!).  Now I had another problem. The Maestro would see the 2.4GHz signal from the Netgear extender but not the 5GHz signal.  As it is best practice to use 5GHz, I connected the Maestro via an ethernet cable while I considered the situation.

I decided to try a different extender.  I ordered a LinkSys AC1200 from Amazon.  I installed the LinkSys yesterday.

Success!  I set up the LinkSys to receive the 2.4 GHz wifi from the Motorola and output only a 5GHz wifi signal.  Now the radio receives a proper IP address on the first power up.  And the Maestro sees and connects to the 5GHz wifi.

I thought I would share this in case others are having a similar problem.

73 - Gary - W4EEY

Jim Gilliam

Another effective way to make an extender is to use the AV ac extenders. At the terminal point connect a second router and use it in the bridge mode. Plug into the router for extended Internet access and the router will broadcast WiFi at the remote point. Use a different name and a different frequency on the bridged router.

Jim, K6QE