Turn of SH2 Wi-Fi, Ethernet to Netgear extender

[Regretjoining]

Just signed up to BT, endless problems but moving on. SH2 is incredibly weak and barely gets out of the room it is in, have read other comments here stating the same. My previous router from preBT Plusnet (a cheap and cheerful Zyxel) got to the extender in the upstairs hall easily.

BT sent round their Wi-Fi expert who just tried to flog their discs, no technical knowledge at all.

my question, I will turn off SH2 Wi-Fi have an Ethernet to a Netgear router/extender to get upstairs, anyone done this successfully?

[countrypaul]

You can have multiple WAPs on the same SSID, so that when connecting your device will chose which to use. I have used old routers for this purpose, you do not get true WiFi roaming as these is a delay if you move out of range of one and the device needs to connect to a different one.

If you turn off WiFi on the SH2 you do not want an extender as there will be no WiFi to extend. You could use a router the includes WiFi and turn off the routing as above, but if you are buying new kit you only need a WAP not a router.

If you intend to replace the SH2 with a Netgear router bear in mind the Netgear will not support BT  DV.

[Regretjoining]

Thanks, understand the DV restrictions, which limits scrapping the SH2 completely. I want to turn off the SH2 Wi-Fi and put it in the cupboard with just the wire to phone and Ethernet cable to router capable of getting a Wi-Fi signal upstairs ( the setup I had for years before BT). It annoying that I will need two boxes in one room but I think this unavoidable. Can I just Ethernet to a better router then Wi-Fi to extenders from that router and turn of SH2 Wi-Fi?

[licquorice]

Yes

[countrypaul]

From what you describe I do not think you want another router, just a WAP (wireless access point). If you want to use a second router you will need to disable the DHCP on it and make sure its ip address does not conflict with the SH2 or its dhcp range, and you probably won't use the routing ability unless you want to setup double NAT etc.

If you still have your Zyxel router you could repurpose that.

If you buy a WAP, I would suggest you opt for one that supports WiFi 6 (SH2 is only WiFi 5) and gigabit Ethernet so you have some upto date features. I think it would make sense to also have one that allows you to split the 2.4 & 5 GHz bands (cannot do that on SH2). Depending on what else you think might be wanted in the future you may consider have multiple ethernet ports so it can also function as a switch.

[Regretjoining]

Thanks for this, I turned off WiFi on the SH2 as range was so poor it could not reach extender upstairs. I, did as you say, resurrect the old Zyxel router and ethernet it to SH2 as I need DV.

The old Zyxel happily reaches the extender upstairs so I now have WiFi throughout the house just not using the SH2. It means that I have two routers but the SH2 is in the cupboard.

It worrying that my old Zyxel has far greater range than the SH2 and the 'BT Engineer' was just a salesman.