Find a DIY guide for setting up mesh Wi-Fi networks.
Find a DIY guide for setting up mesh Wi-Fi networks.
You're looking to set up a mesh Wi-Fi network with multiple routers. Since you have four routers—one main and three APs converted as access points—you can create up to eight SSIDs using dual-band routers. To avoid seeing all eight SSIDs in the Wi-Fi settings, you should disable the broadcast of the other three APs' SSIDs while keeping the main router's SSID active. This way, only the desired SSID will appear, making it easier to manage and secure your network.
From a technical standpoint, having all wireless access points connected through a main router doesn't constitute a mesh network. However, I grasp your goal. Assigning the same SSID to each AP will make it seem like one device to any connected client. You won't need to enable SSID broadcasting on any of them. It's best to set up each AP with its own WiFi configuration: lower the transmission power so signals barely touch the next AP, assign non-overlapping channels—especially important in the 2.4GHz band—and prioritize 5GHz usage. Keep encryption, security settings, and channel widths consistent. This approach simplifies handover for users switching between access points.