This device matches the speed of an inexpensive wireless repeater.
This device matches the speed of an inexpensive wireless repeater.
Main router model: HG8245H5. Secondary router: PRC3801. Wireless repeater: generic model from AliExpress. PC wireless adapter: Tl-wn881nd. Phone: Poco f1. Main router's 2.4GHz network provides roughly 30~mbps. The secondary router connected via LAN to the main router delivers about 8~mbps on my phone and 30~mbps wirelessly on my PC. The inexpensive wireless repeater matches the speed of the secondary router (just amplifying the signal).
Testing Ethernet on each cable: When I connect a PC using the same cable as the PRC3801, speeds reach around 98mbps (using a cheap Cat5e cable, max 100mbps). Connecting directly to the HG2845H5 with the ISP's cable gives 200-270mbps. Using the secondary router with the ISP cable shows no difference in speed.
Questions: 1. Why is my secondary router so slow? 2. Why do I experience faster speeds on my PC than on my phone?
I tested channels 1,6,11 on the secondary router and got the same speed. (Using the default 40MHz also worked, I tried 20MHz.) Since my secondary router supports 5GHz Wi-Fi, I thought it would be faster than its 2.4GHz version. But it matched or was slower. Any explanation?
The Prolink needs to operate in AP mode. Avoid having two routers set as default on the same network. Refer to the Prolink manual, page 12, for installation steps. Next, configure the Prolink with a fixed LAN IP in the same subnet as the main router, but outside its DHCP range. Align the subnet mask with that of the primary router and set the gateway/DNS to the main router's LAN IP. WiFi settings may be adjusted independently. Make sure each device broadcasts on distinct, non-overlapping channels—this is crucial for 2.4GHz due to limited spectrum. On 2.4GHz, keep channel widths under 20MHz; on 5GHz, up to 80MHz is permissible if you conduct a proper survey and avoid interference. A stable wired connection to the router/switch consistently offers better speed and reliability than wireless, though interference and obstacles often hinder WiFi performance despite tuning. Don’t proceed without a wireless survey first. If the Prolink defaults to its setup, expect double-NAT and potential speed issues before WiFi even starts; try the recommendations above. Always run a 5GHz spectrum check using WiFi Analyzer to understand your environment. Wider channels provide more bandwidth but increase interference risk if overlaps exist.
On your main router, adjust the LAN settings: IP 192.168.100.1, mask 255.255.255.0, starting at 192.168.100.10, ending at 192.168.100.254. Switch the Prolink to AP mode and configure it with IP 192.168.100.2, mask 255.255.255.0, gateway 192.168.100.1, DNS 192.168.100.1.
It will receive an IP address from the DHCP pool unless you have static IPs configured. You should visit your main router's client list, locate the matching LAN IP, and then enter that address in your browser.