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Neither router you linked to is supported by OpenWRT or DD-WRT.
Plenty of supported TP-Link routers exist, and probably for cheaper.
What you need is a cheap access point.
"Extenders" actually slow down your network since WiFi isn't full duplex but half duplex. That's why you can't have really have more than one.
Run an ethernet cable to an access point and you will be glad you did.
His router is tri-band though meaning it has 2 5ghz transceivers. With an extender usually you use one of them as a backplane for ap->ap communication so it doesn't interfere with your performance.
Unfortunately, for many models - like the Linksys WRT 3200ACM - that second antenna (technically the third one if you include the 2.4Ghz one) doesn’t function at all without the manufacturer’s firmware. It’s a dead stick with any third-party firmware, and is 100% software-enabled.
I have found this fact to be reliable whether it is DD-WRT or OpenWRT, and across several different manufacturers including Asus and D-Link.
This thread is just full of super useful info. Cheers and thanks!
I'm living in WiFi 5 world so this is new info to me. Neat. Thanks for the heads up.
Wifi 5 vs 6, 6E and 7 are worlds different. A LOT has changed in that time.
It was either 6 or 7 that was designed with mesh/extenders in mind, and it actually works really well if you have good hardware.
Also even in the wifi 5 days they made mesh/extenders explicitly with duplex issues in mind. Just about every high end wifi 5 system had at least dual band wifi, with most having 3.
Ok, thanks for the help - I will look into what I can do with an access point and I should be able to get something going and it looks like significantly cheaper.
No problem, also look at atzenteol@sh.itjust.works' comment in reply to mine. They have some info I wasn't aware of regarding tri-band WiFi routers. I'm living in WiFi 5 land, so I wasn't aware of this cool trick:
So an access point is still a good solution, but it sounds like you can use it as an "extender" without an ethernet cable as long as you can use one of your spare 5ghz bands to communicate with it. Which is super cool and I was totally unaware of.