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Can an Access Point Have the Same SSID as the Router?

Boost your Wi-Fi range with similar names for your router and APs

7 min. read

Published onOctober 16, 2023

published onOctober 16, 2023

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Key notes

Do you know that your router and access point can have the same SSID? Do you know there are also compelling reasons to do so and not to?

The key is to know why you want to do it, how to do it correctly, and the impact it will have on your network. In this post, we will review these questions and uncover more knowledge on this matter.

What happens if 2 routers have the same SSID?

If two routers have the same SSID, and both are broadcasting on the same frequency, then the available wireless devices will be able to connect to any of them if they have an open channel. However, only one of them can be connected at any given time.

The wireless devices will use whichever access point has the strongest signal. If they are close enough to both routers, they could switch back and forth between them. However, the SSID collision will likely result in poor performance and evendropped connections.

Can I set up an access point to have the same SSID as the router?

SSID cloning is possible and very common because it makes setup easier and more convenient for users. However, you should be aware of a few things:

1. The router must be broadcasting its SSID

This is a setting in the router, which you can find by logging in to the router’s admin page. If your router isn’t broadcasting its SSID, your computer will not be able to see and connect to the network.

2. The access point should be using the same wireless channel as the router

The main reason for this requirement is that most devices can only connect to one Wi-Fi network at a time. If you have multiple APs on different channels, your device will have trouble knowing which one it should be connected to.

This is important because you don’t want two devices broadcasting on the same frequency at the same time. If they aren’t using the same channel number, there could be interference between them that causes performance andchannel conflictissues.

3. The access point must use the same security settings as the router

The wireless security setting on the access point must be identical to the wireless security setting on the router, preferably the WPA2.

If the wireless network uses any other security protocol, such as WEP, it’s impossible to clone the SSID, and you’ll likely run into problems when trying to connect devices to the network.

What are the advantages of having the same SSID on both devices?

What are the disadvantages of having the same SSID on both devices?

How do I set up an access point with the same SSID as my router?

Log in to your router’s admin page using its IP address or hostname. You can find this information in its manual or in the network information page of its admin panel.

Once you have your secondary device plugged in, it’s time to configure it to work with your primary router. You will need to do this on each additional device you want to use as an access point.

The first thing is tochange the IP addresses of both devices to Static IP Addresses. This enables the access point to connect directly to the primary router without other devices getting in the way. Once done, set up the name of the AP to be similar to the router, and you’re good to go.

In the end, if you have more than one access point in your network, it is possible to have them use the same SSID. However, having separate SSIDs can also be beneficial in a number of ways, and there are advantages to implementing multiple hubs.

As you weigh your options and their costs, take into account the time and effort of setting up and maintaining multiple access points. If you’re not careful, trying to connect your computers and devices in different locations around the house can become a nightmare.

Ultimately, you’ll have to decide which option best suits your personal needs. You might actually find out yourprefer Wi-Fi mesh to access points.

Have you tried setting up your access point(s) with the same network name as your router? What has been your experience, and would you recommend it? Let us know in the comment section below.

Can an Access Point Have the Same SSID as the Router?#

Can I set up an access point to have the same SSID as the router?#

1. The router must be broadcasting its SSID#

2. The access point should be using the same wireless channel as the router#

3. The access point must use the same security settings as the router#

What are the advantages of having the same SSID on both devices?#

What are the disadvantages of having the same SSID on both devices?#

How do I set up an access point with the same SSID as my router?#