I've got a pair of Node MCUs (ESP8266) connected on a home wifi network. One acts as a server and the other as a client. The server passes a string via the network to the client which then activates some relays based on the content of the string. When both client and server are connected to the same network SSID everything works perfectly.
However, I need the server to be located away from the home router much further than the wifi signal reaches. I have a powerline extender located where the server needs to be so the wifi network is available there. The wifi coming from this extender has good signal, is stable and works well.
I thought that because the extender was just "extending" the same network created by the home router that the server could connect to the extender and it would see the network in the same way as if it was directly connected to the home router. But it doesn't work. When the server is connected to the extender SSID and the client is connected to the home router SSID the string is not received by the client. Side note: if both client and server are connected to the extender everything also works fine.
The sketches for both client and server are attached for reference. I'm assuming I have to modify the IP, Gateway, subnet values in the sketches in some way, or possibly even in the configuration of the extender to make it be seen the same as the home router. There is also a WiFiServer value set to 80, but I don't understand the importance of this. I'm green to anything related to network protocols...etc... I copied the basis of the sketches from an Instructables project I found (I openly admit without understanding the network section) and just modified the rest of the code to suit my needs.
Would appreciate if anyone experienced on this has a suggestion for what I need to modify to get the server connected through the extender and seen by the client as if it was directly connected to the home router.
Yes, the powerline (extender) works fine. I have a different device connected to it permanently and its always online. My phone autodetects it and connects whenever I'm near. As mentioned in the initial post, when I connect both the client and server to the powerline extender everything works fine. The issue only occurs when one is connected to the home router and the other is connected to the powerline extender. Any advice? Thanks.
This my first project using the ESP8266 so have only set it up to communicate with the other ESP8266 for my project needs, which it does fine when both are connected through the extender. What would be an easy way to check if it could access anything else on the network/internet via the extender. What would you suggest? Sorry, not sure how to do this myself.
Connected the ESP8266 to the powerline extender router and ran the NTPclient sketch.
It appears to access the network/internet OK and gets the time. Screenshot of the serial monitor output is in the image attached.
the extender has a different ssid? it is different network? then it is not an extender but an AP. configure the 'extender' as extender, not as AP. what product is it?
Yes the extender has a different SSID. Its a D-Link DHP-W611AV (AV2 1000).
I also thought about this. I logged into the configuration settings of the extender to see if there was an obvious way to change between AP and extender but couldn't see that it is currently setup as an AP or how to change it.
Yes the passthrough adapter is connected directly to the home router with an ethernet cable. The wifi adapter (part with the antennas) is located remotely approx. 45m away from the home router. Signal quality from the extenders wifi adapter at the remote location is very good and the ESP8266 is only a few meters away.
jc12cl:
Yes the passthrough adapter is connected directly to the home router with an ethernet cable. The wifi adapter (part with the antennas) is located remotely approx. 45m away from the home router. Signal quality from the extenders wifi adapter at the remote location is very good and the ESP8266 is only a few meters away.
the IP range of the networks is the same or different? it should be different I think. if the main AP is 192.168.1.x then the extender AP should have for example 192.168.2.x . the the extender will know hhow to route a 192.168.1x address to the device on the main AP
Just tried Wifiscan and it sees the powerline extender router. I actually positioned myself in between both the home router and the extender router and it could see both at the same time. See attached image.
I also just now ran a simple sketch on each of the two ESP8266 modules to read the network settings from both the home router and powerline extender router. I positioned myself in between them so both could be connected simultaneously. See attached image which shows the last two digits of the IP is different. Not sure if this is expected or if it helps clarify the situation.
