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Helix pods as wireless access points

Hello,

 

I have the Helix internet with Videotron, and have the router (white model) and 2 Helix Pods (newer model).

My house is wired with a switch and has ethernet jacks in most rooms, however, the router is in the basement and wifi does not extend to the rest of the house.

 

All my wired devices are connected via the switch and ethernet jacks, but I'm trying to extend the wifi in my house. I'm using the wifi pods connected (wired) to the router via the switch and ethernet cords, so basically using the wifi pods as a wireless access point.

 

I've read that this is unsupported, but it does actually work. From time to time. Today, everything stopped working. Luckily, restarting the gateway and unplugging/replugging the pods seemed to do the trick.

 

My question is:

- If this is going to stop working over and over, should I just purchase 2 wireless access points instead of using the helix pods in a way not intended?

If so, what would you recommend as wireless access points? 

I'm hoping that the functionality would be the same as with the helix pods, that is to say that the devices can connect to the wifi network automatically, without switching names etc. Do wireless access points require a different name and therefore the device to switch wifi networks depending on what room I'm in?

 

Thank you for clarifying all of this. (By the way, for me to put enough helix pods to reach the upstairs would require me to have a total of 4 to 5 of them so that's not ideal)

1 REPLY 1

JFrancoisD
Moderator - Solution Expert
Moderator - Solution Expert

Hello mikeypas! 

 

Using the pods in serial ( Gateway -> Pod -> Pod ) is absolutely possible and supported. It is not ideal however as each Pod in a segment will reduce the Internet speed by about 15-20%. This can still be a good solution if range is more of an issue than speed. 

 

Ideally, the Gateway should be placed in a centered position in your house/apartment so that all your devices are around it and form a network shaped more or less like a star. If necessary, you may contact our Technical Support to schedule a technician to move the Gateway for this purpose. 

 

But if push comes to shove, the Pods can be used in a Mesh configuration and each Pod can be used as an access point to connect another Pod.

 

-JFrancoisD