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Need another Point?

JW180
Community Member

A few months ago, I purchased the Nest router with 1 point. As I am trying to install webcams on the outside of the house, I am realizing that the signal outdoors is probably too weak, and will likely need another point/router to boost the signal on the outside of the house. 


Any benefit to purchasing another router vs point?

Thanks in advance!

1 Recommended Answer

MichaelP
Diamond Product Expert
Diamond Product Expert

Hello @JW180 

First, another point (or another router) will only help if you also follow the placement guidelines (primary as close to the center as possible with secondaries one or two rooms away from there so they can provide coverage to more distant clients). That said, the Nest WiFi Router units have AC2200 4x4 radios in them, while the Nest WiFi Point units have AC1200 2x2 radios. So, adding a Nest WiFi Router unit as a secondary will mean it can talk to the primary at double the speed a Point unit could. It will still be limited when talking to clients, since they don't likely have 4x4 radios, but it could be an improvement. The other advantage a Nest WiFi Router unit has is that it has Ethernet ports. You could use those to connect nearby devices via Ethernet to eliminate one of the two WiFi hops their traffic would otherwise take. Or, you could run an Ethernet cable from the primary Nest WiFi Router unit's LAN Ethernet port (directly or through one or more Ethernet switches) to the secondary Nest WiFi Router unit to eliminate the WiFi mesh hop entirely. That would let you place it further away, which would improve the chances of it providing coverage to things outside (for example). The down side is higher cost, obviously. An intermediate option (particularly if you're considering running Ethernet to the secondary) would be a Google WiFi unit. They are less expensive, having AC1200 2x2 radios, but including Ethernet ports (unlike the Nest WiFi Point units). Whew! I hope some of that helps.

View Recommended Answer in original post

3 REPLIES 3

MichaelP
Diamond Product Expert
Diamond Product Expert

Hello @JW180 

First, another point (or another router) will only help if you also follow the placement guidelines (primary as close to the center as possible with secondaries one or two rooms away from there so they can provide coverage to more distant clients). That said, the Nest WiFi Router units have AC2200 4x4 radios in them, while the Nest WiFi Point units have AC1200 2x2 radios. So, adding a Nest WiFi Router unit as a secondary will mean it can talk to the primary at double the speed a Point unit could. It will still be limited when talking to clients, since they don't likely have 4x4 radios, but it could be an improvement. The other advantage a Nest WiFi Router unit has is that it has Ethernet ports. You could use those to connect nearby devices via Ethernet to eliminate one of the two WiFi hops their traffic would otherwise take. Or, you could run an Ethernet cable from the primary Nest WiFi Router unit's LAN Ethernet port (directly or through one or more Ethernet switches) to the secondary Nest WiFi Router unit to eliminate the WiFi mesh hop entirely. That would let you place it further away, which would improve the chances of it providing coverage to things outside (for example). The down side is higher cost, obviously. An intermediate option (particularly if you're considering running Ethernet to the secondary) would be a Google WiFi unit. They are less expensive, having AC1200 2x2 radios, but including Ethernet ports (unlike the Nest WiFi Point units). Whew! I hope some of that helps.

Jeff
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hi, JW180.
I just wanted to jump in real fast to see if you saw MichaelP's reply and to see if you still needed some help on this or if you were able to get it sorted out. If you are still needing some help, just let us know and we'll be happy to continue helping.
Thanks.

Jeff
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hi, everyone.
As we haven't had any activity here recently I'm going to go ahead and close the thread. If you have more to add, feel free to start a new discussion.
Thanks