[Vol.16] One-Click AP Switching - The Hidden Features That 99% Don't Know About!

Is your home network experiencing similar issues?

The reason Dylan encountered this issue at home was due to a misunderstanding of the two modes in home routers: AP mode and Router mode. He has since configured all four routers in his home, creating four separate networks belonging to different segments, each operating independently. This setup forces Dylan to manually switch networks as he moves between floors, which is not only cumbersome but also leads to precious Ethernet ports on each floor's router being occupied.

So, how can this issue be resolved?

If Dylan designates the 4 routers to AP mode as relays for the modem, it ensures that all four floors are part of a single network with a unified SSID. There's no need for manual switching between floors.

Now, what exactly is Router mode, and what is AP mode? What are the scenarios of those two? Can you switch between these two modes, and if so, how should you do it?

Differences between AP Mode and Router Mode

1. Router Mode：

In Router mode, a home router acts as the central control point for the network and comes with routing, NAT (Network Address Translation), DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), and other network management functions. In Router mode, the router can not only connect multiple devices but also perform tasks such as network address allocation, port forwarding, and firewall functions, providing a greater degree of network control and management options.

2. AP Mode：

In AP mode, the router's functionality is simplified, primarily serving as a wireless access point, without performing routing, NAT, or DHCP functions. Routers in AP mode are typically used to extend an existing network's coverage, allowing wireless devices to connect to the existing network without introducing additional network management and routing features.

AP mode is suitable for scenarios where there is already a primary router and the need to expand wireless coverage, such as in a multi-story building like Dylan's. AP mode's support for roaming (allowing terminal devices to seamlessly switch between multiple access points to maintain a connection and obtain the best signal quality) can effectively address the issue of users having to switch between multiple SSIDs in a home, ensuring consistent SSID coverage throughout the entire house.

How to Switch a Regular Router to AP Mode

For regular home routers, switching to AP mode typically requires accessing the device's backend through a web interface and manually configuring the switch. If you need to switch multiple devices to AP mode, you would indeed need to log in to each device's backend interface individually, which can be a cumbersome and complex process.

But wait! Our switching process is incredibly simple!

Reyee Home Routers Introduce One-Click AP Switching Feature!

This feature allows you to scan the routers around you and seamlessly switch them all to AP mode, saving you the time-consuming task of configuring each one individually.

What's even more significant is that after this process, you can create a cloud-based project for this network composed of multiple routers, enabling remote network management. You can control and manage it in real-time through the Ruijie Reyee App.

For example, when you need to adjust the configuration of your home network, such as changing the password, with regular routers, you would typically need to return to the location of each device and configure them one by one. In Dylan's case, if he were using regular routers, he would have to go back home and perform password changes individually on all four routers to update the entire house's network password.

However, with Reyee routers, no matter where you are, you can effortlessly change the password at any time! You only need to use the 【Password】 feature in the Ruijie Reyee App, input the new and old passwords, and it will update the passwords for all devices in the network!

Instruction

Scenario 1: When there is no pstream gateway or when the upstream gateway is a third party.

Scenario 2: When the upstream gateway is EG series.

1. Ensure that the mesh function on EG is enabled (enabled by default).
2. Directly connect multiple home routers to EG.
3. Wait for three minutes.
4. The home routers automatically switch to AP mode in the project.

Extended Reading