How do I deploy a mesh Wi-Fi system?

Purpose

Mesh Wi-Fi systems allow users to connect to multiple routers within the same network using a single set of Wi-Fi SSID and password.

This article explains how to deploy a Synology mesh Wi-Fi system. The following terms will be used in this article:

Wi-Fi point: Refers to a router.
Primary Wi-Fi point: A router that will connect to a modem to get Internet access (also known as the primary router).
Additional Wi-Fi points: Routers that will act as satellites, receiving their Internet access from the primary Wi-Fi point and then rebroadcasting it to nearby client devices (also known as additional routers).

Environment

Supported versions of Synology Router Manager (SRM):
- Only SRM 1.2 or above versions support the deployment of mesh Wi-Fi systems. Ensure that the primary Wi-Fi point's SRM has been updated to the latest version.
Recommended maximum number of Wi-Fi points:
- In a completely wireless uplink network: 1 primary Wi-Fi point + 6 supplemental Wi-Fi points.
- In a completely wired uplink network: 1 primary Wi-Fi point + 12 supplemental Wi-Fi points.
- In a network with both wireless and wired uplinks: we suggest not exceeding 12 supplemental Wi-Fi points.

Supported topology of mesh Wi-Fi system:

On SRM 1.3.1 and above

Primary Wi-Fi Point	Additional Wi-Fi Point
RT6600ax	RT6600ax, WRX560, RT2600ac, MR2200ac
WRX560	WRX560, RT2600ac, MR2200ac
RT2600ac	RT2600ac, MR2200ac
MR2200ac	MR2200ac

On SRM 1.3.0

Primary Wi-Fi Point	Additional Wi-Fi Point
RT6600ax	RT6600ax

On SRM 1.2.5

Primary Wi-Fi Point	Additional Wi-Fi Point
RT2600ac	MR2200ac
MR2200ac	MR2200ac

Wi-Fi points should be deployed in the following manner:
- A mesh Wi-Fi system can be deployed through wired uplinks, wireless uplinks, or a combination of these two types.
- For Wi-Fi points deployed via a wireless uplink: Keep Wi-Fi points at least one meter away from other points, but do not make the distance too far.
- For Wi-Fi points deployed via a wired uplink: Currently, SRM only supports first-layer detection of wired unlinks to the primary Wi-Fi point during deployment. Make sure that all additional Wi-Fi points are connected to the primary router via the trunk port. Alternatively, you can also connect your primary and supplemental Wi-Fi points serially through a switch.

Resolution

Prepare your Wi-Fi points

Connect all power cords between the Wi-Fi points and outlets.
Power on all your Wi-Fi points.
Wait until the LED indicators indicate that your Wi-Fi points are ready for setup. The startup process may take up to 10 minutes for each Wi-Fi point. If the LED indicators do not show the correct colors, please refer to the hard reset section in this article to reset your Wi-Fi points and try again.

Add Wi-Fi points

Launch the SRM of the primary Wi-Fi point via your computer's web browser or the mobile application DS router (watch this video tutorial). Complete the first-time installation if necessary.
Add the Wi-Fi points to your mesh Wi-Fi system:
- For a new mesh Wi-Fi system: After completing the primary Wi-Fi point's first-time installation, click on Add Wi-Fi Point. SRM will guide you through the process of adding additional Wi-Fi points.
- For an existing system:
  1. Update SRM on your primary Wi-Fi point to the latest version.
  2. Do a hard reset of the Synology devices you want to configure as additional Wi-Fi points.¹
  3. Go to Wi-Fi Connect > Wi-Fi Point and run the Add Wi-Fi Point wizard.² SRM will guide you through the process of adding additional Wi-Fi points.

Optimize placement and connections

Place your Wi-Fi points at the locations where you wish to extend the Wi-Fi signal. To learn how to deploy a Wi-Fi system to achieve the best connection, please refer to this article.
Set up the uplink network:
- Wireless uplink: Adjust the location of the Wi-Fi points to maximize signal strength. You can check the signal strength through the LED indicators of the Wi-Fi points³ or at SRM > Wi-Fi Connect.
- Ethernet uplink: Connect the WAN ports of supplemental Wi-Fi points to the LAN ports of the primary Wi-Fi point using Ethernet cables.⁴

Change the uplinks of Wi-Fi points on SRM

Once the mesh Wi-Fi system is created, if you wish to adjust the uplinks of certain Wi-Fi points, you can go to Wi-Fi Connect > Wi-Fi Point > Manage > Select the uplink type to change the uplinks of the Wi-Fi points.⁵

Notes:

To use the RT2600ac as an additional Wi-Fi point your device must have SRM 1.3.1 or a later version installed before doing a hard reset.
SRM only supports adding six Wi-Fi points through the Add Wi-Fi Point wizard at a time. You will need to run the wizard again if you wish to add more than six Wi-Fi points.
Wi-Fi points have to be placed within the coverage of their parent Wi-Fi points. If a Wi-Fi point has poor or no signals, please move the point closer to other points. You can check the LED indicators of the point to know its signal strength.
If you have more than two Wi-Fi points, we recommend deploying the Wi-Fi points in parallel (i.e., a star network) rather than in serial (i.e., a daisy chain) to optimize network throughput.
If an uplink loses connection, please connect the current Wi-Fi point to any single working Wi-Fi point by an Ethernet cable. After you complete the adjustment, SRM will automatically restore the Wi-Fi point's connection.

Further reading

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