How do I set my range extender as the default Network connection?

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  1. Posts : 16,784
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       #11

    Charles,

    I've become very confused by the mixture of references to setting WiFi network priorities and of setting the relative priority of WiFi - Ethernet adapters. They are two separate subjects that do not affect each other.

    What progress has been made on setting WiFi network priorities & their attendant auto-switch settings?

    Denis
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 20
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #12

    For starters, the simple answer to my question is that by unchecking the "automatic connection" box on the Wi-Fi connection and leaving it checked for the Range Extender, the Range Extender always connects.

    Attachment 328999

    The next part of my question was will the Ethernet Cable automatically override the Wi-Fi and Range Extender connections when it's plugged in, and the answer appears to be yes (see screenshots below), because when I run "Get-NetIPInterface" the Ethernet connection appears on the interface list (correct me if I'm wrong).

    The further option I was presented with, is whether a physical setting can force the Wi-Fi to connect rather than the Range Extender when it's a stronger signal (within range). Although, I'm not too concerned about using this option.
    I am actually configuring two laptops, a new ASUS and an older Dell Inspiron. The ASUS is the one that needs to periodically prioritize the Ethernet Connection.

    Here is a summary of what I understand to be the instructions I've received so far:
    1. Set the priority in "Interface Metric"
    - Initial articles I read before posting this seemed to indicate any number would work, but it doesn't. - If I need to use the "ifIndex" number, which one, the IPv6 or the IPv4? - Interestingly, the Ethernet connection contains the same number for both IPv6 and IPv4, as does the Wi-Fi connection on the ASUS, while the Dell appears to have different numbers for each Wi-Fi connection (see below).

    2. Change the priority of the IPv6 to match the IPv4 connection - Using the link provided I have determined that my two laptops have unique IPv6 numbers. How do you change it and how necessary is it? I don't feel too comfortable messing with connections settings.

    3. Turn "autoswitching" on - It was already on by default on my laptop.
    Finally, I purposely deleted the other "Get-NetIPInterface" columns because it was my understanding that the only one I needed to look at was the "ifIndex" metric.

    Charles

    Screenshots:
    Attachment 329013
    Attachment 329017
    Attachment 329015

    - - - Updated - - -

    For starters, the simple answer to my question is that by unchecking the "automatic connection" box on the Wi-Fi connection and leaving it checked for the Range Extender, the Range Extender always connects.

    Attachment 328999

    The next part of my question was will the Ethernet Cable automatically override the Wi-Fi and Range Extender connections when it's plugged in, and the answer appears to be yes (see screenshots below), because when I run "Get-NetIPInterface" the Ethernet connection appears on the interface list (correct me if I'm wrong).

    The further option I was presented with, is whether a physical setting can force the Wi-Fi to connect rather than the Range Extender when it's a stronger signal (within range). Although, I'm not too concerned about using this option.

    I am actually configuring two laptops, a new ASUS and an older Dell Inspiron. The ASUS is the one that needs to periodically prioritize the Ethernet Connection.

    Here is a summary of what I understand to be the instructions I've received so far:

    1. Set the priority in "Interface Metric"
    - Initial articles I read before posting this seemed to indicate any number would work, but it doesn't.
    - If I need to use the "ifIndex" number, which one, the IPv6 or the IPv4?
    - Interestingly, the Ethernet connection contains the same number for both IPv6 and IPv4, as does the Wi-Fi connection
    on the ASUS, while the Dell appears to have different numbers for each Wi-Fi connection (see below).

    2. Change the priority of the IPv6 to match the IPv4 connection
    - Using the link provided I have determined that my two laptops have unique IPv6 numbers. How do you change it
    and how necessary is it? I don't feel too comfortable messing with connections settings.

    3. Turn "autoswitching" on
    - It was already on by default on my laptop.

    Finally, I purposely deleted the other "Get-NetIPInterface" columns because it was my understanding that the only one I needed to look at was the "ifIndex" metric.

    Charles

    Screenshots:

    Attachment 329013

    Attachment 329017

    Attachment 329015
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 1,807
    Windows 10 Pro 21H1 19043.1348
       #13

    @CharlesI

    We can't see any of your attachments. Please follow this tutorial to post screenshots.

    How to Upload and Post Screenshots and Files at Ten Forums
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 20
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #14

    Something very strange happened when I wrote that post. My login timed out and kicked me out and when I logged back in the strange "Attachment xxxx" links appeared instead of the images. I tried to re-post the article but the links came out the same. I created other posts in this question without any problem. I'll try again here.

    For starters, the simple answer to my question is that by unchecking the "automatic connection" box on the Wi-Fi connection and leaving it checked for the Range Extender, the Range Extender always connects.

    How do I set my range extender as the default  Network connection?-connect-automatically.jpg

    The next part of my question was will the Ethernet Cable automatically override the Wi-Fi and Range Extender connections when it's plugged in, and the answer appears to be yes (see screenshots below), because when I run "Get-NetIPInterface" the Ethernet connection appears on the interface list (correct me if I'm wrong).

    The further option I was presented with, is whether a physical setting can force the Wi-Fi to connect rather than the Range Extender when it's a stronger signal (within range). Although, I'm not too concerned about using this option.
    I am actually configuring two laptops, a new ASUS and an older Dell Inspiron. The ASUS is the one that needs to eriodically prioritize the Ethernet Connection.

    Here is a summary of what I understand to be the instructions I've received so far:

    1. Set the priority in "Interface Metric"
    - Initial articles I read before posting this seemed to indicate any number would work, but it doesn't. - If I need to use the "ifIndex" number, which one, the IPv6 or the IPv4?
    - Interestingly, the Ethernet connection contains the same number for both IPv6 and IPv4, as does the Wi-Fi connection on the ASUS, while the Dell appears to have different numbers for each Wi-Fi connection (see below).

    2. Change the priority of the IPv6 to match the IPv4 connection
    - Using the link provided I have determined that my two laptops have unique IPv6 numbers. How do you change it and how necessary is it? I don't feel too comfortable messing with connections settings.

    3. Turn "autoswitching" on
    - It was already on by default on my laptop.

    Finally, I purposely deleted the other "Get-NetIPInterface" columns because it was my understanding that the only one I needed to look at was the "ifIndex" metric.
    Charles
    Screenshots:

    How do I set my range extender as the default  Network connection?-c-connections.jpg

    How do I set my range extender as the default  Network connection?-j-connections.jpg

    How do I set my range extender as the default  Network connection?-j-ethernet.jpg
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 16,784
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       #15

    CharlesI said:
    3. Turn "autoswitching" on
    - It was already on by default on my laptop.
    Charles,

    Auto-switching is set separately for each WiFi network and not for your laptop itself.

    Denis
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 20
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #16

    I've become very confused by the mixture of references to setting WiFi network priorities and of setting the relative priority of WiFi - Ethernet adapters. They are two separate subjects that do not affect each other.
    What progress has been made on setting WiFi network priorities & their attendant auto-switch settings?
    I'm very confused by all of these answers, actually. My question was how do I set priority on one laptop for the following in order of preference:

    1. Ethernet Cable (one connection when plugged in) - otherwise:
    2. Range Extender (one connection) - otherwise:
    2. Wi-Fi Connection (one connection)

    The solutions I've been shown appear to involve Windows and Power Shell settings on a single computer for multiple instances. I have a feeling that you are referring me to network solutions involving multiple computers and maybe multiple modems and Ethernet connections- like a company would have. This is a simple at home setup. I have one modem and two laptops, there is only one instance of the 3 connections above for both laptops.

    I hope that helps.

    Charles
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 16,784
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       #17

    CharlesI said:
    My question was how do I set priority on one laptop for the following in order of preference:

    1. Ethernet Cable (one connection when plugged in) - otherwise:
    2. Range Extender (one connection) - otherwise:
    2. Wi-Fi Connection (one connection)
    Charles,

    They are two entirely separate questions.
    Both your questions and the TenForumsTutorials you've been given links to are relevant to home networks such as yours and mine.

    1 Ethernet adapter & Wifi adapter priorities - W10 tweaker gave you the tutorial link for that.This is completely separate from setting WiFi network priorities & WiFi network auto-switching.

    2 WiFi network priorities and network autoswitching settings - I gave you the tutorial links for this.If, as I expect, your router network and extender have different network names [different SSIDs] then you can set both up so the extender gets connected to if it is there, the router gets connected to only if the extender signal is absent and one of them can be assigned an auto-switch setting so that you switch automatically from the lower priority one to the higher priority one whenever the latter becomes available.

    Just by way of example for the WiFi networks -
    1 My router network ["MainNet"] is the higher priority. I do not allow autoswitching away from it.
    2 My phone's WiFi hotspot ["FallbackNet"] has the lower priority. I allow auto-switching away from it.
    - If only the router network is available then it is connected automatically.
    - If both are available then the router network is connected automatically.
    - If only the phone's hotspot is available then it is connected automatically.
    - If I am connected to the router network and I switch the router off then the phone's hotspot is connected automatically.
    - If I am connected to the phone's hotspot and the router network is switched on then the router network is connected automatically.
    - If I am connected to the router network and the phone's hotspot is switched on then nothing changes - the router network remains connected.



    I have an awful feeling that we are talking at cross-purposes somewhere in all this.


    Denis
    Last edited by Try3; 30 Apr 2021 at 11:12.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 1,807
    Windows 10 Pro 21H1 19043.1348
       #18

    Hi Charles,

    Let's start with #1. You want the Ethernet connection to have first priority when connected. As you can see from the tutorial pic below, the lowest # gets the higher connection priority.

    How do I set my range extender as the default  Network connection?-0430-network-adapter-priority.jpg


    In your pics above, your WiFi adapter has a Metric setting of 1 which is the lowest setting of all your adapters. The WiFi adapter will always take precedence. Please review the tutorial to and decide which method of changing the priority settings suits you best. Personally, I prefer the PowerShell method, much less fiddling and instant results.

    Change Network Adapter Connection Priorities in Windows 10


    You should establish your IPv6 connectivity to determine if that should also be considered. Just click on this link and post the results. It's pretty straight forward and you'll know momentarily.

    IPv6 test - IPv6/4 connectivity and speed test
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 20
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #19

    OK, so it seems that the Ethernet connection will never have priority if it is set to one. I presume that means that even when I plug it in, it's not being used, since my laptop always has Wi-Fi on as well.

    Here's a screenshot showing that there is IPv6 connectivity (I removed my address, I figure there is no need to post that part).

    How do I set my range extender as the default  Network connection?-ipv6.jpg

    Please let me know exactly what I need to put in PowerShell, and do I have to be in a specific folder to run it.

    Thanks
    Charles
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 1,807
    Windows 10 Pro 21H1 19043.1348
       #20

    OK Charles, it would appear that your internet connection does support IPv6. Let's just keep that in mind as we move forward.
    This fact supports that you should maintain the same priority settings for both IPv4 & IPv6 connections, i.e. WiFi IPv4 & WiFi IPv6 both use the same priority AKA InterfaceMetric. Same for the Ethernet adapter.

    Just for clarification, you have 2 computers (Asus & Dell) that require different Network Adapter connection priorities, is that correct?

    Currently for the Asus PC, the Ethernet - IPv4 will be first priority meaning - will connect before the WiFi adapter as per your PowerShell (PS) screenshot.

    Currently for the Dell, we can't determine the Ethernet adapter priority because it's not shown in your Dell screenshot. Did you remove that detail? You may require to connect to the Ethernet adapter in order to see the priority setting.
    Mine is still visible even with the adapter disabled.

    Please identify the Network adapter priority for both devices. Please also try keep in mind, for this portion of discussion & configuration, WiFi is WiFi & Ethernet is Ethernet. Which WiFi SSID (my home or my extender) is irrelevant at this time.

    Once the Network adapter priorities have been configured to your satisfaction, we can then set your preferred WiFi SSID priorities.



    I'll start you off in the right direction.

    Open an elevated PowerShell window, as you've done previously. Type or copy & paste
    Code:
    Get-NetIPInterface
    followed by enter.

    Review the InterfaceMetric for both WiFi & Ethernet and adjust as required as per the tutorial.



    For the Asus, if the Ethernet (18) is first priority, adjust both the IPv4 & IPv6 to priority 5. I'd avoid using 1, that's another story.

    This command will set both IPv4 & IPv6 adapter at once.

    Code:
    Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceIndex "18" -InterfaceMetric "5"



    For the Asus, if WiFi (8) is the 2nd priority, adjust both IPv4 &IPv6 to priority 10

    This command will set both IPv4 & IPv6 adapter at once.

    Code:
    Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceIndex "8" -InterfaceMetric "10"




    If you prefer the priorities to be WiFi first & Ethernet second on the Asus, reverse the InterfaceMetric #.
    The lower number always has priority.


    For the Dell, if the WiFi is first priority, use the lower InterfaceMetric or 5.


    Once you get that sorted, we'll review the WiFi priority setting requirements. They can be the same or different on each of the PCs, whatever your preference.


    Once you're happy with the settings on both PCs, please post screenshots from PS showing the adapter priorities.

    If anything doesn't look correct, please let me know.
    Last edited by W10 Tweaker; 03 May 2021 at 14:14.
      My Computer


 

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