There are multiple ways you can provide improved WiFi coverage using additional access points. This article will cover these options and how to configure the MikroTiks using the Minim Care Portal.

Please update to latest stable firmware before provisioning

Wired Extenders / Wired Access Points

Wired Access Points provide a very consistent connection and strong backhaul in homes with challenging RF environments. A cable is run from a LAN port on the main gateway to the WAN port on the access point to achieve this setup. 

To setup a wired access point, follow the steps below. Before proceeding, confirm the  Minim enabled MikroTik main gateway has already been setup and enabled in an end user account.

1. 1. 1. Flash the MikroTik unit to be used as an extender with Minim.  We recommend flashing the unit with DHCP Port 1.
         
         
      2. Next, ensure the unit is setup as DHCP. This will make it so the device can receive a lease from the main gateway.
         
         
      3. Navigate to the Inventory tab of the Minim Care Portal. Confirm the MAC address of the unit appears in the ISP or network manager inventory list.
         
         
      4. Proceed to the end user account where the wired access point will be assigned.
      5. Scroll down to the Access Points section where the main gateway is displayed. Click on the "+" icon (see screenshot below).
         
         
      6. Enter the MAC address of the unit in the available field and then click the "Add to LAN" button.
         
         
      7. Plug one end of an ethernet cable into the WAN port of the access point and the other end of the ethernet cable into the LAN port on the main gateway.
         
         
      8. Wait a couple of minutes to allow the unit to come online and configure itself. When ready, it will appear as Online on the end user's account page.
         
         
      9. Go to the Router Settings tab and click the Apply button. This will ensure WiFi settings are added to this main gateway.
         
         
      10. Confirm the access point was configured correctly by testing the connection. The Care Portal will show when devices are connecting to the access point.

Wireless Mesh Access Point

For homes needing more WiFi coverage and there is a challenge with running additional cables, wireless mesh provides the ability to add more coverage by simply adding new access points.

To setup a wireless mesh access point, follow the steps below. Before proceeding, confirm the Minim enabled MikroTik main gateway has already been setup and enabled in an end user's account.

Tip 1 - An installer may configure a main gateway and associated mesh unit access point at a location other than the one where they will be installed, so long as the installer has access to both the the both the main gateway and associated mesh unit access point and an internet connection.

Tip 2 - If you are adding more than one mesh unit access point, complete these steps for each mesh unit access point.

Tip 3 - If you are configuring the main gateway on site, it is best to setup the main gateway and mesh unit access point(s) when they are in close proximity to one another to ensure that a failure for any mesh unit access point to come online is not due to a weak mesh connection.  Once you have established that the mesh unit access point comes online when it is in close proximity to the main gateway, you should then optimize the distribution of the mesh unit access points in the space to covered to achieve the strongest mesh connection the widest WiFi coverage area. Note that different mesh unit access point model types have different signal strengths and thus that the optimal distribution will vary. 

Tip 4 - If you are attempting to flash the mesh unit access point using the Minim Flash Tool, ensure that the network settings on the computer being used to flash the mesh unit access point has the WiFi network connection set as the primary network connection. If the LAN network connection is above the WiFi connection in priority, the mesh unit access point will not be able to complete the flash process.

1. 1. 1. Flash the MikroTik unit to be used as an extender with Minim.  We recommend flashing the unit with DHCP Port 1.
         
         
      2. Next, ensure the mesh unit access point is setup as DHCP. This will make it so the device can receive a lease from the main gateway.
         
         
      3. Navigate to the Inventory tab of the Minim Care Portal. Confirm the MAC address of the mesh unit access point appears in the ISP or network manager inventory list.
         
         
      4. Proceed to the end user account where the mesh unit access point will be assigned.
         
         
      5. Scroll down to the Access Points section where the main gateway is displayed. Click on the "+" icon (see screenshot below).
         
         
      6. Enter the MAC address of the mesh unit access point in the available field and then click the "Add to LAN" button.
         
         
      7. Plug one end of an ethernet cable into the WAN port of the mesh unit access point access point and and the other end of the ethernet cable into the LAN port on the main gateway. 
         
         
      8. Wait a three to five minutes to allow the mesh unit access point to come online and configure itself.  When it is ready, it will appear as Online on the end user's account page.
         
         
      9. Click the pencil icon next to the main gateway. Change the Mesh Type to "MikroTik" and click the Apply button. Wait for about 2 minutes for the configuration to apply itself.
         
         
      10. Click the pencil icon next the mesh unit access point. Change the Mesh Type to "MikroTik" and click the Apply button. Wait for about 2 minutes for the configuration to apply itself.
          
          
      11. Ensure the mesh unit access point(s) are online. Wait three to five minutes to allow their configuration to be updated to mesh. (Technical note: Minim sets up a WDS configuration in the mesh network, so the main gateway and each mesh unit access point must have selected the 'Mesh Type' as Mikrotik. If you are using wired backhaul, you should not select 'Mesh Type' as Mikrotik.)
          
          
      12. To ensure that the configuration is set correctly, once the mesh unit access point(s) (including the main gateway) are set to 'Mesh Type' Mikrotik, go to the Router Settings tab and click the Apply button. 
          
          
      13. Confirm the main gateway and mesh unit access points were configured correctly by looking to see that they are Online in the Care Portal, by looking to see that the mesh unit access point is connected to the main gateway in the Care Portal and by testing the Internet connection.

Use Case - Faster Wireless Mesh

Using units such as the hAP AC Lite, hAP AC2 or RB4011 for wireless mesh work exceptionally well, but they share their backhaul with the devices accessing the network. If you need to support faster networks, for FTTH or other high-speed applications, we recommend using devices with dedicated backhaul networks such as the MikroTik Audience. These devices have a third-radio, used for backhaul ensuring higher speeds for the subscriber devices.   You can purchase devices from Minim at this link.