Can the car connect to a WiFi extender?

[Babaron]

If not, is there a solution? If yes, why does my 2019 MS keep saying unable to connect, check DCHP settings.

Finally, if I don’t connect ever, is there any disadvantage, other than a delay in getting updates?

Thanks!

 

[NickleNiceness]

I have a NETGEAR WiFi Range Extender AC750 (EX3700) which works fine. I use teslafi to access and store my car stats so having a reliable data connection is worthwhile. Do you have the built in cell data working solidly at home ? Not having home wifi connection is not a killer issue, but nice

Re DHCP - it might be how your router is set up. All other wifi devices at home set up simply ? Rebooted at all ? Both router and car.....

 

[Macbest]

Yes it can. Note that some range extenders change the name of your normal Wi-Fi. For example if your normal Wi-Fi is called “xxx123” then the Wi-Fi extender can be appended to “xxx123-ext”. Not all are this way but some are like the one I bought. Go To where the car is and look with your phone at the available Wi-Fi names. Yours with “-ext” or similar may be visible. Then connect your car to that. Worked liked a charm for me.

 

[Babaron]

It sees the extender, but every time I try to connect, it gives me the error and says check DCHP settings.i don’t know what that means and how to address it.

 

[GaryREM]

Without getting into more details than you may want on a public forum, it's hard to contribute more. If it says check the DHCP settings, then there is probably something set incorrectly. Have you tried connecting other devices to the extender?

 

[Impala1ss]

I have ATT internet and an ATT extender. I turned on my GUEST account in the ATT modem/router software. The car found the GUEST network and is connected to it. I only use the GUEST account for the Tesla and get all the downloads.

 

[.jg.]

I use a cheap TP-Link WiFi extender but I found the Tesla would only connect successfully if I had the extender configured to provide DHCP for locally connected devices. I set the extender to use a small range of IP addresses that are outside the range covered by DHCP on the broadband router - but still in the same subnet.

 

[paperjohn]

I use a net gear extender in my garage plugged into the ceiling where the garage door plugs. Works fine.

 

[CaliMS]

Plenty have answered. I'll add one point - The Model S only runs on 2.4G wifi networks, not 5G.

 

[Neppaaja]

And if I remember correctly Model S can only use wifi channels 1...12.