Both the Wi-Fi repeater and HiLink networking can extend the Wi-Fi coverage at home. For better networking, place the secondary router in a position where the signal strength of the primary router ranges from -45 dBm to -70 dBm. (Use the Wi-Fi magic box to test the signal strength.)
Networking Mode
Wi-Fi Repeater
Wi-Fi Bridge
PLC Networking
HiLink Networking
Connection Mode
Wi-Fi
Network cable
Power cable
Network cable, Wi-Fi, power cable, or H (or Hi) button connection
Seamless Roaming
Not supported.
This mode cannot automatically switch you to a route with better Wi-Fi signals. For example, router 1 in the room A is connected to router 2 in the room B by using the Wi-Fi repeater mode. If you connect to router 1 in room A and walk to room B, you will not be automatically switched to router 2 in room B. If your phone supports automatic switching, it can switch to the network of router 2. If the phone does not support such a function, the signal cannot be changed.
Not supported.
This mode cannot automatically switch you to a route with better Wi-Fi signals. For example, router 1 in the room A is connected to router 2 in the room B by using Wi-Fi bridge mode. If you connect to router 1 in room A and walk to room B, you will not be automatically switched to router 2 in room B. If your phone supports automatic switching, it can switch to the network of router 2. If the phone does not support such a function, the signal cannot be changed.
Supported.
You can roam seamlessly between multiple routers. For example, router 1 in the room A is connected to router 2 in the room B by using PLC mode. If you connect to router 1 in room A and walk to room B, you will be automatically switched to router 2 in room B without any manual operations.
Supported.
You can roam seamlessly between multiple routers. For example, router 1 in the room A is connected to router 2 in the room B by using HiLink mode. If you connect to router 1 in room A and walk to room B, you will be automatically switched to router 2 in room B without any manual operations.
Parameter Modification Syncing
Not supported.
When the Wi-Fi name or password of the primary router is changed, the secondary router will disconnect, and the parameter modification cannot be synced.
Not supported.
When the Wi-Fi name or password of the primary router is changed, the secondary router will not disconnect, but the parameter modification cannot be synced.
Supported.
When the Wi-Fi name or password of the primary router is changed, the modification is synced to the secondary router.
Supported.
When the Wi-Fi name or password of the primary router is changed, the modification is synced to the secondary router.
Usage Conditions
The primary router does not support HiLink (without the H or Hi button). The secondary router supports Wi-Fi bridge.
If your old router can access the Internet and supports Wi-Fi, but does not support HarmonyOS Mesh+, you can use Wi-Fi Repeater mode to connect the router to your old router to increase the Wi-Fi coverage.
Preparation: Ensure that the old router can access the Internet properly, and that the HUAWEI router is new or has been restored to factory settings.
- Connecting the cables: Connect the power supply of the HUAWEI router. Do not connect an Ethernet cable to WAN port on the HUAWEI router now. If the router features self-adaptive network ports, you do not need to distinguish the WAN port from the LAN port.
- Connecting to Wi-Fi: Connect your phone or computer to the default Wi-Fi network of the HUAWEI router (the Wi-Fi name should start with "HUAWEI" and does not require a password).
- Configuring the router: Open an Internet browser on your phone or computer, and enter the default IP address in the browser address bar to open the web-based management page(check the nameplate at the bottom of the router for the default IP address). Touch GET STARTED and select Extend a Wi-Fi network (relay)\>Wireless network, then select the Wi-Fi network of your old router and follow the onscreen instructions to complete the configuration. (The steps in the following figures are performed on a smartphone, which are very similar to the operations on a computer).
The HUAWEI router supports Repeater mode over 5 GHz Wi-Fi. To do this, select your router's 5 GHz network from the list of available Wi-Fi networks.
Once the configuration is complete, the Wi-Fi name and password of the HUAWEI router will be the same as those of the old router, and there will be only one Wi-Fi network.