Consequences of Two Networks Sharing the Same SSID

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Keep in mind that the networks are considered separate networks, so you would need to change the SSID and Password to match that of your current network for your devices to reconnect to both networks automatically.

In my scenario both "networks" will have the same SSID and the same password. They are physically distinct networks. There is no way that a device would incorrectly connect to the "wrong" network as they are hundreds of miles apart from each other.

Is that an issue? On the new network I will have to designate a new "main" router as well.

It will not be an issue at all. You will just have two completely separate networks from a networking point of view - as they will be connecting through completely different ISP/Public IP Address. And yes, you will have a main node for each network, this will be the node that connects to your ISP in each network. These two networks will operate independently of each other - you will simply be changing the settings to match across the two distinct networks. It is moreso that if you change the password on one network, you will want to change the password of your other deco network to match, otherwise devices will not be able to connect to both. This is the same way that universities will provide the same wireless network to students across all campuses.

Based on your assurances I purchased this unit and it absolutely does not allow you to add a new network with the same SSID as the previous network that I had in the app. When I got to that point it said something to the affect that "there is already a network with this name, choose another name". So now I am trying to determine if I will just return these devices or go through the effort of changing all of my devices to an alternate SSID. This is NOT FUN at all.

I expect the two identical networks have simply to be linked to two distinct tp-link accounts. I believe the app allows you to do that, you can log out, create additional accounts, and, at login, select an account.

After talking with our engineering team, I do not believe that this is the intended behavior and you should be able to use the same SSID for both networks, under one TP-Link ID They requested that you try setting up the second network while the first network is disconnected, if possible. Also, have you tried setting up the second network using another network name during the initial setup process, and then changing the SSID through the normal settings later?

If two networks have the same SSID, it can cause confusion and difficulty connecting.

Two networks with the same SSID can interfere with each other if they are in close proximity. Devices might frequently disconnect and reconnect to find the stronger signal, especially if both networks have similar signal strength. This could lead to a frustrating experience with frequent drops in connection. It's better to have distinct SSIDs for different networks to prevent such issues.

If your SSID is being spoofed, it means someone has set up another network using the same SSID as yours. This can be done with malicious intent, such as creating a rogue access point to deceive users into connecting to a fraudulent network to capture sensitive information.

Two identically named SSIDs with the same password will allow your device to connect to either, without having to add any extra networks on your devices.

If both routers are broadcasting from the same location, the expected behaviour will vary depending on device. For example, some devices will connect to whichever router has the stronger signal, others will just connect to the first router they "see".

Your devices do not seem to be able to roam between the 2 SSID networks!

Such setup seemed to work in the way I expected, in a sense that all my phones, tablets and computers show only one available WiFi network, rather than two with same names.

My devices can connect to that network, and work just fine.

But, in hindsight, my devices displaying only one SSID network might just mean they silently hide the other one with the same SSID; it does not necessarily mean these devices can roam between both.

In everyday usage, you just won't know.

A device might just be sticking with one WiFi network all the time.

Recently I happened to disable my downstairs router, and then I found out a certain set of my devices became offline.

In their network setting menu, there is still one seemingly same WiFi network as a "remembered network" meaning the device does have the password, but tapping the "Connect" button would always fail.

Realizing what was happening, I can experimentally re-enable my downstairs router and disable the upstairs router, now my previously unable-to-connect devices can work, but the another set of devices would become offline.

Setting up 2 WiFi networks with same SSID+password is not the "poor man's mesh WiFi" that I hope it would be.

I know that an iPhone 12 will allow an identically named network (with or without security) to connect and replace an operating network if the device being managed is configured to allow it to connect.

Hidden or not, the newcomer can displace the running network if appropriately configured.

I can supply screen shots of two identically named networks waiting to connect to my wifi.

Usually the intruder is hidden (not broadcasting its ssid), because that's how wifi hacks begin.

The intruder doesn't need the legit password, by the way.