Will these Mesh? A C3000Z and a NWA1300BE?

HSA_Arizona1

I have the Zyxel C3000Z Modem/Router, connected to a POE hub that has a Zyxel NWA1300BE attached to it for WiFi access. The C3000Z has the WiFi turned off to allow the only WiFi access to be the NWA1300BE.  Will these two Zyxel products work together to form a WiFi mesh if I turn on the WiFi on the C3000Z and use the same SSID and password as the NWA1300BE is currently using? 

Zyxel_Kay

Hi @HSA_Arizona1

Based on your description, it seems that you’re looking to connect your NWA1300BE to the C3000Z router via an Ethernet cable. In this case, what you’re aiming to achieve is roaming, not a WiFi mesh network.

To clarify, a mesh network involves multiple devices communicating wirelessly to extend coverage seamlessly. In contrast, roaming allows devices to switch between access points with the same SSID and the same security options as you move around.

Here’s an article that explains the differences between roaming and mesh for your reference:

https://community.zyxel.com/en/discussion/19910/the-difference-between-roaming-and-mesh-in-wireless-networks

If you’d like to set up a roaming network, simply configure both the NWA1300BE and the C3000Z with the same SSID and security settings. This setup should work as expected!

However, if you’re specifically looking to build a WiFi mesh network with the NWA1300BE, please note that it can only establish a mesh connection with other Zyxel access points (APs). Unfortunately, the C3000Z is not compatible for forming a mesh with the NWA1300BE.