What is SSID?
SSID (Service Set Identifier) is a technical term for your network name.
Go to Settings > WLAN on your phone, you will see a list of network names (SSIDs). For example, “rockspace-WIFI6-2.4g” shown below is an SSID.
Can I use the same SSID when setting up my range extender?
Yes, you can. By default, the extended network of rockspace RSD0607 (AC750 Dual Band Wi-Fi Range Extender), RSD0608 (AC1200 Dual Band Wi-Fi Range Extender), and RSD0618 (AX1800 Dual Band Wi-Fi Range Extender) has _EXT or _5GEXT added to the end of your current network, while that of RSD0617 (AC2100 Wi-Fi Range Extender) and RSD0623 (AC2100 Dual Band Wi-Fi Range Extender) use the same SSID as your current network.
For each case, you can set up your network name during the setup process. We recommend you change the extended network name for AC2100 Extender when setting up for the first time.
To change the SSID of your router and range extender, visit how do I change the Wi-Fi name and password on my rockspace routers or how do I change the Wi-Fi name and password on my rockspace range extenders.
Why should I use a different SSID?
Note that even when you configure your router and range extender with the same SSID, your computer/phone will still see them as two networks and will not achieve the seamless roaming you expect.
If you use the same SSID and password for your main router and range extender, instead of automatically switching to the better and stronger network, your phone/computer will keep connected to one network until it is too weak to be connected. What makes it worse is that you cannot change it manually because they use the same SSID.
In the areas where signals from the main router and the range extender overlap, problems can arise when you want to access the web management page of your range extender. You don't know which network you are connecting to as both share the same SSID. While two different network names will not cause such confusion.
Therefore, we recommend you to give your range extender a different SSID when setting it up, so you can choose which one to connect to as you like.