@B00mer By the design, an extender works several ways. The most common is the extender sends a message on one of the networks say 5GHz and waits for a reply and sends it back on the same network. It connects like any other WIFI device in that is can not send and receive packets at the same time sort of like a CB radio, either you are talking or your are listening. To overcome this. many extenders can transmit on one network such as the 5GHz and receive on the other network in this case the 2.4 GHZ. Better, but you are restricted to the slower speed of the 2.4GHz network. Some extenders now have a backhaul channel. It uses one network and then backhauls on Ethernet, a third channel, or across the electric lines. The system design is to get more coverage. A Mesh system is designed for speed, coverage, and more devices.