follow up Access point wireless routers

[Kraniac]

Dlink Xtreme N Duo wireless Bridge Access point

Linksys Wireless N Access Point with dual band Wap610n.

Similar pricing..

I dont know a thing about this wireless world..learning.

Any preferences company wise?

Im coming out of my Comcast router> to Dlink hard Wired Router> Ethernet line going upstairs> to whatever Access point router I choose..based on what you guys and my great Aunt think..

Right now we have the hillbilly connection coming out the first floor window, up the side of the building and into a 3rd floor window. This has to end...towels blocking cold air on slightly opened windows..

also we have a first gen macbook pro aluminum and a windows Sony Vaio..will this pose any N vs G issues

[mattkime]

how would you feel about paying a bit more and having a full router? you'd configure it to work on AP mode.

[Kraniac]

it's an architecture issue..large multi unit that we spread across..comcast comes in my workspace and we route a line up and over to the third floor where our living space is...i dint need wireless in my workspace..it's nice for the house though..we'd be way out of range if the router resided at the entry point downstairs

[mattkime]

yeah, i know. i'm suggesting using a router as an AP instead of getting an AP. You'd need to look at reviews on signal strength. I'm personally suspicious of unreviewed wifi devices but maybe i'm overthinking it. for $150 you could get an airport express or a highly reviewed netgear router and put them into AP mode.

[deckeda]

Do you own the dwelling? Reconfigure the cable entry point to be the upstairs. If there is already a cable TV jack up there it may be as easy as simply moving the Comcast box up there and moving the incoming cable to that jack's cable from wherever downstairs the junction is.

And then use a good wireless router upstairs next to it---putting the WiFi upstairs should offer better coverage everywhere.

N vs G issues

You'll need a dual-band model, if mixing n and g clients on the same WiFi network. Otherwise everything becomes g speed only.

[deckeda]

Another option is to properly run CAT5 between the floors. With a nicer router, or switch used between the computers you'd have Gigabit file transfers too.

[GGD]

I would go with a normal router and configure it as an access point. It would have the advantage of giving you a built-in Ethernet switch on the 3rd floor so that you can use both wired and wireless devices up there without needing to buy an additional switch.

Buying a router vs an access point might also save money, more choices and the tend to be on sale more often.

[Kraniac]

hmm, mostly understood but slightly confused..the thing is, is that I already have this other router doing what it does..So i run a line out and pop an access point on it..Im not keep doing a reconfigure of the entry point of my comcast line. actually..the cable is completely separate linedoes this impact any of your suggestions?

I guess im looking for simplicity as I dont want to get to deep in the labor..got to many coyotes chewing on my achilles at the moment.

[Forrest]

The wireless router will come in handy in 2-3 years when your current Dlink wired router dies unexpectedly.

[GGD]

This is what the wiring configuration should look like.

Comcast Coax -> Cable Modem -> Dlink wired router -> Ethernet Cable -> 3rd floor -> Wireless Router's LAN port.

With a Wireless Router, to make it look like an Access Point you'll need to turn of it's DHCP server, and assign it a static IP within your LAN's subnet so that you can access it's config page once connected, and plug the Ethernet cable from the primary router into one of it's LAN ports. Leave it's WAN port empty.