New Router or add another access point?

I currently have a router that is probably 4-5 years old. As our technology needs have increased the need for wireless access has grown in our house, from about 2 units to at least 5 units. Our current router can handle the wireless traffic with no problem, however in many parts of our house the signal is low to very low, if you can get it at all. If I add another wireless router as a secondary access point, will it solve this problem? Or should i just buy another new, stronger router?

 

Hmm I had a same problem and I just got 2 router. But I think a repeater might be better option. Will save time to reconfigure everything again.

 

I think a couple of strategically placed boosters would serve you a lot better.

 

I prefer adding a second AP if you have the lan ports. Seperate AP will out perform their combo counter parts. In dong so you will not over load your existing AP with users. Not all AP supports roaming. If it does users can roam the whole area without dropping a connection. If it's just for more users in a different area, add a AP. the performace will be much better. Repeaters work but latency increase, with a lot of traffic slow it down by ~50%.

Adding repeaters is just a bandade. Most All good AP supports server option like repeaters, bridges, AP, MP AP to name a few.

 

I have the same question in mind. I currently have a Netgear WGR614v4.

If I purchase another Netgear, how would I hook it up?

Suppose the 614 will be the primary router. That means I will hook it up to the DSL modem.

Regarding the secondary router, do I hook up its modem port to one of the primary's LAN port? And what about the software configs? In one of the post above, there was mention of "bridge mode"?


Thanks!

 

What you want to do is disable the router and DHCP functions in the second router, or just get an access point, connect it to one of the LAN ports on the first router, set it's SSID, channel, and wireless security identical to the first.

 

Hey!

Thanks for the reply.

For those still interested: http://kbserver.netgear.com/kb_web_files/n101496.asp

That is the Netgear article on how to use a router as an AP (limited to certain models).