Setting up wifi in my parents house, what to buy?

I'm staying with my parents for a few weeks while on leave and they've asked me to set up a wifi network to replace their aging setup with separate cable and dsl (yes, lol dsl).

My plan to is to ditch the DSL and get a wireless router connected to the cable upstairs.

Devices that need to be connected:

upstairs:
1 desktop computer in the same room as the cable modem, can use a wired connection
1 notebook - wireless n
1 notebook - wireless g

downstairs:
1 desktop - no wireless connection at the moment
1 Xbox 360 - wireless n
1 PS3 - wireless g

What I need is a router that'll support n and g speeds simultaneously without downgrading every connection to g (I'd prefer this solution to just getting a separate downstream g router, even if that's cheaper) that also supports WPA2 since I live near a bunch of thieving neighbors who will likely want to exact revenge on me for stealing wifi from them all through collece when I'd come home to visit. I'll also need a thing (I don't know what the terminology is) to connect their downstairs desktop to the wireless network.

Please hit me with some hardware recommendations. I've never set up a wifi network before so this'll probably be a long journey. Is setting up the WPA2 as simple as getting a long security code and just typing it into every device?

 

For the desktop downstairs, I'd buy a USB wireless card from Wal-Mart for like $25. This is the I bought http://www.bestbuy.com/site/NETGEAR+-+Wireless-N+Router/8998506.p?id=1218007383662&skuId=8998506.

I bought it for my dads office, which has 2 laptops(1g, 1n) and 2 desktops(wired). It seems fast and is dual band. It cost $70.

 

All right. Any router recommendations? Or info on security?

 

Try Newegg.com,
Get a BUFFALO WHR-HP-G54 router for $59 (free shipping) and also a BUFFALO WLI-UC-GN usb wireless N adapter for $30 (also with free shipping).

Honestly, if it was me, I would (and do) hard wire anything that doesn't move. It's more reliable, less lag, and certainly more secure. I have seen some wireless security bring response to a crawl (high, high lag). Not a good thing if you game online.

The router has extended range and very simple setup so a large house and interference should be minimized. Yes, it is only wireless G, however, unless they have fiber optic internet, G is more than fast enough. The only reason to have wireless N is if you do large file sharing among the systems, most people don't. If you want N though, I would recommend the Linksys e2000 (around $100), it's morethan enough for your needs, but if you want the best, look into the Netgear WNDR3700 and Linksys e3000 (in that order, and both around $160). Again, unless you are sharing files though, N is pointless.

 

How would I go about hard wiring stuff on different floors to one router? I'm not going to start punching holes in the walls/floor.

 

You can hire people to do this for you and make it look professional.

However, the equipment needed isn't a big deal, nor is it hard to acquire. If you get creative you can do this job even easier, cheaper and still not be visible (closets make great drop points, they also sell sleeves to hide the cable).

You can always use existing holes, while this method doesn't always look as good, it doesn't do anything permanent and a well placed piece of furniture or plant can hide it. You just have to get creative. I've run cables through air ducts, closets, electrical outlets, phone outlets, and more. Carpet can be pulled up along a wall, a hole made, and put back when finished. Of course you can always just take the easy way out and go wireless, just be prepared for possible lag.

You make it sound so barbaric. Take a few minutes to plan and come up with solutions don't just start smashing things with a hammer.

 

Install a Wireless-N router upstairs to connect to your cable service. This one is nice:

Newegg.com - BUFFALO WHR-HP-G300N IEEE 802.11b/g/n Nfiniti Wireless-N Essential High Power Router & Access Point

Then install a second router downstairs to act as a bridge or access point. You can just buy 2 of the Buffalo's. Put the downstairs router near your consoles and run ethernet cables to the router's switch for them. Then depending on the location of the downstairs desktop, run another cable into the switch or just get a cheap wireless adapter. Usb is fine, but PCI is better.

If range issues arise, consider running cables or powerline ethernet adapters if you can't run cables.

 

Why would you recommend getting a gateway/second router downstairs instead of just having those devices connect wirelessly to the router upstairs? Do videogame consoles have issues with wifi still?

 

Routers don't do well vertically on signals. Just how the antennas are laid out.

Also, setting up a relay is more trouble than you really need in just a house and you still have the lag issue of wireless. You can even create interference creating more.

 

Yeah, you'll get better coverage with an access point downstairs and upstairs. Not sure about consoles having wifi issues, but I wasn't sure if your consoles had wifi adapters which is why I suggested cables.

 

What are your guys' opinions of Linksys/Cisco routers? I used a wired Linksys for years and it was hassle free.

 

Linksys and Netgear are the most recommended ones to use.

The current favorite of home wireless is the Netgear WNDR3700 followed by the Linksys e3000.

 

and they both allow g and n devices to connect without reducing the whole thing to g speeds?

 

Kinda- both "n" and "g" devices can connect at their respective speeds but due to "n" running in compatibility mode it has somewhat reduced throughput.
That applies only if both "g" and "n" are on the same 2.4GHz radio but if you set "n" devices to run @5GHz and "g" @2.4GHz not only both are going to run at their respective speeds but also with full throughput for 802.11n

 

I highly recommend doing this unless your card can't connect to 5Ghz.

 

Is that something I set on each device or on the router?

 

The most obvious way is to set one SSID for 2.4GHz for "g" ones and another SSID for 5GHz for the "n" ones- these are set on the router. Then you just connect your 2.4GHz devices to the g-SSID and "n" ones to the other one- just like you always do when you have a choice of multiple networks.