Broadband Tech > Wireless Networking > Best router for my situation?

Best router for my situation?

The best thing you can do is add another access point closer to the area where reception is spotty. It needs to be wired, if you want the most reliability. Powerline adapters are also a good option, but performance will vary from location to location.

Adding a wireless repeater will extend your range, but usually results in a performance drop. If you use a dual-radio repeater, with a 5ghz connection back to the router, then the performance hit will be minimal.

Wiring is not optional atm, so it would have to be a bridge or repeater. If I get another router I would have the dual-radio.

Is there any router worth upgrading to?

Then try powerline adapters with an additional AP, or a dual-radio repeater. The Netgear XET1001 and Zyxel PLA-400 have both worked well for me.

What's wrong with the router you have? If you really feel like you need another one, look at the Linksys E4200, Asus N56 or N66.

Do you have coax running in the house. Coax is often better than powerline for extending wired signal to an additional access point.

The first problem I have with the router is that the coverage is just short of what I need. I can connect via wi-fi in the back bedroom but that is the absolute cutoff and often data slows to a stop. I was just going to get a repeater that I could plugin at the center of the house, one that just plugs directly in without cords. Once I realized how much I'd spend just on a single repeater, I started thinking about just turning my current router into a 5Ghz bridge. Then, I could just bridge from a new router, connect my PS3 in the back to the old router and allow my 2.4Ghz devices a better connection. The only problem is in doing that I would have to reduce the transmit power on the bridge so it didn't spread to the neighbors much. Also, I am not sure but would a wireless bridge allow me to still connect wireless devices?

Your solution of a powerline adapters plus an AP sounds like it would cost as much as just getting another high end router. I have never used the adapters, coax or electrical, so not sure how well they work. Would there be much of a difference, interference considered, than two routers bridging on the 5Ghz band? What equipment would you recommend?

The second problem I have on the WNDR3700 is creating servers. I have never been able to understand why but it seems like port forwarding never worked properly. I still occasionally host a COD 4 server for me and my friends but regardless of it working many times in the past, I usually have to reapply port forwarding settings and restart the router before it works again.

The only other reason I was looking to upgrade would be just for better performance overall. Since I already have a decent high end router, I figured a performance jump would be negligible but still wanted to look around. Especially throwing a NAS into the lineup with features like private cloud storage, I didn't know if it was time to upgrade again. Being that most of my devices are wired with Cat 6 and using all Gigabit equipment, I guess there wouldn't be much room to improve.

reply to Anav
Looking around a little, it seems that would be a better option (coax). However, it seems most work on higher frequency ranges. I am not sure what splitters were used outside the home but it might limit my ability. Going further and looking into acceptable splitters, I am getting confused by all the options and limitations. Some people are going on about certain splitters needing similar cable length for each connection to ensure reliability.

Router - have a look at the Asus Rt N66U. It should be avail mid month latest wifi, lots of flash etc.......

As for coax ethernet converters I have been told these work just fine for multi-media applications......

Quote: "I can confirm that the Trendnet TPA-311works perfectly with the Motorola set top boxes. Plug ethernet port 1 into the ethernet network, plug the HPNA port into the coax to the receivers. Done! Works like a dream.... They handle my 70/30 connection fine, maxing it out, so I have no doubt that there is more than enough bandwidth for TV service." Unquote

Interestingly enought HPNA 3.1 was originally for telephone wiring but has been applied to coax (farther distances). MOCA was designed for coax.

The hpna 3.1 coaxial cabling physical layer specification, by contrast (to telco wires) , specifies 4 frequency ranges between 4–52 MHz, QAM constellation sizes between 2–10 bits per symbol and data rates between 4–320 Mb/s. HomePNA 3.1 will not support sharing if cable television services are using the 5–42 MHz and 5–65 MHz return paths. (the trendnet states thruput of 270Mbps).

G.HN is the next standard on the horizon with gigabit performance as a goal across any wiring structure for smart homes.
--
Ain't nuthin but the blues! "Albert Collins".
Leave your troubles at the door! "Pepe Peregil" De Sevilla. Just Don't Wifi without WPA, "Yul Brenner"

LlamaWorks Equipment

reply to JLogan2005
First, if reception is poor in the back room, trying to put a wireless bridge back there probably won't work. Especially at 5ghz, since it has a shorter range than 2.4ghz does.

Your original plan of placing another AP (or repeater) near the center of the house is the best way to go. If running ethernet cable is not an option, then powerline adapters usually work well. If you have a section of unused coax, or can run one, using it with DECA adapters is also a good option.

Another option is to create your own dual-radio repeater using a 5ghz Gaming adapter (wireless bridge) and pairing it with an access point. Put it as high as possible somewhere near the center of the house. Use the same SSID and Security settings as the router, but place them on different channels (use 1, 6, or 11).

Your issue with port-forwarding could be your router, and it could be your ISP. You have not said whether you are using Cable or DSL. A firmware update is the first thing to do to try and resolve it.

Well, reception is poor on our iPhones. I would figure a router (WNDR3700) would be able to receive better.

I was originally looking at wireless repeaters. It sounds like those done work too well, not sure.

Powerline adapters look to be running around $70+, most around $100+. Adding an AP would definitely put that into the range of just getting a new router. If this solution works better though I wouldn't mind it. My concern is signal noise from high draw items (hair dryer, air purifier etc). Coax doesn't sound bad but it comes back to the issues I described above.

What was really selling me on the WNDR 4500 was the fact it is claimed to have much greater range than the WNDR 3700. However, the technical issues reported in feedback are scaring me off. Since I am right on the cusp of connectivity in the back, just a little more range would do.

What if I just placed the WNDR 3700 in the middle of the house and used it as a repeater?

Essentially, ALL options appear to cost around the same.

ISP is Comcast w/50Mb/10Mb. How could the issue be my ISP in the port forwarding issue? It seems like reapplying the options already in place or restarting the router fix the issue, nothing is changed as far as the modem is concern (from my limited knowledge).

If you have not already done it, check for a firmware update on your existing router. It should solve the port-forwarding problem, and might help with the range. Also, where is the router located? It should be as high in the air as possible.

What channel is the router currently set on? You should check for interference. You need a PC with a wireless card, laptop works better so you can check the whole area. Download InSSIDer and look at how many neighbors have wireless, and what channels they are using.

If it were me, I would get a wireless bridge, like the WET610N or WGA600N, to create a 5ghz link to the existing router. I would connect it to an inexpensive router, like the RT-N12/B, and configure it for use as an AP. Place it somewhere near the middle of the house, as high in the air as possible.

If price is an issue, watch ebay and you can usually find some good deals on used equipment.

For comcast suggest a MoCA coax adapter vice the trendnet.
If you have coax to a better location for an AP or in your case an additional AP, that is what I would attempt before a wireless bridge. As for a router, I would not buy one now until toms networking hardware does a review on the Asus RT N66U.

reply to JLogan2005
If you want range, speed and reliability in one package YES that gear is available BUT to take advantage of that range, speed and reliability in one package all your wireless clients must be equally capable otherwise you're going to get very mixed results from your wireless clients.

All the gear that provide range, speed and reliability in one package are 3x3 system [otherwise known as N900 systems] like the CISCO Linksys E4200 [v1] or the Netgear WNDR4500 or the upcoming ASUS RT N66U or the D-Link DIR 857. To exploit that range, speed and reliability your 'WIRELESS CLIENTS" must also match in capability -- meaning 'clients' must posses 3 radios and 3 antennas for each band and use the same technology [mixing Marvel, Broadcom, Qualcomm etc. provides poor results] -- if the clients do not match then your wireless results will be very mixed.

In view of the fact that you have a varied mix of wireless clients -- Wii, 2 iPhones, a computer utilizing a wireless N usb and a PS3 plus another laptop in the future -- all of which may be heterogeneous to the named 3x3 systems -- your wireless connectivity results will be very mixed at best. Your solution for your wireless clients is to use repeaters just like billaustin suggested -- that stratagy will give you the best wireless results under YOUR circumstances especially when the gear mix being utilized is heterogeneous in nature. SPECIFIC to the N technology when using repeaters YOU will need to keep in mind that the repeater must also be homogeneous otherwise you are NOT going to get effective results from your N wireless router and/or your N wireless clients.
--
David Mozer
IT-Expert on Call
Information Technology for Home and Business

Thanks all, I am going to try a pair of Netgear XAVB5001 Powerline Adapters. I forgot that I still had my old DGL-4500 so I am going to turn it into an AP for the time being.

Based on the info here and tons of reviews for other routers, the only one I could see myself getting would be the 3800 just for certain options. That said, I will wait for the ASUS review and see how much DGL + powerline adapters hold up.

Thanks for all the help!

I wont try powerline again, but I had early models a couple of years back that gave me inconsistent behaviour, they may be better now.

Just a heads up, I stopped by a local store and picked up the powerline adapters.........

P E R F E C T

I was worried having an older home (1979). One is connected in our living room and the other is connected in our bedroom at the complete opposite end of the house. Honestly though, my connection maxes at 200Mbs so I might just downgrade to the 200Mbs version and see if I can still maintain that.

Threw on my old DGL-4500 and get great LAN streaming to the PS3 and great 2.4Ghz connectivity on the iPhones.

I still might upgrade routers later as I found the LCD on the 4500 is cracked and it isnt a dual band router, so no help with my PC in the back. The Netgear 3800 looks decent if the Asus doesnt turn out to be any good.

Thanks again for all the help!

So the powerlines work great? What model and version number is that hpna AV..... been a while since I looked at them.

Netgear XAVB5001

Yeah, they work really good. Wi-Fi in the back bedroom is really speedy, no drop outs. The PS3 is able to finally stream content stutter free. I've only tried a 720p rip so far though. I need to get out my blu rays and start ripping 1080p.

reply to Anav
Thank you so much for sharing that! I was asking on a post nearby about re-wiring my house. This might be worth trying out first.
Are there any ipv6 protocals to consider? Or any other considerations?

At the risk of being too chatty... should I start a new subject for this?
»www.smallnetbuilder.com/lanwan/l···reviewed

Review - claims the 1080i is ok.

The product manual indicates that these are used in pairs? Or maybe I have missed something. For five rooms, I would need 5 pairs of these? Or, is there a First Pair, then an ability to add-on more rooms?

So, do I have to add 5 of these in my Comcast modem / Router room? or can I buy 3 pair and put one on the router and then one each in 5 rooms?