Wireless home network question

JohnnyBiggles

I have a FIOS issued wireless router (Actiontec MI424-WR). It was on our main floor but is now upstairs providing wireless internet to the apartment it is now.. BUT, there are people who still need to use the wireless internet on the main floor. Problem is, the signal is very low to non-existant in some areas and semi-weak in the rest. Without moving the router itself, what is the best way to boost the signal? We tried a Netgear Extender but you need a signal to extend.

I was thinking to perhaps get another wireless router and run a line from one to the other.. but would that cause issues? how would you set that up effiiently?

exampasser

Just get a wireless router and set it up as an AP, use the same SSID and security settings but place it on a different non-overlapping channel.

JohnnyBiggles

Is that possible to do without running an Ethernet cable between them?

exampasser

Yes, if you get something like a powerline ethernet adapter.

babixg

I don't think powerline ethernet adaptors provide good performance (however, it does depend on usage case).

Alternatively, you can get any wireless device that supports Wireless distribution system (WDS) - or just capable routers that support DD-WRT/similar distros which has support for it (wireless bridging or wireless repeater).

ptilsen

A second WAP on a different channel with the same SSID would would, but yes, you need same way to get a connection between them. A wireless bridge does not sound like a great solution since the signal is your issue. Powerline networking won't be much better. You're potentially looking at some crappy bandwidth and latency either way.

Running a cable to a second WAP would be your best bet.