General Hardware and Software

[dlh136]

We have one cable modem and wifi router on the 2nd floor on the west end of the house - signal is good there in the office and nearby, but when you go downstairs to the living room (opposite corner one floor away), there is hardly any signal.

Can I purchase a second cable modem and wifi router and set up a 2nd access point?  Is this hard to do and what is involved?

[sabretooth]

You don't need a 2nd modem.  What you need is a WiFi extender.

[kentshaw]

I have an EnGenius outdoor WAP installed at a second home and the range is outstanding.  They have similar units for indoors.   With mine, I am able to connect to the internet 300 yards away.  The unit lets you crank up the signal power setting if you need additional range and has a built-in directional antenna.  These are fairly inexpensive (I paid around $80 for mine) and I have seen them used in professional installations.  Installation is easy: just plug into one of the ports on your router, plug in the power adapter, and log into it and do a setup.  This one uses power over ethernet which is a real advantage for outdoor installations.  Check out at http://www.engeniustech.com/

[msdibble]

You can simply add another Wireless Access Point (WAP) off your existing router (as long as you have an open Ethernet port).   You will have to run a Cat5 cable to the location of your new WAP.

Once you wire and connect it, you simply configure another Wireless Network and select the one with the strongest signal when you are in that area.  I do it and it works just fine.

[blind_squirrel]

Is there a method to connect the 2nd access point wirelessly?  I'd like to skip the crawling to run a cable.

[kevj]

If both your routers support WDS, you can set up a wireless link between them, but be aware thatthe bandwidth will be a sinificantly smaller pertion of that you would normally see over a host to access point connection.