Two wireless routers, one network. Will this help cover my entire house?

Hi Everyone,

I have a wireless router (D-Link DIR-625) that is connected to my cable modem. If I want to use wireless devices in my living room, I will need to extend the range of my wireless network. Unfortunately, moving the cable modem to the living room is not an option.

I have bought a router (D-Link WBR-2310) hoping to connect the two together to increase the range of my network. I have not been able to find any direction on how to accomplish this without connecting the two routers with CAT5 cable, defeating the point of my wireless network.

I am looking for a solution that does not involve running cables all over my home. If anyone can suggest how to do this, hopefully with the two routers I own, it would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Scott

 

How far is your wireless router from your living room? How many walls or other barriers between the router and device location in living room?

Have you tested your wireless connection by putting a wireless device in the same room as the router?

 

The current router is about 30 feet from the furthest wireless device. I've tried a different N router, but it had the same signal strength.

There are a number of walls between the router and the living room. Also, we are in a basement suite that is insulated for sound, so that adds to the interference. Also between the router and the living room is the furnace and refrigerator (in a straight line).

Currently I have a computer and wireless printer in the same room as the router and the wireless connection there is great. The signal does currently reach the living room, but it is weak and drops once in a while.

The other night I moved the router to the kitchen and was getting great signal strength in the office and living room. It would be the ideal place for the router, but I have no way of connecting the cable modem to it there. That's why I'm wondering about a second router acting as a bridge.

Thanks,

Scott

 

In order to achieve this goal. I.e connect with No wire.

You need Routers that support WDS. I do not think that the one that you bought can do WDS.

In General.

The best way is to lay few CAT6 cables to central locations in the house, install Access Points, or Cable/DSL Routers configured as an Access Points ( Using a Wireless Cable/DSL Router as a Switch with an Access Point ), and connect them to the Main Router.

You do not want/can not/hate/your client hate to lay Cables.

Buy a Pair of Wireless Routers that can do WDS (Zyxell, SMC, Belkin have models that do WDS as is out of the Box.

Linksys WRT54GL can do WDS when flashed with DD-WRT firmware.

Using a Laptop loaded with ith Netstumbler, do a Wireless survey in the house, http://www.netstumbler.com/downloads/

According to the Netstumbler's signal strength reading, identify spots that have strong signal. and spot with weak, or No signal.

Evaluate how you can cover the space and start placing WDS units.

Additional Wireless Routers in WDS Mode (Wireless Network - Configuration Modes. ) has to be placed in spots were the signal is good about Half way to the dead spots.

How many WDS units are needed? It depends on your specific environment (that is a good the reason to buying WDS units one at the time, try it, and decide on the Next step).

Otherwise.

Extending Distance - http://www.ezlan.net/Distance.html

Wireless Router as an AP - http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html

Wireless Modes - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Modes.html

Wireless Bridging - http://www.ezlan.net/bridging.html

Hi Gain Antenna - http://www.ezlan.net/antennae.html

.

 

You could use powerline bridging in this case.

http://www.netgear.com/Search.aspx?text=powerline

www.devolo.com

 

Do all of the routers need to support WDS? I think I would only need one more router. If that supported WEDS, would that suffice?

Unfortunately, laying cables is not an options as I am a renter. I doubt the landlords would appreciate me destroying walls to lay cables!

I'm going to buy at least one of the Linksys WRT54GLs and flash it with DD-WRT.

I think only one unit will be needed to fix the problem.

Thanks for the tips.

Scott

 

I am leery of this technology. I am a renter. Would other people in the house be able to use this network? We are on the same power system.

Scott

 

And yet you are broadcasting a wireless signal to them!

Yes it's fine. Unless you are providing other users with free electricity from you circuit.

Powerline connections are only effective on the same circuit (we call them ring main).