Repeating my wireless signal?

[chugger93]

Im preparing my new home for networking, with wired and wireless connectivity. I already have a netgear wireless router, that Im using and configured only as an access point. My house is fairly big, and would like to repeat that signal somehow. Im checking out netgears product page http://www.netgear.com/products.php and was looking for some recommendations.

How do I go about repeatin the signal throughout the home, like the basement? Do I just buy another router and convert to an access point? Which will suck, cuz then I'll have to associate another SSID, etc. Do I buy a bridge? Is that what a bridge will do?

Any comments, suggestions, ideas and/or technical knowledge is appreciated

[YeOldeStonecat]

You want to keep the SSIDs the same, just have the access point on another channel. And disable DHCP...since you only want 1x DHCP service on your network.

Or get a repeater

Or just get one Pre-N/MIMO unit...you probably won't need another repeater unless you have some huge place.

[chugger93]

Thanks for the comment YeOlde. One more thing. What do you think in terms of a combination of this:

Wireless-G Access Point

& this
Wireless-G Range Expander V2.0



Or should I just get one of these?

Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX
The Wireless-G Networking Solution with SRX Speed and Range eXpansion

[YeOldeStonecat]

I'll tell ya...I've deployed a few of those Linksys SRX routers...and wow, are they fantastic. Well, let me rephrase...MIMO/Pre-N is fantastic. In my opinion, anyone going out to purchase new wireless gear these days should get Pre-N/MIMO. Unless all your care about is covering one room, then I guess you can save money and get a G. Otherwise...based on my experiences in setting up Pre-N/MIMO networks..."WOW"...it really does work in getting incredible range. That signal will get drilled down halls and into other rooms and spread out farther.

And you don't need Pre-N/MIMO wireless NICs in your rigs to take advantage of the range...any old G or even an old B adapter will still realize the distance ability.

You may not need a repeater.

The Linksys SRX routers I've setup have been rock solid, although I'll admit that their current firmware version are a bit..."dry"...not really robust in features. I'm not sure if it supports access point mode.

The other Pre-N/MIMO router I've setup is the Belkin Pre-N model. Previously I hated Belkin routers, but this particular model...they did very well with. The firmware supports both router and access point modes. I did a large mansion with two of these...one on each floor of the house..opposite ends. I set them both to access point mode, as this house already had a main router in the basement to feed the 30 something data drops on the patch panel. (yeah...mansion was wired to the hilt). I set the SSID the same, disabled DHCP on both Belkins, and had each on a different channel. My laptop roamed seamlessly all around the property...even several hundred feet out on one of the greens of the neighboring golf course the house was located on on this island.

I've not setup a wireless network using actual "range extenders" such as you linked, so I can't comment on those.

Also if you're out looking to purchase a Pre-N/MIMO, in my opinion, stick with those actually based on the Airgo True MIMO chipset. Linksys and Belkin are based is based on it, Netgear isn't, and I don't believe DLink is either. But in the several articles I've read comparing Pre-N/MIMO units...all those based on the Airgo True MIMO chipset have excelled.

[chugger93]

Wow, thanks for all that helpful info. Maybe what I'll do is buy one of those SRX series, and put it in my basement. Hopefully it will broadcast throughout the entire house without any issues. Its only a 1650 square foot house, so its not like its gigantic or anything. All Id wanna do is make it an access point, since I already have a DHCP server, etc.