Using a spare wireless router as a repeater

[andrewj]

My internet modem and wireless router are downstairs in one corner of the house and my laptop and gaming console are upstairs in the opposite corner of the house. The signal upstairs is pretty poor and its especially frustrating when gaming. I am looking into a cheap and relatively effective way to boost my wireless signal.

I am aware of the option of using an old router as a repeater. I have a some old routers lying around and it seems like an easy enough task from what I have read so far, so I think I will give that a shot. First, however:

Who has done this? Is it effective? Can any old router be used as a repeater or is there more to it?

[Peter.Steele]

Just skip it entirely and get a couple of powerline adapters from Netgear. The used and refurbished ones are pretty inexpensive. Make sure that you're getting two in the package though, or you'll need to buy two.

Thing plugs in to your wall sockets, and CAT 5 from the router to the box, through the electrical wiring in your house, then from the second box through CAT 5 to your computer. They're great, and ten thousand times better than wireless.

[bigdawg86]

I think Mr. Negativity has the right idea... You can't use a wireless router as a wireless repeater. You would have to hardwire the second router with to the first, then use the same SSID on both. They have the standalone "repeaters" available, but don't work well. Although it's been a few years when I tried one.

[andrewj]

Just skip it entirely and get a couple of powerline adapters from Netgear. The used and refurbished ones are pretty inexpensive. Make sure that you're getting two in the package though, or you'll need to buy two.

Thing plugs in to your wall sockets, and CAT 5 from the router to the box, through the electrical wiring in your house, then from the second box through CAT 5 to your computer. They're great, and ten thousand times better than wireless.

Interesting. You use these?

[CSDGuy]

While it's possible to do with an old wireless router that's compatible with DD-WRT (and other similar firmware replacement), you will likely lose throughput and increase your ping times... bad for gaming. A hardwired option would most likely be HUGELY better than using a wireless repeater... of any sort for what you're doing.

[NSR500]

DD-WRT can do it with the compatible router.

[Peter.Steele]

Interesting. You use these?

Yep. It's not the exact same model as that - mine are covered by an NDA so I can't really talk about them - but they're substantially similar to those that I linked.

Speed is quite good. You're not going to get gigabit speeds, but it's a HELL of a lot faster than wireless G. Depending on where in the house I am, it's faster than N as well. Powerline adapters, as a general class of thing, work best if you're both outlets are on the same breaker ... but mine aren't, and they're still just awesome. Plugging them into a surge protector doesn't seem to cause any issues with the connection either. Ping times seem to be unaffected - I get the same ping on speedtest.net whether I'm using wired, wireless or powerline connections.

Also, they're completely scalable. So long as you've got one plugged in to your router, you can just keep adding them to other locations in your house wherever you might want ethernet connectivity. I'm going to buy another one (of the type I linked, most likely, since they're directly compatible) and add it behind my television with a 4-port switch (although they do make a powerline adapter with a 4-port switch built in, and I might just do that) because I'd like to have a wired connection to the PS3, Wii, media player box and blu-ray player, so it'll take a little of the load off the wireless network.

[boltmopar]

If you have time warner for a internet provider, they will give you the powerline adapters. I have like four sets in my van.

[707electrician]

Just skip it entirely and get a couple of powerline adapters from Netgear. The used and refurbished ones are pretty inexpensive. Make sure that you're getting two in the package though, or you'll need to buy two.

Thing plugs in to your wall sockets, and CAT 5 from the router to the box, through the electrical wiring in your house, then from the second box through CAT 5 to your computer. They're great, and ten thousand times better than wireless.

If you are going to be plugging in your computer anyway why don't you just run a cat5 from the router to the computer

[Peter.Steele]

If you are going to be plugging in your computer anyway why don't you just run a cat5 from the router to the computer

Because I'm married and would like to stay that way?

[707electrician]

Because I'm married and would like to stay that way?

If your wife would divorce you for fishing a cat5 cable in the walls/under the house, you have bigger issues that internet connectivity

[boltmopar]

If your wife would divorce you for fishing a cat5 cable in the walls/under the house, you have bigger issues that internet connectivity

I don't think we all have the proper tools for wall fishing.

[707electrician]

I don't think we all have the proper tools for wall fishing.

If you have an electrician friend, they will. Wire coat hangers work just fine though!

[boltmopar]

Unless there is a fire break or what ever their called, or if your my mom who wants one in a room with a vaulted ceiling on an exterior wall. Crazy mom making me waste my saturday.

[Peter.Steele]

If your wife would divorce you for fishing a cat5 cable in the walls/under the house, you have bigger issues that internet connectivity

I know how to wall fish.

However, my wife has never seen this skill demonstrated, and unless she sees it demonstrated, she refuses to believe that it exists. I refuse to pay someone else to do something I can do just fine on my own. (Actually, this is what she said about surround sound speakers, but it can be extended to any sort of household wiring.)

Therefore, powerline adapters. Cheap, quick, easy and oh so functional.