Repurposing a router

[SpeedThree]

I have FiOS, and a there-year old router which is not an 802.11n capable.

At my computer, wired to the Actiontec, I get 58Mbps down and 38Mbps up.

I have a three-floor townhouse and while the WiFi signal does reach the basement, where we have our TV and where I frequently use my iPad, it is definitely degraded. There are no Coax outlets in the basement.

I wondered if this would work:
Buy the latest Actiontec router from Verizon
Get a PLWK400 Powerline AV Wireless Network Extender Kit (or similar)
Connect the old Actiontec router to the Wireless Extender in the basement and have it broadcast a wifi signal to my TV and to my iPad there.

Would this work??? If not, is there any other way to get a strong signal to the basement?

Many thanks.

 

[CaptainSTX]

In theory it will work just fine. Depending on distance (length of wires to and from electrical panel ) and sources of electrical noise you should be able to get at least half your speed measured at the new primary router using an Ethernet connection.

To avoid WiFi interference just set the two WiFi radios on different channels.

 

[SpeedThree]

Thanks, Captain. Based on your reply, here's my plan of action.


1. Buy the latest router from Verizon and see what my speeds are throughout the house, and especially in the basement.

2. I have never had a dual-band router before so i am presuming that I can assign different devices to different bands.

3. Since I have learned that signal strength (do I have this right?) on the 5 GHz band is one-half that on the 2.4 GHz band, I will assign the MacBook on the same floor as the router to the 5 GHz band and will experiment to see which band works with another MacBook one floor down.

4. I will assign the 2.4 GHz band to the AppleTV in the basement and see what signal strength/speeds I get.

5. If the performance in the basement does not improve, then I will experiment with a pair of power line network adapters. (There is an excellent computer store nearby to which you can return anything you buy so long as you save the original packaging and return it within 30 days). If the adapters work to my satisfaction, then I'll move the old Actiontec router to the basemen and set it up as an access point so I can use my iPad there too.

Sound like a plan? Do i have everything straight?

Many thanks for your input and help

 

[CaptainSTX]

Your plan sounds spot on.

Just be sure when you talk about bands you mean 2.4 vs 5 Ghz . Also before you plan on connecting devices to 5 Ghz be sure their adapter supports that frequency. Many don't. Only my wife's Ipad's built in adapter supports 5 Ghz and for whatever reason it most frequently connects to the 2.4 Ghz radio even when in the same room as the router. To prevent devices that are 5 Ghz capable from connecting to your 2.4Ghz SSIDs just don't set up those networks on those devices. This isn't a good option if you move portable devices throughout the house to areas of weak 5 Ghz signals.

As for the G vs N most newer devices support that standard and you will easily be able to tell if they support it and benefit from the new N router as their link rate will now exceed 54Mbps. If you have devices that are B/G mode only make sure that you set your new router to support them. I have my Actiontec set up to support legacy devices and I don't notice a performance hit, but any of my devices needing top speed are connected to my network using Ethernet, MOCA or Ethernet over powerline connections.

 

[SpeedThree]

Off topic question: When I click on the Thanks icon, are you notified that I thanked you or is it best to write a separate note of thanks?

 

[CaptainSTX]

The thanks shows up underneath the post I made and in my overall statistics.

 

[SpeedThree]

Results from new Actiontec router

Well, I received and installed my new router and the result has been improved speed throughout the house, even in the basement. Pages open just about instantly in the Laptop web browsers and the signal in the basement has increased appreciably.

Yes, I could have done it more cheaply, but I could also have done it more expensively as I was considering connecting an Apple Extreme Base Station to the old Actiontec and the AEBS is $200.

The advantages of the new Actiontec is that I am totally familiar with the web-based software and so don't have to learn my way around a new router's software and, FWIW, I can still call on Verizon support should I run into a problem I cannot solve.

Here are the results of some of my speed tests, done using the Verizon speed test. The router was installed on 27 November, and you can see the speed increase for yourselves:

TOP FLOOR:
24 Nov 1200H 21.85 DOWN & 20.97 UP.
24 Nov 1633H 22.87 DOWN & 19.81 UP. LATENCY 15MS

27NOV 1213H 42.81 DOWN & 38.96 UP. LATENCY 15MS - AUTO
27NOV 1232H 58.15 DOWN & 38.92 UP. LATENCY 15MS - CH6

WIFE’S TOP FLOOR OFFICE; A ROOM AWAY:
24 Nov 1200H 25.98 DOWN & 11.93 UP LATENCY 15MS
27NOV 1210H 38.31 DOWN & 37.69 UP LATENCY 12MS

KITCHEN
24 Nov 1200H 15.23 DOWN & 10.37 UP LATENCY 13MS
24 Nov 1525H 21.52 DOWN & 19.23 UP LATENCY 15MS
24 Nov 1810H 14.05 DOWN & 11.49 UP LATENCY 17MS
24 Nov 2109H 24.31DOWN & 17.74 UP LATENCY 15MS; CH 3
25 Nov 0615H 10,56 DOWN & 16.62 UP LATENCY 13MS; CH 3
25 Nov 2106H 22.53 DOWN & 11.99 UP LATENCY 18MS; CH 3

27NOV 1205H 39.37 DOWN & 31.21 UP LATENCY 15MS CH 6
28NOV 0710H 31.43 DOWN & 36.49 UP LATENCY 15MS CH 11

BASEMENT
24 Nov 1200H 16.23 DOWN & 11.97 UP LATENCY 15MS
24 Nov 1644H 12.14 DOWN & 12.36 UP, LATENCY 15MSS
24 Nov 1803H 07.72 DOWN & 03.42 UP LATENCY 14MS
24 Nov 2052H 06.71 DOWN & 11.46 UP LATENCY 15MS; CH6
24Nov 2056H 07.97 DOWN & 05.65 UP LATENCY 15MS; CH 11
24Nov 2100H 20.88 DOWN & 05.51 UP LATENCY 15MS; CH 1
24Nov 2102H 21.42 DOWN & 11.31 UP LATENCY 15MS; CH 3

27NOV 1841H 33.64 DOWN & 34.64 UP LATENCY 15MS; CH 6
27NOV 2019H 37.22 DOWN & 38.81 UP LATENCY 14MS; CH 6


A final thanks to all who chimed in with suggestions throughout this thread.