Adding an additional access point to a wireless network....i'm just plain confused.

I posted earlier on extending the range of my homenetwork that I'm
building this week...and I think i'm more confused that when I began.
I need another access point to extend the range of the wireless
network so that it will cover all three floors. I'm buying a wireless
router w/ 4 port switch..connecting the wired computers to it---all
this sits on floor three. Floor two and floor one, the basement also
need to be covered with a strong signal. What do I need to do? Do I
put another access point on floor 2? If so, how does the connection
to this work? Do I have to run a wire from the wireless router down
to the AP? Will just setting it up in the range and setting it in
repeater mode work?--or will that require a router, and two access
points both in repeater mode? I tried calling Linksys tech support,
but the lady I got obviously didn't know what was going on--and could
barely speak English.

The other solution which someone suggested is a signal booster--has
anyone else had experiene with these?..do they work well? I have to
have a strong connection two floors down...in the basement for online
gaming...

Please help

DirtyBird wrote:
> I posted earlier on extending the range of my homenetwork that I'm
> building this week...and I think i'm more confused that when I began.
> I need another access point to extend the range of the wireless
> network so that it will cover all three floors. I'm buying a wireless
> router w/ 4 port switch..connecting the wired computers to it---all
> this sits on floor three. Floor two and floor one, the basement also
> need to be covered with a strong signal. What do I need to do? Do I
> put another access point on floor 2? If so, how does the connection
> to this work? Do I have to run a wire from the wireless router down
> to the AP? Will just setting it up in the range and setting it in
> repeater mode work?--or will that require a router, and two access
> points both in repeater mode? I tried calling Linksys tech support,
> but the lady I got obviously didn't know what was going on--and could
> barely speak English.
>
> The other solution which someone suggested is a signal booster--has
> anyone else had experiene with these?..do they work well? I have to
> have a strong connection two floors down...in the basement for online
> gaming...
>
> Please help
You could just plug the new AP into the router/swithc/AP and install the new
AP on the first floor.
--
------------------
Jeffrey
ICQ# 44404094
Yahoo!: mrmac14
------------------

similar problem here

does wireless 802.11g have better signal then 802.11b?


"DirtyBird" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I posted earlier on extending the range of my homenetwork that I'm
> building this week...and I think i'm more confused that when I began.
> I need another access point to extend the range of the wireless
> network so that it will cover all three floors. I'm buying a wireless
> router w/ 4 port switch..connecting the wired computers to it---all
> this sits on floor three. Floor two and floor one, the basement also
> need to be covered with a strong signal. What do I need to do? Do I
> put another access point on floor 2? If so, how does the connection
> to this work? Do I have to run a wire from the wireless router down
> to the AP? Will just setting it up in the range and setting it in
> repeater mode work?--or will that require a router, and two access
> points both in repeater mode? I tried calling Linksys tech support,
> but the lady I got obviously didn't know what was going on--and could
> barely speak English.
>
> The other solution which someone suggested is a signal booster--has
> anyone else had experiene with these?..do they work well? I have to
> have a strong connection two floors down...in the basement for online
> gaming...
>
> Please help
>

yes--that would be ideal, but the problem lies in running the cat 5
down to the second access point on the first floor. Will buying a
wireless bridge and hooking it up to the second access point--will
that carry over the signal? I've read about the non ethernet ways
such as the electrical outlet's--but won't those slow down a 54g
network?

First a disclaimer. I'm just getting involved in setting up a wireless
home network in the near future. I also have been looking into the
potential setup for extending the range. Here is what I've found from
the web and LINKSYS:

1. The LINKSYS setup for using a second AP is to connect it to the
primary router via ethernet. Then configure the second AP to a different
channel but same SSID. I believe this is the solution you are trying to
avoid.

2. As above, but now use the "home plug'/"powerline" method to connect
the second AP to the primary router. These powerline units plug into the
wall sockets and transmit signals over the house electrical wiring. You
need a powerline unit for the router and another unit for the second AP
(check with LINKSYS for the hookups). Once again, I believe you set the
second AP to a different channel but with the same SSID. This appears to
be a viable solution for your case.

3. The "repeater" solution seems to be getting mixed reviews. Several
articles indicate that throughput drops by atleast one-half. In this
case, the repeater is set to the same channel and SSID.

4. People indicate that signal boosters for the primary router (no
second AP needed?) seem to work well.

The max thruput for the powerline stuff is suppose to be around 14mbs.
This may actually wind up being better that the repeater due to its (the
repeater) inherent operational method. PC magazine (June 30< 2003) has a
wireless article that showed that the actual 54g network setup was
obtaining around 16mbs at 40 - 60 foot distances. The repeater may cut
this in half (or more).

Again, all the above is based on information that I have gathered form
the web and from vendors - I have no actual experience.

Harvey

DirtyBird wrote:

>yes--that would be ideal, but the problem lies in running the cat 5
>down to the second access point on the first floor. Will buying a
>wireless bridge and hooking it up to the second access point--will
>that carry over the signal? I've read about the non ethernet ways
>such as the electrical outlet's--but won't those slow down a 54g
>network?
>
>