Overhauling home wifi network, need product suggestions

Hello all!

This is my first post on this forum, it seems like a resourceful place
to say the least.

I just got an Xbox 360 and I have it set up in my living room with the
HDTV. Now, my wireless router is in another room and my family will not
allow me to just run an ethernet cable across the house when I'm on xbox
live. So, I purchased the Microsoft wireless adapter for the 360. It
does work, but the signal strength of my wifi is not the strongest and
the games sometimes lag.

I've decided to upgrade some of the wireless technology in my house to
fix this problem.

From DSL Reports, this is my internet speed:
Download Speed "2379 Kb/s"
Upload Speed "417 Kb/s"
Latency 26 ms

I currently own a D-Link DI-624 router. I was thinking of replacing
this with something better. I don't want to spend a lot of money, so
what is a router that tops this one for less than $100. I've also heard
of hacking certain Linksys routers, what's up with this?

In terms of my network, this is what I have going. 1 PC hooked up to
router via ethernet, 1 wireless desktop with a POS old Dell USB wireless
adapter (definitely replacing), 1 wireless laptop, and the wireless 360.
I currently have static IP addresses set up so I can have port
forwarding for utorrent (I must maintain this lol).

Finally, I think I need to purchase an access point. One that just
plugs into the wall, picks up the wifi signal from the router and then
rebroadcasts it to the part of the house where the 360 is. What is a
highly rated access point?

I understand that it is kind of obnoxious to just be asking for product
recommendations here, but I hope I can get some useful feedback and
recommendations.

If you need any further information, like distances between rooms or
how many walls there are, etc, please feel free to ask.

Thanks!


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>
> I just got an Xbox 360 and I have it set up in my living room with the
> HDTV. Now, my wireless router is in another room and my family will not
> allow me to just run an ethernet cable across the house when I'm on xbox
> live. So, I purchased the Microsoft wireless adapter for the 360. It
> does work, but the signal strength of my wifi is not the strongest and
> the games sometimes lag.
>
> I've decided to upgrade some of the wireless technology in my house to
> fix this problem.
>
> From DSL Reports, this is my internet speed:
> Download Speed "2379 Kb/s"
> Upload Speed "417 Kb/s"
> Latency 26 ms
>

You don't mention what DSL Reports says your speed is at the PC that is
wired to the router. And what it is straight from the modem without the
router.

If that is acceptable, you might consider a
Power Line Network to your 360 and other computer.
You know eliminating the walls aspect will improve performance.
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/power-network.htm

> I currently own a D-Link DI-624 router. I was thinking of replacing
> this with something better.

> but the signal strength of my wifi is not the strongest and
> the games sometimes lag.

> so I can have port
> forwarding for utorrent (I must maintain this lol).

I'm guessing stealing content over p2p has more to do with the lag that the
wireless.