Any real advantage of cascading multiple routers together?

[steppinthrax]

I have around 4 WRT1900ACS v2. I'm using only one of these for my home. It is running DD-WRT. Just to give you and understanding of my home network use.

Almost everything (network devices) except the network printer and Skype Gateway is wireless.

So We have around 2 laptops (wireless 5Ghz), 2 TV media players (wireless 5ghz), 3 android phones, a eSATA NAS is connected to the router and is shared by everyone.

So we are talking a total of 9 devices if you included the wired. There is a possibility of 1 or 2 more that are guest use devices.

The andoird devices pull the most bandwidth, Netflix, YouTube and VLC. Movies are streamed from the external NAS on the router to the android as well as the TV android devices.

I have 3 other WRT1900ACS v2 that I want to see if I could use them ore if I just should sell them now. I'm thinking of connecting both of them together (cascading). Possibly configuring one to handle all outbound traffic while the other handles inbound.

Or maybe I could connect all 3 making 4 routers connected together. Will that improve performance?

Will any of this improve performance or is there any benefit based on my configuration.

 

[razel]

That by itself is a good router and you have 4? I would sell 2 and just keep 2. You can improve performance by dividing things. It has two wireless radios and each radio divides it's attention amongst devices. If you have IOT devices, you can use separate them into that 2nd router. Of course, DD-WRT allows you to create a separate 2nd SSID as well for each radio, so it's all up to you.

 

[sdifox]

More wap is always a good thing.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Spacing them out for better wifi reception will help wifi performance, but there's no way* to "cluster" routers together to improve absolute routing performance. So if you're running into lag while running torrents, for example, you'd need to get a router with MOAR RAMZ! and MOAR CPUS!, so it can handle MOAR CONNEKSHUNZ!.

*It's theoretically possible to create a load balanced cluster to route traffic, work as a firewall, do security stuff, etc. - in fact, you'd want something fairly beefy if you were doing deep packet inspection. But not with the gear and software you have. At least not without hacking the hell out of it. I wouldn't recommend it unless you have a really weird idea of "fun."

 

[steppinthrax]

Spacing them out for better wifi reception will help wifi performance, but there's no way* to "cluster" routers together to improve absolute routing performance. So if you're running into lag while running torrents, for example, you'd need to get a router with MOAR RAMZ! and MOAR CPUS!, so it can handle MOAR CONNEKSHUNZ!.

*It's theoretically possible to create a load balanced cluster to route traffic, work as a firewall, do security stuff, etc. - in fact, you'd want something fairly beefy if you were doing deep packet inspection. But not with the gear and software you have. At least not without hacking the hell out of it. I wouldn't recommend it unless you have a really weird idea of "fun."

So really only the advantage I'll get is more wifi reception. Another Idea I was thinking was plugging one of these routers upstairs and connecting them together via wifi (would this reduce performance) would this increase signal?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

So really only the advantage I'll get is more wifi reception. Another Idea I was thinking was plugging one of these routers upstairs and connecting them together via wifi (would this reduce performance) would this increase signal?

Wifi repeaters and range extenders exist, and you can use a second router as one, sometimes (depending on whether the firmware and radio allow it) but IME it's always kinda crappy.

 

[steppinthrax]

Wifi repeaters and range extenders exist, and you can use a second router as one, sometimes (depending on whether the firmware and radio allow it) but IME it's always kinda crappy.

Thanks, I was told that a repeater lowers bandwidth etc...

 

[JackMDS]

"lowers bandwidth etc..

Lower ?? More like cuts it into half.







.

 

[mxnerd]

Uplink remaining routers via LAN ports (not WAN port, that will create double NAT) to main router and put them in access point mode then you won't lose half of the bandwidth and you gain wireless coverage.

Depending on the size of your house and location of the routers, you probably can sell one or two of them.

 

[JackMDS]

Using Wireless Routers (or Modem/Wireless Router) as a Switch with an Access Point - http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html

 

[VirtualLarry]

you'd need to get a router with MOAR RAMZ! and MOAR CPUS!, so it can handle MOAR CONNEKSHUNZ!.

Sounds like a job for a Ryzen 7 1800X CPU, running pfSense...

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Sell three of them and get one (or two if needed) Ubiquiti UniFi AC Pro.

Edit: Another review

 

[ch33zw1z]

You won't get seamless handout between WAP's using SOHO routers as WAP's. In other words, walking around you house or property, your phone (for instance) will stay connected to the same WAP all the time