Contemplating new Wireless AP and Router

[Tarrant64]

My current setup consists of a cable modem going into a wireless router. The wireless router is actually maxed out port wise (DGL-4300) and unfortunately my desktops are on the other side of the apartment so I have cables that run all the way across. Here's what I'm thinking, any suggestions?

New switch and access point.

Cable modem -> new router.
- new router would be used to connect Wii and other devices next to modem.

new AP -> new router.
- I'll use this to extend the wireless signal to DGL-4300 i currently have across the apartment

DGL-4300 wireless to new AP
- I'll plug the desktops into to DGL4300 which will be wireless connected to the new AP.

Will that setup work? I'll probably spend no more than $130-$150 on the new AP and switch.


Edit: I guess the new switch should be router, not just a switch, my mistake. changed

don't hate me, this is not how my typical visio drawings look, but this is what i'm thinking:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albu...Tarrnat64/new_setp.jpg

 

[Eug]

I'm not sure if I'm understanding your setup correctly, but I assume your wireless router is doing all the routing. If that's the case, it'd make more sense to keep the router next to the cable modem and then put the switch at the other end.

If you find you're needing to boost the wireless at the far end, you can add another access point at the switch for that spot. To combine that into one unit, buy a second wireless router, and turn off its routing functions so that it functions as a basic switch and wireless access point only.

ie.

Cable modem --> wireless router ---------------------> switch --> wireless access point

Or

Cable modem --> wireless router ---------------------> wireless router #2, but with routing turned off.

 

[Tarrant64]

right now my wireless router/switch does all the router (DGL-4300). What I want to do is move that DGL-4300 to another area of the apartment and have it connect to the new wireless access point. other laptops should connect to the wireless access point too I'm assuming, and not the DGL-4300. The DGL-4300 will connect to the AP, and then my desktops there would just plug right into it for internet access.

This is so I don't have to run cables all the way across the room. I wanted to add another switch where the access point is for any devices there that need to be directly plugged into something for internet access.

 

[Eug]

So that Wii is going to be attached to the switch before the router? That would pose a problem for the Wii.

And aren't you going to get worse wireless support near the modem then? Or does that matter?

EDIT:

Oh I see you modified your original post to say you're going to get a new router, not a switch.

 

[Tarrant64]

yeah, my mistake. as i was trying to do a quick diagram my brain woke up going "wait...what, that's not right."

 

[Brainonska511]

Why not just get a new switch and string one wire from the router to the desktops, then hook the desktops into the switch? It will be much better, especially if you share files on the network and you'll only have one wire strung across your apartment.

 

[Eug]

That's what I suggested, but he wanted wireless at that other end.

 

[Tarrant64]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511
Why not just get a new switch and string one wire from the router to the desktops, then hook the desktops into the switch? It will be much better, especially if you share files on the network and you'll only have one wire strung across your apartment.

I've contemplated that, my only problem is that with the way things are laid out right now it's a problem just to have even one. I have no real way of hiding the cable or moving it out of the way, it's just....right there to trip over.

With that wireless AP put in, there shouldn't be any major problems with that setup, right?

 

[Eug]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albu...Tarrnat64/new_setp.jpg

So I was still confused. I didn't realize you wanted a wireless bridge. You might want to get two WDS access points if your current one doesn't already support it.

Or if routing is easy, the cheaper option would be to buy some wiremold and CAT5e cable. 100 ft of CAT5 goes for 10 bucks at Monoprice. Wiremold is expensive, but the other option is you could just try some cable hooks for a few cents each. Run it along the edge of the wall. The cable can be purchased in a colour similar to the wall. For example, most of my recent cable purchases have been white, since my baseboards are all white.

P.S. Your diagram has a new router and new access point. Why not just a wireless router?

 

[Tarrant64]

If I get a new wireless router I would have to make sure it supports bridging right? The DGL-4300 supports bridging but I haven't really been able to see if everything works like it should.

So getting rid of the new router, i should be able to get the 4300 to connect to whatever wireless router ends up being used, right?

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: Tarrant64

Originally posted by: Brainonska511
Why not just get a new switch and string one wire from the router to the desktops, then hook the desktops into the switch? It will be much better, especially if you share files on the network and you'll only have one wire strung across your apartment.

I've contemplated that, my only problem is that with the way things are laid out right now it's a problem just to have even one. I have no real way of hiding the cable or moving it out of the way, it's just....right there to trip over.

With that wireless AP put in, there shouldn't be any major problems with that setup, right?

I don't think so, but you're transfer speeds between the desktops will be much slower. It might seem like a dumb question, but why not just get a longer Cat5e cable and lay it along the wall or something instead of straight across the floor?

 

[Tarrant64]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: Tarrant64

Originally posted by: Brainonska511
Why not just get a new switch and string one wire from the router to the desktops, then hook the desktops into the switch? It will be much better, especially if you share files on the network and you'll only have one wire strung across your apartment.

I've contemplated that, my only problem is that with the way things are laid out right now it's a problem just to have even one. I have no real way of hiding the cable or moving it out of the way, it's just....right there to trip over.

With that wireless AP put in, there shouldn't be any major problems with that setup, right?

I don't think so, but you're transfer speeds between the desktops will be much slower. It might seem like a dumb question, but why not just get a longer Cat5e cable and lay it along the wall or something instead of straight across the floor?

because it has to cross the floor at some point, too far to just run along the wall all the way to the other side of the room. and i know, maybe I'm making it more of a pain than it needs to be.

the desktop transfers shouldn't be a problem if they are on the same switch/router though. i can see the internet being slower but local transfers shouldn't' be a problem, not that I really need to do it that much.

i'm looking at a WRT54G right now.

 

[Eug]

CAT5e is fine up to 300 feet.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: Tarrant64
i'm looking at a WRT54G right now.

Internet will be fine with wireless, as the wireless is faster than what you're probably getting for internet anyway.

I'd steer clear of the WRT54G. It's a shell of it's former self (pre-v5 days). I'm replacing my v8.2 with DD-WRT on it for an Asus WL-520gu (which I will be installing Tomato onto). The Asus WL-520gu comes highly recommended around this forum.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16833320023

 

[Tarrant64]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: Tarrant64
i'm looking at a WRT54G right now.

Internet will be fine with wireless, as the wireless is faster than what you're probably getting for internet anyway.

I'd steer clear of the WRT54G. It's a shell of it's former self (pre-v5 days). I'm replacing my v8.2 with DD-WRT on it for an Asus WL-520gu (which I will be installing Tomato onto). The Asus WL-520gu comes highly recommended around this forum.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16833320023

Thanks, I'll have a look at that. I'm just personally familiar with the WRT54G and DD-WRT.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: Tarrant64

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: Tarrant64
i'm looking at a WRT54G right now.

Internet will be fine with wireless, as the wireless is faster than what you're probably getting for internet anyway.

I'd steer clear of the WRT54G. It's a shell of it's former self (pre-v5 days). I'm replacing my v8.2 with DD-WRT on it for an Asus WL-520gu (which I will be installing Tomato onto). The Asus WL-520gu comes highly recommended around this forum.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16833320023

Thanks, I'll have a look at that. I'm just personally familiar with the WRT54G and DD-WRT.

You can run DD-WRT on the Asus router as well. I'm just going for Tomato because it supposedly has better QoS.

The v5 and on WRT54g are crap. Mine was okay over the summer when 2 people were using, but now after 4+ months of 5 people using it, it I realize it won't cut it when people are doing various things (can't handle too many connections without crashing).

 

[Madwand1]

Originally posted by: Tarrant64
this is what i'm thinking:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albu...Tarrnat64/new_setp.jpg

You have it backwards. The DGL-4300 cannot work as a client-mode wireless bridge, and its WDS is lacking. I suggest using it as the router and wireless AP in the first location by the modem, and adding a client mode wireless bridge in the second location.

If you stick with standard-g, you can do this with a single WL-520gU or WRT54GL, among others.

If you want to look ahead a bit, you could consider a WRT150N or something else, but the prices jump quickly, and getting two more expensive devices would generally exceed your budget.

 

[Tarrant64]

Originally posted by: Madwand1

Originally posted by: Tarrant64
this is what i'm thinking:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albu...Tarrnat64/new_setp.jpg

You have it backwards. The DGL-4300 cannot work as a client-mode wireless bridge, and its WDS is lacking. I suggest using it as the router and wireless AP in the first location by the modem, and adding a client mode wireless bridge in the second location.

If you stick with standard-g, you can do this with a single WL-520gU or WRT54GL, among others.

If you want to look ahead a bit, you could consider a WRT150N or something else, but the prices jump quickly, and getting two more expensive devices would generally exceed your budget.

Thanks for the heads up on the DGL-4300. I thought maybe it could but if it'll work the other way around that works for me too. I'm looking for reviews on the WL-520gU, I'm undecided about it.

Looks like the Asus is supported by DD-WRT, so I may be in luck for what I'm trying to do: http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Asus_WL-520GU



Haven't used their products and I was bent on the WRT54G so now it's just up in the air. Never heard really any bad things about the WRT54G.

 

[Tarrant64]

OK, I've decided on the Asus WL-520gu I think. I've been searching the forums and it has been recommended a lot. I will take that and run DD-WRT since there's really good documentation on the setup process.

Asus WL-520gu
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...23&Tpk=asus%20WL-520gu

DD-WRT Install Instructions
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Asus_WL-520GU

And I think this is what I'm looking to do with it:
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Wireless_Bridge

Thanks for all your help and suggestions! I really need to discuss it before I went ahead made a couple of purchases I would have regretted.

 

[mc866]

Nice choice, just picked up the WL-520gu a month ago and installing DD-WRT was a breeze