Need some advice on my home network

[imis]

Currently, I have three wired computers throughout the house. The router I'm using is a Linksys WRT54G with a Linksys PSUS4 for things like the TV and Blu-Ray. We bought my daughter a laptop and she wants to connect it wirelessly so I bought a Linksys E3000 for the G and N bands.

Here's my question, should I continue to use the WRT54G or replace it with the E3000? I was thinking of just using the E3000 as a wireless bridge, if that is possible? My wiring box is in the corner of the basement so one concern on putting the wireless router there is can it get through the basement and two floors above it?

Thanks in advance for advice.

 

[llee]

I thought the WRT54G was wireless capable... Is that the same 'wiring box' that you refer to in the last paragraph?

 

[imis]

"Wiring Box" is a panel next to my fuse box that has all the communications wires coming into it. Basically, I have the cable modem and router in this panel box that is in the corner basement of the house. All the phone and network lines meet in that box.

 

[llee]

I think you should use the E3000 as your primary router but supplement the wireless network coverage by using the WRT54G in switch mode. This ensures that your old hardware doesn't go to waste while making sure that you'll be able to pick up a signal in a larger area of your property. The assumption here is that the E3000 will be more reliable and powerful than the WRT54G at handling functions such as DHCP, TCP/UDP port forwarding, etc.

1. Put the WRT54G in 'switch mode' by plugging an RJ45 cable from a LAN port on the E3000 to a LAN port of the WRT54G. Each device can be placed separately from one another to cover a larger area of your house.
2. Assign each device its own IP address like 192.168.1.2, 102.168.1.3, etc.
3. Make sure both devices are broadcasting the same SSID (wireless mode).

 

[jlazzaro]

1. Put the WRT54G in 'switch mode' by plugging an RJ45 cable from a WAN port on the E3000 to a WAN port of the WRT54G. Each device can be placed separately from one another to cover a larger area of your house.

you never want to use the WAN ports in this type of configuration...it introduces routing, NAT, etc.

http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html

 

[llee]

my bad, i mixed up WAN ports with LAN ports. Everything else in my post is the same as your link