Help improving WiFi coverage

[gba]

Wifi is not covering entire large house with Netgear WNDR 3300 wireless router. Tried setting up a WNDR 3700 as a repeater bridge but had various problems getting that to work. The house has wired LAN with ethernet connections throughout. What would be the most simple and cost effective solution for expanding the range of the WLAN coverage?

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[Mark R]

Just get another wireless router. Connect it directly to a PC, and configure it so that DHCP is switched off, and so that it has a static IP address that doesn't conflict with your existing router.

Then just connect a cat5 cable between the two of them (or if you already have a switched wired network, plug it into a switch).

I have successfully done this at several homes, but using various routers. I've even managed to get an old wireless modem that was heavily locked down by the old broadband supplier, to work fine as a range extender.

Configure both routers to have the same SSID, password and encryption method (and preferably different channels) for seamless roaming between both routers.

 

[gba]

Hey thanks. Yeah, there is a wired LAN here with a switch...still have the WNDR 3700, I will give it a try with that. Sounds simple. Let's see if it works.

 

[JackMDS]

Buy a second Wireless Router.

Configure it this way.

Using a Wireless Router as a switch with an Access Point - http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html

Swicth On a laptop, walk around and notice the areas that are not cover well.

In the center of uncovered area plug the second Router to the wall's Ethernet (if there is a computer there plug the computer to one of the LAN port of the second Router.

Find the best location and Done.

Very big house with a lot of obstructions might need a 3rd Wireless Router as an Access Point.

No need for expensive unit like your current Netgear for this purpose.

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Please note that if the Routers do not have MDX sensing ports you might need a crossover pigtail to connect the additional Routers to the Network.

 

[gba]

Thanks to you both... away for a few days, will post here with my results.

 

[gba]

Buy a second Wireless Router.

Configure it this way.

Using a Wireless Router as a switch with an Access Point - http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html

Swicth On a laptop, walk around and notice the areas that are not cover well.

In the center of uncovered area plug the second Router to the wall's Ethernet (if there is a computer there plug the computer to one of the LAN port of the second Router.

Find the best location and Done.

Very big house with a lot of obstructions might need a 3rd Wireless Router as an Access Point.

No need for expensive unit like your current Netgear for this purpose.

----------------
Please note that if the Routers do not have MDX sensing ports you might need a crossover pigtail to connect the additional Routers to the Network.

Thanks Jack. This worked perfectly!