WiFi Recommendations

[ChuckR]

My wife and I are moving from a home with a wired computer room. She has an HP with Windows 7 Home 64bit. I have a built system with Windows 7 Professional 64bit.

CPU Intel 930
Motherboard AusTeK P6X58D-E
Video Card ATI Radeon 5850
Memory Kingston 12gb DDR3
HDD WDC Black 500gb,
PSU SeaSonic X750W Gold
Case Silverstone FT02
Cooling Xigmatex Dark Knight
Monitor: HP ZR24w
Operating System: Windows 7 Professional 64bit
Miscellaneous Kingston 128gb SSDNow

The place we will be moving to has a bedroom on the left and right of the living room.
her computer and TV and my computer will be in the bedrooms. The living room in the middle will have a TV and MagicJack phone. The apartment is wired for COX Cable so the TV's will have basic programs.

Question: What would you recommend for a WiFi setup for these devices?

Thanks

 

[sdifox]

So the cable modem is in the livingroom? What is your budget? You'll need wireless nic as well.

 

[aigomorla]

In order of fastest from my experience...

Direct Lan -> MoCA bridge (dpending on wiring of house) =>< Powerline bridge -> Wifi

Since u have cable u can easily put in a MoCA bridge @ the cost of installing a new 5ghz Wifi Router + Wifi Dongle/card.

Since its a APT, a powerline network unit will probably be a good solution as well.

Wifi's get very moody especially in APT complex's where its flooded.
I would probably go with either the second 2 options, if trying to get a direct lan line is near impossible.

 

[ChuckR]

Okay, What is a Dongle. What is a powerline network unit? I can't run wires through walls.
My thought was that I needed a USB 2.0 WiFi connection in each computer. in the Living Room a WiFi unit that would allow 1: connection by each computer over WiFi. 2: A direct connection to the Magic Jack.

 

[dionasaur]

Powerline network unit connects your network over power (through a wall socket). Trendnet has quite a few that are fairly popular and pretty affordable.

If you look for "Ethernet over Power" you should get quite a few results.

 

[sdifox]

Powerline network unit connects your network over power (through a wall socket). Trendnet has quite a few that are fairly popular and pretty affordable.

If you look for "Power over Ethernet" you should get quite a few results.

You mean Power Line Communication, or Ethernet over Power.

 

[XLer8or]

Okay, What is a Dongle. What is a powerline network unit? I can't run wires through walls.
My thought was that I needed a USB 2.0 WiFi connection in each computer. in the Living Room a WiFi unit that would allow 1: connection by each computer over WiFi. 2: A direct connection to the Magic Jack.

If WiFi is a must go to AC if in a apt. Here are some suggestions:

Router: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704177

Adapter (x2): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704254

TP-Link is great value, I have 2 adapters and they work excellent.

 

[smitbret]

aigomorla & XLer8or are both spot on with their assessments and recommendations. I used an Archer C7 for about 3 years as my main router and I feel it is easily the best value for 90% of the population out there.

 

[dionasaur]

You mean Power Line Communication, or Ethernet over Power.

Yes, whoops, thanks for the correction

 

[ChuckR]

So the TP-Link Archer T2UH AC600 High Gain Wireless Dual Band USB Adapter connects to each computer?????
Do they plug into a USB 2.0 port?????

The TP-LINK Archer C7 Wireless AC1750 Dual Band Gigabit Router connects to the COX Cable and the Magic Jack would connect to this????

 

[sdifox]

So the TP-Link Archer T2UH AC600 High Gain Wireless Dual Band USB Adapter connects to each computer?????

The TP-LINK Archer C7 Wireless AC1750 Dual Band Gigabit Router connects to the COX Cable and the Magic Jack would connect to this????

basically. I was asking about tge location of your magicjack. Is your majicjack the ethernet one? If so you do need to put it near the router and I am assuming you use a cordless phone?

 

[aigomorla]

Okay, What is a Dongle. What is a powerline network unit? I can't run wires through walls.
My thought was that I needed a USB 2.0 WiFi connection in each computer. in the Living Room a WiFi unit that would allow 1: connection by each computer over WiFi. 2: A direct connection to the Magic Jack.

http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-PA...=1442514819&sr=1-2&keywords=powerline+adapter

no need to run wires though walls, you use your existing power line.

you basically plug one unit inside a wall socket where your router is.
Plug a lan cable to the unit in the socket..

Plug the other unit near the station you want Lan.
Take a lan cable, plug it to the other wall socket and then to the computer.


Its that simple.... wont get dropped internet like most wifi does, and its fairly stable and fast.

I am a strong advocate against Wifi unless u absolutely need it for like phones and tablets.
If its for a desktop like you state, i would go no less then powerline.

Powerline wont even cost you as much as a c7 router and i bet you that you will have way more bandwith then Wifi on it on top.

 

[ChuckR]

I will stick with WiFi as we do use an IPAD 3 to Skype with our Granddaughter. I don't want to run wires and am sure the Retirement Home allows WiFi.

Thanks

 

[sdifox]

I will stick with WiFi as we do use an IPAD 3 to Skype with our Granddaughter. I don't want to run wires and am sure the Retirement Home allows WiFi.

Thanks

Wait you are moving into a retirement home without wifi?

 

[ChuckR]

They said it is only available in the middle of the complex where they have some computers and offices.

 

[sdifox]

They said it is only available in the middle of the complex where they have some computers and offices.

Bummer. Ok so where will the internet be installed? In the living room where the tv is is my guess? If so, put wifi router there, plug the majic jack into router and get two wireless nic for the two desktops.

I would get pci nics as opposed to usb.

 

[XLer8or]

So the TP-Link Archer T2UH AC600 High Gain Wireless Dual Band USB Adapter connects to each computer?????
Do they plug into a USB 2.0 port?????

The TP-LINK Archer C7 Wireless AC1750 Dual Band Gigabit Router connects to the COX Cable and the Magic Jack would connect to this????

Yes, yes and yes.

You said you built a PC, setup for WiFi can be easier so don't be discouraged. If you have questions you can try looking up Youtube videos on your wait for the order.

Edit:

I would get pci nics as opposed to usb.

USB2.0 maxes at about 400mbits/s, the adapter I mentioned will do that too. Thats why I recommend them(AC600). $34 is cheap for 5GHz AC these days.

 

[ChuckR]

I have been looking at the TP-Link Archer C7 and have some questions.
1. Why 3 cable connections?
2. Which port, one gigabit WAN port and four gigabit LAN ports, would I use to connect the MagicJack and a 5.8 phone with Remote?
3. The picture seems to show a flash drive in one of the USB slots. What can you do with it?
4. Is this a Router/Modem or do I need another device? I certainly hope not.

The unit would be near a TV and between 2 walls to reach the computers.
Any issues?

 

[sdifox]

Yes, yes and yes.

You said you built a PC, setup for WiFi can be easier so don't be discouraged. If you have questions you can try looking up Youtube videos on your wait for the order.

Edit:

USB2.0 maxes at about 400mbits/s, the adapter I mentioned will do that too. Thats why I recommend them(AC600). $34 is cheap for 5GHz AC these days.

not about throughput, usb stack is just a nightmare for latency.

 

[sdifox]

I have been looking at the TP-Link Archer C7 and have some questions.
1. Why 3 cable connections?
2. Which port, one gigabit WAN port and four gigabit LAN ports, would I use to connect the MagicJack and a 5.8 phone with Remote?
3. The picture seems to show a flash drive in one of the USB slots. What can you do with it?
4. Is this a Router/Modem or do I need another device? I certainly hope not.

The unit would be near a TV and between 2 walls to reach the computers.
Any issues?

1. I don't know what you mean by 3 cable connections.
2. wan goes to cable modem, magic jack goes to lan port
3. the usb port is for NAS. so you could connect a usb hdd to it and share it on the network
4. it's a router, you need a modem from cox or you can buy your own.

should not be an issue for 1 wall between router and computer.

 

[ChuckR]

1. I don't know what you mean by 3 cable connections.
2. wan goes to cable modem, magic jack goes to lan port
3. the usb port is for NAS. so you could connect a usb hdd to it and share it on the network
4. it's a router, you need a modem from cox or you can buy your own.

should not be an issue for 1 wall between router and computer.

1. See picture at http://www.tp-link.us/products/details/cat-9_Archer-C7.html
Just looked at a video and boy am I stupid. Those are where the antenna's connect.

So you connect the COX cable to a modem and the modem to the TP-LINK C7.
I have a Motorola modem SBG901. Is this sufficient?

Does anyone make an integrated Modem/Router/

 

[MongGrel]

I guess I've always been lazy with the WIFI here, still rent WIFI cable modem/router from Bright House I have on LAN to the main and a couple USB dongles on the remote computers at opposite ends of the house.

Buying your own is cheaper and probably more up to date I guess, but I just take it in now and then or check to see if they have a newer version out.

Turning one in for a free upgrade always seemed easier than buying a new modem to me, I used to use a Cisco.

They rarely lag out streaming things at either end so I'm lucky I guess, bot like I'm gaming or something on the remote ones, really don't game on the main much anymore.

I'd thought about going NIC, but haven't had the need I suppose, I just bought a couple of Bright House USB Dongles.

The wife is the only one uses the WiFi on her phone, she hasn't complained.

Most of the things I do here are still over LAN on the main I guess.

 

[sdifox]

1. See picture at http://www.tp-link.us/products/details/cat-9_Archer-C7.html
Just looked at a video and boy am I stupid. Those are where the antenna's connect.

So you connect the COX cable to a modem and the modem to the TP-LINK C7.
I have a Motorola modem SBG901. Is this sufficient?

Does anyone make an integrated Modem/Router/

as long as cox says you can use it, you'll be fine. do not get combo devices, wifi routers die fast, cable modems not so much.

 

[ChuckR]

as long as cox says you can use it, you'll be fine. do not get combo devices, wifi routers die fast, cable modems not so much.

The modem is currently used in ALL the wiring. The modem does have WiFi as that is how I am connecting to the IPAD. I will test to see how far I can be from it.
MAYBE all I need are the WiFi T2UH AC600's.
I will keep you posted.
Thanks

I just received a notice from COX on a free modem upgrade. CISCO DPC 3825. It is a DOCS3.0 unit and has WiFi.
Would this upgrade be sufficient to replace the C7 we have been talking about?

 

[sdifox]

The modem is currently used in ALL the wiring. The modem does have WiFi as that is how I am connecting to the IPAD. I will test to see how far I can be from it.
MAYBE all I need are the WiFi T2UH AC600's.
I will keep you posted.
Thanks

I still recommend pci nics over usb.