Home Networking Question
 

Hi! Here's my scenario. I have an incoming internet connection from Novus into my condo. My condo is pre-wired to have 2 wall ports at opposite ends. I'm thinking of setting up something (switch or router) to feed cables to both wall ports and set up wi-fi routers there.

Crappy MS Paint:
http://i.imgur.com/Xf6Tivo.png

I've tested it out and one wireless router at all 3 points cannot cover the entire place so I would like to have the incoming connection split to 2 and have routers on each ends with wi-fi. I also have an Xbox and PC on opposite ends so I'll be using wired connections there as well.

Question 1: To split the cable to 2, should I get a switch or a router?

Question 2: Can I have the 2 routers share the same wi-fi name so if I move around, I won't need to hop on another wi-fi.

The only equipment I have right now is an older Asus router. This guy: https://www.asus.com/ca-en/Networking/RTN56U/. If I can re-use this and add a second router and a third switch/router that would be great. Thanks!

many years ago i experimented with running 2 routers at home with the same SSID hoping devices can roam freely between the 2 routers automatically, but what ended up happening was even tho i was physically close to router 2, im still able to get a very weak signal from router 1 that is far away thus the device will not automatically disconnect from router 1 and connect to router 2 by itself. i think things may have improved abit regarding automatically roaming between wifi APs, and i think ubiquiti is one company that comes to mind with this feature. honestly tho, with u being in an apartment, i suggest getting a high end powerful router for all ur wifi needs and a switch at the other end for ur hardwiring needs. this way u dont need to deal with the headache of setting up 2 routers.

in to learn.

Why not put the one router with your Novus modem? It seems to be in the middle anyway?

Powerline will probably work also.

As Jing says, if one WAP in the middle does not work, then two WAP at the ends will not work either. The distance for the signal to travel is the same in both cases.

I have owned a RT-N56U. It does not have a great wireless signal strength. It is an older design. The RT-N53 (cheaper) has better wireless and is equal to the RT-N66U and RT-AC66U.

It is hard to believe a single router cannot work in a condo. I have a single router in a house and I get a good signal from the street to the back lane (150 feet).

Answer to question 1: You can use a router. A multi-port router will always have a switch for multiple ports.
Answer to question 2: You can use a second router to increase your range. There are draw backs.

The simple answer is you can use a second router to increase your wireless range while having the same SSID for simpler roaming. However, there are draw backs: Since both routers are not centralized controlled, wireless roaming does not work well. Your wireless device will only pickup the closer (stronger) SSID if the connected SSID drops off completely. Also, remember to turn of DHCP on one of the routers, so they do not give conflicting IPs.

A solution is to purchase an Access Point (AP) that is capable of centralized control. From here, you can add more APs when needed. However, these cost more than a consumer AP, since you're in small business range products.

You can look at mesh networks to make it so that the wifi network handoff is seamless. The routers will communicate to each other and ensure that traffic flows smoothly by making one the DHCP server automatically. You may need a switch in the middle to split the connection to both ends.

The Google OnHub routers are a good budget product vs. Ubiquiti or Orbi, as they are on sale for a good price: TP-Link OnHub AC1900 TGR1900BLK TGR1900 Wireles Router $89.99 is a good deal.

However, I am skeptical that one router (a good one, such as a Netgear Nighthawk or similar) cannot cover a condo. My parent's 4000 sqft house is covered nicely by a Nighthawk on all floors.

Thanks for all the input. So from what I gather mesh networks aren't as easy as I thought but an Access Point extender or powerline might work. Also, I should get a better router and see if I can just simplify and go with a one router setup. I'm going to look into the NightHawk and report back :) thanks again.

Mesh can be easier than you think - the one I linked above (TP-Link OnHub for Google) is pretty much set and forget.

Netgear Nighthawk R7000 - this is the router I got my parents. Very very good. Very strong.

You will need a router to split the connection first.

To be honest you probably just need 1 good wireless AP to cover the condo area. I have one business grade AP and it covers the whole house and even into the garage so having the right equipment will do the job. Chances are if you get a better AP, you will only need to have 1 instead of 2.

I use this product in my house but an old version than the one they have to offer now.
https://www.ubnt.com/unifi/unifi-ap-ac-pro/

its on the expensive side but works very well and easy to setup.

its not hard to believe at all, if u think about it, condos/apartments r so jam packed with neighbouring wifi causing interference. compared to a house which is usually quite spread out