Improving router signal

[Jeff Lebowski]

Can most routers act as either a bridge or a router? The thing is, I already have two routers--and old one that still works (but I'm not using) and a newer one that I'm using, but that doesn't have a great signal in the basement. So I'd rather not buy a third router or a bridge. I'm guessing the bridge picks up the wifi signal and amplifies it somehow? Or does it have to connect into the wall as well?

I am not sure if "most" applies, but not all of them are designed that way. In some cases, you can reconfigure a router to act as a bridge using some kind of hack but you will need to google your router to find out. I tried it with my old Linksys but never got it to work, yet it seems to be common.

[Joe Public]

Bump. I am in the market for some powerline adapters. Does anyone have a recommendation or any suggested features, etc.?

[Pelado]

Bump. I am in the market for some powerline adapters. Does anyone have a recommendation or any suggested features, etc.?

Multiple ethernet ports.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Please help! In our new house the wireless signal is awful, I bought an Asus AC1900 router and set up the wifi network and the range is limited and sport at best. I hired Nerds on Call and they added a second router and placed it in a different area and basically the signal doesn't work at all anywhere now. So I've purchase a Powerline 500 wifi access, trying to set up today. Can I set this up to have the same wifi signal as my other or does it create it's own unique wifi signal? How does that work? I'm turning my hopes and prayers to you CS, please save me!

[Jeff Lebowski]

Please help! In our new house the wireless signal is awful, I bought an Asus AC1900 router and set up the wifi network and the range is limited and sport at best. I hired Nerds on Call and they added a second router and placed it in a different area and basically the signal doesn't work at all anywhere now. So I've purchase a Powerline 500 wifi access, trying to set up today. Can I set this up to have the same wifi signal as my other or does it create it's own unique wifi signal? How does that work? I'm turning my hopes and prayers to you CS, please save me!

Whoa, whoa, whoa... Easy there, big fella. You have come to the right place.

First item of business: cancel that powerline order. That stuff is crap.

Second, I have been tinkering with my wifi quite a bit over the past several months and learned some tricks that work really well. No excuse not to have full strength wifi signal everywhere in your house. I am working from home today with a chest cold. Call me on my cell and I can diagnose your problems and walk you through your options. I will PM you my new cell number.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I recently dumped my linksys and got an Apple Airport Express (~$100). Best wifi router I have ever had in terms of signal strength and robustness.

You may want to consider a powerline adapter kit. Turns your home wiring system into a wired ethernet network. Works beautifully. That way you can have a superfast wired connection for your home theater. You could also add a second wifi router for your basement if you wanted to.

I need to officially disavow this recommendation. It worked for a while, but then I had lots of problems. Major headache. If you want wired connections, bite the bullet and pull some cable. You will be glad you did.

[Joe Public]

I need to officially disavow this recommendation. It worked for a while, but then I had lots of problems. Major headache. If you want wired connections, bite the bullet and pull some cable. You will be glad you did.

What kind of problems? I got a set based on your recommendation . . .

I've been up and running for a couple of months, and I have had excellent results so far.

[Uncle Ted]

I need to officially disavow this recommendation. It worked for a while, but then I had lots of problems. Major headache. If you want wired connections, bite the bullet and pull some cable. You will be glad you did.

Man, what were you thinking? Those Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) are not all that secure and don't work all that well because of line noise. The problem with line noise is getting worse given all the boneheads (like your neighbors) trying to use devices like this. If you have one of those smart meters then it will be even adding to the noise problem given it is using the power lines for transmitting data. It might work if you installed an expensive filter on to power line coming into your house or isolated your house from the grid (i.e. install your own power plant in your back yard).

[FMCoug]

You could always install this throughout the house.

[old_gregg]

[TripletDaddy]

That video looks like something jimmy Fallon would do as a gag between his monologue and the first guest.

[Moliere]

The credits for that video are awesome! Marjorie Erickson did the catering....I wonder what she did. I'm guessing peanut butter and honey sandwiches and maybe those applesauce pouch things from Costco. I bet the production crew was thrilled.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I know Lebowski rules this place with an iron fist, but he was a darn fine helper and my house now has wifi flowing freely through all parts. Not at crazy google super speed, but it works!

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Please explain this to me like the idiot I am, TIA. We only have two locations where our modem can be located, both are in far reaching spots in our house. In one location we have DSL, that Duderino helped me with as mentioned above on the previous post, and it works mostly well but seems to crash a lot, daily or multiple times daily. In the other location which is on the complete opposite side of our house we have a cable connection which to put it mildly S a major D, despite me following the same instructions that JL gave me that worked for the other set up.

Is there a way for me to merge these two awful signals into one super signal capable of world domination or at least streaming Netflix in HD instead of pixels or cutting out?

[Walter Sobchak]

You are paying for both DSL and internet from Comcast?