Buying 2 routers that support bridge/repeater/WDS

[krneki1]

I'm looking for a way to cover a big house with wi-fi. I've already tested with WRT54GL and it wasn't enough, so my idea is to buy 2 routers with good coverage and link them into bridge/repeater/WDS mode (I don't even know the difference to be honest). Since I've never done that before, I'm looking for an advice on which routers to buy and how to make it work altogether?

At first, 2x Unifi LR LongRange was a promising solution, buy as far as I understand it, they both need to be physically connected into router with UTP cable, so that's out of equation because I can't drill holes into walls.

How about 2x ASUS RT-N12 D1, would they do any good? They have pretty decent reviews and are also cheap, but do they even support signal repeating?

 

[kanewolf]

If you don't (or can't) put ethernet cable in, the best alternates are using existing COAX (MoCA) or Powerline ethernet adapters. Either of those will use existing infrastructure to put a normal ethernet connection to a remote area. You would then use a WIFI access point to get wifi signal. You could use a router in AP mode to get WIFI and a couple ethernet ports. Here is a good comparison of powerline adapters.

 

[bill001g]

I will have to agree with the above recommendations. You need to try everything you can to not use repeaters. When nothing else will work then you resign yourself to living with all the issues repeaters cause. In addition to a 50% drop in speed you have increased the total number of wireless communications that can be interfered with so it makes the random delays and drops even a larger issue.

As long as you realize repeaters are a choice of no service vs poor service and having poor service may be better than nothing.

 

[bobsilver]

There are dual band repeaters and AC based repeaters to. These repeaters can provide very acceptable performance using 1 band to connect to its base wireless point and the other to your devices. The AC based repeater can do this even better as the AC technology is much faster then N. But this of course requires you to have an AC based router. Check out Netgear's EX6200 AC repeaters or the WN3500RP n repeater as examples. Here is a link http://www.netgear.com/home/products/networking/wifi-range-extenders/

I have personal experience with both of these products and they work quite well.

All this said I would agree with other comments that using repeaters is a last resort. But if you need to (in my case I have 2 situations where I do) these work really well.

Bob Silver
Netgear Netwoking Assistant