Moving a desktop from my computer room to my actual room. Do I need a router or can I get a wifi reciver?

[Johnosan]

Currently my computer is hooked up to a Telus router/modem which is upstairs. I want to move it to my room and a cable won't reach that far (Room is downstairs). Do I get a router and a better connection for gaming? Or do I get a wifi reciver and save some money?

 

[RealBeast]

While wifi may work it can cause issues for gaming -- depends on how far and what construction materials are used in your house. You can't use a second router, an access point connected to the main router yes, but not a second router. Another option that can be more stable than wireless if your power wiring is decent would be a pair of good powerline adapters.

 

[byza]

So you already have a wireless modem/router and you're asking if you should get a router to act as a wi-fi adaptor or if you should jut buy a wi-fi adaptor? I would just buy a wifi adaptor.

 

[digitaldoc]

I would start by getting the WiFi adapter for the desktop, and seeing what the connection will be. If the speeds are slower, you may need a better router as well as these combo modem/router devices are not the best, especially for gaming.

 

[bicycle_repair_man]

It's possible to use a second router but you still have the problem of physically attaching it to the original one upstairs. A wireless connection may work, but as well as distance, the performance also depends on the gain of the antennaes, as well as the amount of antennaes the router has. If the router was provided by your ISP, I wouldn't expect much.

Like RealBeast said, a powerline adaptor would work well if you have decent electrical wiring. Although it's unlikely in your case, powerline adaptors won't work if the two electrical sockets are on separate breaker boxes.

 

[RealBeast]

"powerline adaptors won't work if the two electrical sockets are on separate breaker boxes"

This is an incorrect statement. The modern models work fine as long as they are on the same main circuit box (so not if one is one the house box and one on the guest house box). I have tested a dozen of the newer models on my 30 year old wiring and they all work quite well across multiple breakers and at distances that wireless cannot handle, particularly between floors. They are quite useful in extending wireless by using them to attach distant access points. Read up on the newer models at SmallNetBuilder.

Moreover, wireless is often a problem with multiple stories -- it really depends on the building materials. If you really want to make a wireless bridge, I strongly suggest using a pair of ASUS RT-AC66U units with one as the router and the second in media bridge mode. Note that many routers will not work in bridge mode so check first -- if they will run DD-WRT then you can bridge them pretty easily, but N wireless can't touch AC for viable length of the bridge range.

 

[bicycle_repair_man]

The modern models work fine as long as they are on the same main circuit box (so not if one is one the house box and one on the guest house box).

That's what I mean, the sockets for both powerline adaptors need to be controlled from the same circuit box.

Guess my definition of breaker box is somewhat incorrect.