Needing a better home networking solution

[cjayed]

Needing a better home networking solution

I started researching ways to improve my home network when my IPAD started dropping it's internet connection and had trouble loading pages. And also movies on my Netflix trial
had buffering/loading issues.
I could probably live with my non-blazing network and IPAD that drops it's connection periodically, but I would really like to be able to use Netflix. I've cancelled my trial
version but am thinking of signing up again and trying to get it to work somehow.
My networking needs are pretty basic; emailing, texting, facebook, videos, netflix, NO gaming, ereaders (very basic... ex. my Galaxy had a 2gb data pkg...and I barely use 1gb)

My home network specs include:

In computer room of house
- Comcast modem (Speed tier is HD Preferred XF - 25mbps). Model Aris TM702G/CT
- Linksys WRT310N non-dual router (2.4GHz) (router is wired into modem and sits at about monitor height on a bookcase in vicinity of modem and main desktop pc)
WPA2 Personal/AES
Radio Band - Standard 20MHz
Wide Channel - 3 (greyed out)
Standard Channel -
No currently are no Firmware updates
- one Windows 7 desktop (ethernet to router). This is our main pc and has no wireless nic. Model ZT i7-2600
- one Windows 7 laptop model HPPavilion dv6-6173cl. Intel i7-2670QM. Wireless adapter-Wifi Link 1000 bgn (usually connect with both ethernet to router(connection speed is 1 gbps in the wireless properties) and my wireless (connection speed 65+ gbps (near router)))
- printer (wireless)

Family room
- is approx 50 feet from where the router/modem is in the computer room. There's 3 plaster walls and 1 half brick wall in between computer and family room
- Mitzubi TV (non-smart) We are soon buying a smart TV
- BluRay DVD (used this for the Netflix trial - wireless)
- IPAD (tried the recommended solutions for dropped wireless network connectivity issues to no avail. It connects ok but drops periodically and slow to load pages)
- Galaxy S5 Android (uses home wireless network when at home and it is slow to in the family room)
- Windows 7 laptop connection speed is 39+ gbps
- there's a junction? box in closet by family room that I think has just Comcast cable stuff..but not sure.

- My Comcast pkg is for 25 mbps
- Did 2 speed tests at Speedtest.com (mid day)
connected w/ethernet and wireless turned off Download - 29.66 / 29.63
Upload - 6.23 / 6.23
- ethernet unplugged and Wireless on Download - 18.68 / 21.38
Upload - 6.28 / 6.21
- WifiAnalyzer android app shows only a few neighborhood wireless devices and they are using channel 11
- wifiAnalyzer app shows my router using channel 6 (this happens to be the recommended channel by the app)
- wifiAnalyzer shows a dBm of -40 near my router and -69 out in family room where netflix and ipad are

These are a few of the solutions I've been reading about but couldn't find a definitive answer for my situation.
- new router (AC standard)
- powerline adapters (has to be wired?)
- accesspoint (has to be wired?)
- wifi extender
- external antenae
- port forwarding
Best Buy recommended a new router which standard is AC with dual bands, 2.4GHz and 5GHz. I read that 2.4GHz is best for going through walls (which is my situation) so
maybe I don't need AC

In summary, my Comcast modem and Linksys WRT310N(configured on ch 6 which isnt used much in neighborhood) should work just fine for our networking needs...except for
the location of the modem/router and the interference between them and our wireless needs out in the family room (ipad, smart phone, netflix, laptop). Also, since the router is connected to the main desktop pc that doesn't have a wireless network card, moving the router I didn't think was a good option.


- I live in bremerton, washington which is across the bay from Seattle

Any help, advice, or direction would be greatly appreciated.

 

[RealBeast]

Since you really don't need AC if you don't have AC wireless adapters, your best bet would be to either (1) add a cheap wireless router configured as a wireless access point in the family room (connected to the main router using a pair of good 600mbps or 1gbps powerline adapters, they really only get around 100mbps in actual use but that is enough), or (2) buy a good N dual band router like an ASUS RT-N56U to use as your main router and then use the old router configured as an AP like in idea (1).

In any case you will need to extend the signal with an AP (not a wireless extender!) and use different non-overlapping 2.4GHz channels (since someone is on 11, you would want 1 and 6) and whatever 5GHz channels you like. This would give you three distinct radio channels to improve bandwidth and get a radio down in the family room where you need it (and you can attach up to three devices with an ethernet cable to the access point in the family room as needed to further free up the bandwidth).

 

[cjayed]

Thank you for your reply. You gave me some good ideas to think about and further read up on.

I'm leaning towards your suggestion of the ASUS RT-N56U as the router for my needs. I did some researching and found many sites that suggested it was an outstanding pick, however, I am still struggling over whether I should get a low-end AC - "Buy the cheapest ac wireless router you can get your hands on" (Tim Higgins-June 2014 wireless guru/consultant), mainly because my #1 wireless concern is Netflix. Maybe answer this for me to help clarify; Does Netflix need all that comes with AC, including the 5Ghz? Or is it just the 5GHz it needs? We did end up ordering a new Samsung 65 Class 1080p Smart HDTV so maybe that will help our Netflix anyway.

So heres a few more questions if you wouldn't mind.

- VPN - I read (a bit) about how some routers come with it and using it to have a more stable connection for Netflix. Any thoughts on this?
- If I get the ASUS RT-N56U
- I'll set it up in my computer room hooked to my Comcast modem and my main desktop pc w/ethernet. Also in computer room, will hook router to a powerline adapter w/ethernet.
- In family room, now here's another question... could I just hook up the 2nd powerline adapter to the new smart tv (that has netflix) w/ethernet cable? Or is best to hook it up to a second router?
- if it's best to hook up to a second router in family room,
- does it matter if I use my current N router that I'll be replacing w/new one or can I use an old G router (Linksys WRT54GS) I have?
- regarding configuring the two routers, I think I understand your suggestions of what channels to use and why. Would I just be using the one SSID? In other words,
would all my devices need to just look for the one wireless connection (the second router (AP) is just and extension of computer room new router by way of the powerlines adapters?).

Again, thank you for all your help with this. You save people alot of grief and $ I'm sure.

 

[RealBeast]

A 5GHz connection on the 56U will be better than the 5GHz on a real cheap AC router, and you would need to buy new adapters to use AC for most devices if not all. The advice to buy a cheap AC is very poor advice. If you go with AC buy the best AC.

If you are not in an apartment or dorm surrounded by other networks, 2.4GHz has better ability to penetrate walls and such compared to 5GHz. 5GHz is very useful when you are in a wireless congested area, but will not do any better with Netflix than any other wireless really -- actually a wired connection is far better for Netflix due to the bandwidth needs.

You don't need VPN unless you are using Netflix somewhere that it is not actually available and is not needed for a "more stable" connection.

I like to use different SSIDs for all my radio channels so I can select which uses and users connect to the particular radio, although that is a matter of choice. I do tend to use all the same passkeys for convenience unless there is a security issue like users that are friends of the kids.

You can use another pair of powerline adapters, but I would get a matching set of the newest to get the best speed, take a look HERE to see which units are best for speed and reliability.

The TV would work great on a direct connect to a powerline adapter, but if you also need wireless down there I would stick the old router in as an AP and then just connect the TV to an LAN port -- it just acts like a switch for the LAN ports when a router is in an AP mode but also allows for another wireless radio point.

 

[cjayed]

In your opinion, would the ASUS RT-N66U ($126 Amazon) be worth the additional $40 (unless I can find a great Black Friday deal) over the ASUS RT-N56U ($86 Amazon or maybe down to $69 with a Retailmenot coupon code). I plan to purchase one of them.

Regarding the second router used as an AP in family room, you mentioned using the "old router" as the AP, did you mean I could use the old Linksys WRT54GS I have or do you think I should use my current one WRT310N that I'm replacing. If it doesn't matter at all, I'd like to put the WRT310N in my sister's house. She has an old WRT54GS in a two story house with more traffic (her kids and neighborhood). But me first ;-)

I plan on getting the TP-Link AV600 (TL-PA6010) Powerline Adapters if my network needs more than just the new ASUS router.

Thank you for your expertise.

 

[RealBeast]

I would buy the 56U, most of your adapters are unlikely to benefit from any additional speed from a 66U.

You would be better off with the WRT310N as it is N wireless, not just G. You will get better speed if you stay with N only, no legacy B/G support, as opposed to using the WRT54GS, if your adapters are all N capable.

 

[cjayed]

No added benefit with the 66 to using Netflix on the new smart tv, speed or otherwise ?

Thank you.

 

[RealBeast]

No added benefit with the 66 to using Netflix on the new smart tv, speed or otherwise ?

Thank you.

No, but if you want to buy it today, the 66U is on Newegg one day only for about the same price as a 56U unless that too is on a BF deal. The N66U is only $89.99 after $20 rebate TODAY ONLY with free shipping and no tax if outside CA.

 

[cjayed]

And with another $10 off with a promo code I got it for $79.99. Thanks for the tip.

 

[RealBeast]

And with another $10 off with a promo code I got it for $79.99. Thanks for the tip.

Nice!

 

[cjayed]

Installing the new Asus RT-N66U solved my problem of a poor wireless signal in my family room. Netflix comes in great with no buffering issues and ipad doesn't drop the internet anymore. The new router works well enough without having to setup an access point / powerline adapters in the family room that I thought I might have to do. Using the 2.4Ghz channel on the new TV for network connection to get through my plaster/brick walls. Yeah!!!

 

[RealBeast]

Installing the new Asus RT-N66U solved my problem of a poor wireless signal in my family room. Netflix comes in great with no buffering issues and ipad doesn't drop the internet anymore. The new router works well enough without having to setup an access point / powerline adapters in the family room that I thought I might have to do. Using the 2.4Ghz channel on the new TV for network connection to get through my plaster/brick walls. Yeah!!!

Nice!