Question Product Recommendation: Wi-Fi access point, mesh, bridged router, or what on other side of house? Best options? (Netgear)

NiveusT

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Aug 13, 2013
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I'm currently using a Netgear Nighthawk C7800.
I just moved in to a very long house (super thin but very long). And I'm having a cat6 cable run to the other side of the house, cuz I need a hardwire over there too.
I want to put some sort of access point or mesh on the other side of the house so the wi-fi is stronk as heck on the other side too.

If I want something Netgear so everything is on the same gear and there's no weird hardware discrepancies, what would be the best option?
A mesh? Another router set to bridge with the cat6 coming from the original modem/router into the bridged router? An access point that has a hardwire output (for my work desktop)?

And is there a good Netgear one of these that's not 53023095235$ that'll work well with my nighthawk as the main modem/router?
 
When you have a ethernet backhaul to the main router you just need a AP. Most times a simple router set to AP mode is going to be the cheapest way. Real AP cost more many times because they have feature like POE that lets you mount the device say on a ceiling where there is no power outlet.

There is not going to be any difference in the wifi power output unless you would buy say a travel router that runs on battery. Almost every router puts out the legal maximum power allowed. The distance the signal goes is related to this power output.
You will find all kinds of reports of difference between routers but this is due to how they are tested more than any actual differences. You will see every router with people saying they have good coverage or bad coverage. The problem is everyone house is different and different routers work better or worse in some combinations. There is no real way to predict this since the end devices also greatly affect how things run.

You should be able to match any brand. You do not need mesh systems this is mostly a fancy marketing term. Wifi networks are all one single network in home installs especially when you are running simple AP mode. If you had lots of remote AP a mesh system might make it easier to centrally manage but again this is silly to think about in a home install and commercial systems have much better central management software.
 

NiveusT

Distinguished
Aug 13, 2013
59
1
18,535
When you have a ethernet backhaul to the main router you just need a AP. Most times a simple router set to AP mode is going to be the cheapest way. Real AP cost more many times because they have feature like POE that lets you mount the device say on a ceiling where there is no power outlet.

There is not going to be any difference in the wifi power output unless you would buy say a travel router that runs on battery. Almost every router puts out the legal maximum power allowed. The distance the signal goes is related to this power output.
You will find all kinds of reports of difference between routers but this is due to how they are tested more than any actual differences. You will see every router with people saying they have good coverage or bad coverage. The problem is everyone house is different and different routers work better or worse in some combinations. There is no real way to predict this since the end devices also greatly affect how things run.

You should be able to match any brand. You do not need mesh systems this is mostly a fancy marketing term. Wifi networks are all one single network in home installs especially when you are running simple AP mode. If you had lots of remote AP a mesh system might make it easier to centrally manage but again this is silly to think about in a home install and commercial systems have much better central management software.

Gotcha, thank you! I do have another router I can probably set to AP mode. If not, I'm going to look for a small one I can just toss in my room. Any recommendations on one that has an ethernet out that's small and won't get in the way in a bedroom?
 
Almost all fairly new routers have a AP mode. Even ones that don't can run as a AP like this.
1. Disable the DHCP function.
2. Set the LAN ip so it does not conflict with your main router.
3. Plug the cable coming from the main router into a LAN port...do not use the WAN port.