Router or Extender as an access point

[Teri_2]

I am not techy savvy AT ALL (maybe to a point). My setup (all Netgear) currently is a CMD31T modem; Router WNDR4300 (which will change to a R7000 once I receive). I have an EX6200 connected via FastLane. I have another smaller extender WN3000, that I heard I can use as an access point. My questions are......

how do I create an access point (that is where I don't understand terminology and changing IP etc...) ?

Do I use my WN3000 as an access point or should I wait and use my current (soon to be old) router WNDR4300 as an access point?

We have a lot of devices used at one time....b/w phones, laptops, xbox, apple tv, Amazon Firestick* (*outside....range is the farthest)..

I am assuming that activating fastlane on my EX6200 will improve things (to what degree I dont know yet). Changing my router to the R7000 will improve things as well. ("improve" meaning...streaming movies and gaming and doing homework and surfing at the same time w/ constant buffering or disconnection.

Thank you in advance.... I apologize now for not being too techy so I may end up really being annoying

 

[Ralston18]

Teri,

Start with this in-site tutorial:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/36406-43-convert-wireless-router-wireless-access-point

Then continue to search for and read other related tutorials to fill in any "gaps" in your understandings.

Plan it out in general and then go into the details relevant to the device(s) you need to configure.

However, whether or not you will be able to improve things depends on the bandwidth available via your ISP, your existing network's capabilities, and the overall load on your network.

Wireless is slower than wired. Use wired where most needed. Wireless to address the use of devices where wiring is not practical.

You may be able to control and configure your router to give certain devices priorities via QoS.

Fairly straightforward once you get a sense of it all. The devil is, as they say, "in the details".

Plan it out, Try some test configurations and then post questions and problems accordingly.