Router running at 100% - Unstable network

[PeaceDealer]

Hello

I'm having alot of issues on my network, and I'm pretty sure its because of the main router running at about 100% when the network is in use.

The problem is, that the router is the one my ISP has set up (and they have no other models)
I've tried to draw a little map, because I'm not very good at explaining...

The AP are all in bridge mode.


Now, the 2nd floor is used the most. Where the bedrooms are, as well as mine and my brothers (we both game alot). Our TV is also an IPTV system. We got about 3 of those, one at each AP.

Our general usage is:
My dad reading emails, regular sufing the net
My mom, watching TV on one IPTV box in the TV room
My brother playing Leauge of Legends, or PS, often using the IPTV system as well.
Me, programming, skyping, casual gaming like Minecraft (+ i run my own server (on the Server/NAS) Also often watching youtube videos.

Now, I can understand why the router from my ISP is having issues holding up. This is why I wish to build my own, and install PFsense. How-ever, I'm not sure if my "trick" will work.

This is how I wish to set up my network:

My question is, will this work?

TL;DR: My ISP router is unstable (running 100%) as it is the only DHCP client. Will as seen in picture 2 work?

 

[boosted1g]

It is always advised to use your own router over the ISP one because they are often junk.
Combo modem/routers are also generally medium end at best.

If this is cable internet service I would just get your own modem as well.
If this is DSL many of the modems allow you to set it into modem only/bridge mode so the router will not do any processing at all.

With your diagram 2 the ISP router is still doing all of the outbound/inbound processing, the only load you really took off of it is being a DHCP server.

Quick question, in your diagrams you show A.P but said it is in bridged mode.
So is this an Access Point with Ethernet from router and then wifi to devices, a bridge with wifi to main router and Ethernet to device, or a wifi repeater?


Also for your level of needs you would be better off just buying a higher end (like $100) router vs turning a computer into a pfsense box.
Purpose built hardware (with the right specs) performs better then generic hardware with a software solution.

 

[PeaceDealer]

The AP's are just routers in bridge mode yes. The Bridged routers are connected by ethernet cable to the ISP router.

And i think the ISP are DSL. How-ever the software control panel has been ceverly limited. Also, i think we have a telephone wire that is connected to the ISP router/modem, if that changes anything?

 

[PeaceDealer]

If it matters, the ISP router seems to be a modifed huawei hg 8247

 

[boosted1g]

Yes that is DSL.

Lookup the modem/router model online to see if it can be put in modem/bridge mode
If it cant then I would just get a adsl modem that is compatible with your ISP.

Since you have all the access points you don't need a powerfull router for wifi.
I would go with one of these two (if you get the second one then flash it tomato firmware):
http://www.amazon.com/RT-N16-Wireless-N-Maximum-Performance-single/dp/B00387G6R8
http://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-WNR3500L-Open-Source-WNR3500Lv2-Processor/dp/B002RYYZZS/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1426103205&sr=1-1&keywords=wnr3500+netgear

The second one is not as good as the first in system performance but will still be plenty adequate for DSL and your uses, just be sure to flash it to DD-WRT or Tomato. I use that model with tomato as my primary router.

 

[PeaceDealer]

Just to clear up my confusion, is this what you're suggesting i should do? http://prntscr.com/6fkivr

 

[PeaceDealer]

Also, just been looking though the admin panel on the huawei. It seems to have been extremely modifyed...

The closet option I can think may be related to making it bride only is: "Enable WLAN"...
http://prntscr.com/6fkmqn

Also, i have tried contacting my ISP before, they do not seem keen on changing the router... at all...

 

[Kewlx25]

fyi, PFSense has poor wifi support. You'll still need a separate wifi router in bridge mode.

 

[PeaceDealer]

I dont need wifi from pfsense. Simply need to handle the connections.