Still Confused: Access Point or additional Router

[chhuber]

Have wifi router downstairs and whole house is Cat 5 wired. Plan to connect another router or AP upstairs via wired connection to get better wifi signal. Should I use a router or AP for that upstairs unit? Seems like router prices are low enough that it makes sense just to buy the router. Also, the more I read about APs, the more confused I get trying to understand what the difference is between a standalone AP vs Router. Any help/recommendations/clarification is greatly appreciated! Thank you

 

[woodson75]

You could get a second cheap router, put it in bridging more and away you go. If you're using two routers and want one to be a bridge, second router needs to be set in bridging mode with DHCP turned off. I think this tutorial should answer all your questions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxlJYy-yYsQ This guy uses it to increase his wireless connection, but you can also just hard wire your PC into the second router too, no problem

 

[Pooneil]

Have wifi router downstairs and whole house is Cat 5 wired. Plan to connect another router or AP upstairs via wired connection to get better wifi signal. Should I use a router or AP for that upstairs unit? Seems like router prices are low enough that it makes sense just to buy the router. Also, the more I read about APs, the more confused I get trying to understand what the difference is between a standalone AP vs Router. Any help/recommendations/clarification is greatly appreciated! Thank you

In common marketing use a "router" is an appliance that does several separable functions. In a more specific use, "router" is a function and only one router function is needed on a typical home network. All other wifi access is done with by a functional "access point" that may be a specific appliance or a modified router appliance.

To convert a router appliance to function as an access point, look at these two links.

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/basics/wireless-basics/30338-how-to-convert-a-wireless-router-into-an-access-point
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/36406-43-convert-wireless-router-wireless-access-point