What type of network setup is best for my situation? 3 routers off one modem

[Santoku]

Hi. First off thank hyou for any help, I've read a bunch here and it has helped me understand a bit more, but a little knowledge can be dangerous. So here is my situation. I have a cable modem, it dynamically assigns addresses, it has only one Ethernet output port. Right now I have one 2 year old apple router for wifi only and it work just ok (old house, lots of metal in the walls to interfere). I am having new Ethernet cables being pulled around the house the will run from the cable modem area to other parts of the house to hopefully extend the range of my wifi. I only want one wifi network throughout the house. How do I proceed and what equipment do I need?

1) do I buy a switch and plug into modem? And then run the 3 cables from the switch to the 3 routers?
2) can I mix different rougher brands with the apple router?, or just buy 3 new routers?
3) I have read the ultimate setup, which one applies to me?

Like I said, I would like only one wifi network and it's mostly a wifi strength issue. I may plug a computer into a router if it's placed close to where the computer exists, but that's gravy.

Thanks for any suggestions and help!

 

[kanewolf]

The configuration you need is modem -> router -> [optional switch if you need more ethernet ports] -> access points / PCs

You want a single router to handle the DHCP, firewall, and NAT for your house. For consistence of WIFI you may want to turn OFF the WIFI on the router.
You may need a switch if you want more than 4 wired connections for all devices
Roaming between access points in a home environment is not easily done. Consumer WIFI gear just doesn't have hardware required to do it. Your best bet is to get hardware that is made to work as a system. Look at the Unifi system from Ubiquiti -- https://www.ubnt.com/unifi/unifi-ap/

 

[Santoku]

I am sorry to be super dense, this is definitely outside my normal technology comfort zone. So you would suggest that I go from cable modem to a wired router. I would then have cat-5 cables pulled from places that I want to have a wireless access node (wireless router? WAP? what is the correct term?) Then I would plug the new equipment from unifi via the new cat-5 into the wired router? THen hopefully I can figure out the software to have a single network throughout the house without interruption? As far as the unfi equipment goes, do I I get an AP AC, and a few AP units also?

Thanks again for any help.

The configuration you need is modem -> router -> [optional switch if you need more ethernet ports] -> access points / PCs

You want a single router to handle the DHCP, firewall, and NAT for your house. For consistence of WIFI you may want to turn OFF the WIFI on the router.
You may need a switch if you want more than 4 wired connections for all devices
Roaming between access points in a home environment is not easily done. Consumer WIFI gear just doesn't have hardware required to do it. Your best bet is to get hardware that is made to work as a system. Look at the Unifi system from Ubiquiti -- https://www.ubnt.com/unifi/unifi-ap/

 

[kanewolf]

Your core router could be a wired or wireless. For most consistent "roaming" between WIFI spots, a set of hardware that is designed as a system will be the best. Having brand X, Y, Z WIFI hardware could give you three SSIDs that are the same but they are islands. At least the UniFi APs have some smarts to help coordinate between them. They can be setup as a system rather than three islands. Even bran X, X, X WIFI hardware doesn't play well unless it is designed to be a system.

The UniFi access points are convenient because they don't require separate power. They use power over ethernet (POE). A POE switch can connect them and supply power at the same time. A single Cat5 is all that is required. Tie them all to a POE switch and the POE switch to the router.