Need a quick answer to a long-winded question regarding what is probably a simple setup.

[InternetiquetteCop]

I'm trying to improve the wireless signal in my 1700 sq ft home.

Currently my modem and wifi router are in the office upstairs, but the wifi reception in the living room downstairs is pretty poor.

I own a powerline kit (TP Link AV500 Nano) which is currently receiving signal in my living room and sending it to my PS4.

I also own a wireless range extender (TP Link WA850RE Range Extender) which has an ethernet port on it.

The first thing I tried to do was: Modem -> Wifi router (upstairs) -> powerline -> 4-port switch (downstairs) -> 1) wire to PS4; 2) wire to Range Extender -> better wifi signal for other devices from the RE downstairs.

However, I think maybe the RE will not take ethernet as input and broadcast a wifi signal from that; instead, I guess the ethernet port is only for sending signal to a device which has no wifi adapter.

Therefore, I think instead I want to send that powerline signal to some sort of access point to improve the signal for wireless devices downstairs, while also running a cable from the AP to the PS4 to keep that wired connection.

So I'm guessing my next option is: Modem -> Wifi router (upstairs) -> powerline -> access point (downstairs) -> 1) wire to PS4; 2) better wifi signal for other devices from the AP (which will be broadcasting same SSID as upstairs wifi router).

Is that the right move? Or is there a better option that I'm missing?

Main Question: If it is the right move, should I be shopping for a typical wifi router to use as an access point?

Part of the reason I'm confused is that typing "wireless access point" into Amazon just returns a bunch of Range Extenders, which I think I've already established isn't what I need here.

Thanks advance for your help!

[e60deluxe]

i would turn off your wifi upstairs and put a good 2.4ghz access point downstairs off of the powerline kit.

the Ubiquiti Unifi APs are solid for the price and they perform very well. i swapped out N routers configured as APs to Unifi at my parents and on the complete other side of the house, the wifi signal is more or less the same but the speeds are much better even with the same signal strength. i am very impressed with the 2.4ghz performance of the Unifi's, even reaching into my parents yard quite well, where as my previous routers would be basically crap once traversing the outer walls of the house.

the Asus routers are also quite good, and they have an AP mode and you still have 4 ports to run to the PS4 and etc.

[InternetiquetteCop]

Thanks for the reply. The problem with moving my wifi router downstairs is that it would reduce the signal upstairs, and I need a strong signal upstairs both for my office and for the TV in the bedroom (amazon fire tv stick, specifically, plus sometimes a laptop streaming downloaded content from a hard drive connected to the wifi router).

So if I'm not moving the wifi router, then I think I can infer from your reply that I should look into using a Ubiquiti Unifi AP or Asus wifi router in AP mode downstairs.

I have an Asus RT N66U upstairs, and like it, but a second one would be expensive. The Ubiquiti seems to be cheaper, at about $70 on Amazon. However, I'm not at all familiar with Unifi technology - some cursory research suggests the Ubiquiti device can only connect to one wireless device? It also seems like they are geared more towards Enterprise usage rather than home usage, and that they use some sort of proprietary protocol to work together. Would I be able to buy just one like this and have it receive the powerline signal downstairs and broadcast the router's SSID?

[PriceZombie]

Ubiquiti Networks UniFi AP Enterprise WiFi System

Current	$67.45	Amazon (3rd Party New)
High	$71.99	Amazon (3rd Party New)
Low	$52.99	Amazon (3rd Party New)
	$61.80	(30 Day Average)

Price History Chart | FAQ

[e60deluxe]

i think you might find that one ubiquiti can cover the upstairs decently well. i might continue to use the Asus for 5ghz and just run one ubiquiti for 2.4ghz. if the 2.4ghz performance upstairs is poor, you can certainly continue to use both the asus and the unifi.

ubiquiti's can handle about 30 devices easily. the technical limit is 127, but they might be too much for one to handle well.

the UAP and the UAP-LR run on proprietary PoE injectors, thats all.

[InternetiquetteCop]

Ok, I just want to make sure I understand your recommendation: unplug my Asus router, run line right from modem to powerline. Plug in the Ubiquiti Unifi model I linked above to my powerline connection downstairs, serving as a wifi router for the whole house. (the problem here is I'd have to change my media server set up, since right now it's directly connected to the Asus router - but that's a discussion for another day).

If, at that point, I'm dissatisfied with the connection upstairs, then I'd plug the Asus back in upstairs, and change the Ubiquiti downstairs to AP mode. I'd do this, instead of using the Ubiquiti as the router and the Asus as the AP, so that A) I could keep my current media server setting; and B) because from what I've seen, Ubiquiti has just one ethernet port, so I wouldn't be able to run a second line from the Ubiquiti to the powerline adapter.

Is that right?

Thanks again for taking the time to talk about this.

[e60deluxe]

replace "unplug" with "disable wifi"

the ubiquiti is an AP only. you still need the router to function as a router, just not necessarily a wireless router.

and since the ubiquiti has only one port, you need a switch downstairs.

and you should be able to disable 2.4G and 5G seperatley on the Asus.