Networking question

[Wookie]

I want to have my xbox and xbox 360 and TV hooked up to the home network. I also want my PC hooked up to the home network.

Right now my desk and PC are beside the TV so everything is plugged in.

However I want to move my desk and PC upstairs.

The options I have are.

My issues are.

I don't want the desktop to be wireless. I use remote access a lot from work and it's already kinda choppy. If my home PC is then on wireless I'm thinking it'll get worse. I also use this PC to do all my torrents dl'ing so I want it to have a good connection.

I don't want to have to buy a nic for xbox and xbox 360. The wireless for these is really expensive and I want to stream HD content.

What I did want to do is get a access point, then have the xbox and 360 plugged into the access point. The throughput is supposed to be improved that way. Then have the desktop upstairs hooked right into the wireless router.

However, access points are expensive.

So, I was looking at using a router as an access point. I know this used to be possible but the companies changed the firmware because this become a cheaper method than using an access point.

I've found online instructions on how to do this. But they all seem to be for making a wireless router into an access point, but only if the wireless router is plugged directly into the main router. This isn't what I want to do.

I want to have wireless router plugged into modem upstairs.
2nd wireless router downstairs acting as access point with downstairs devices plugged into it.

Make sense? Ideas?

[GreenTeaFrapp]

The limiting factor of your connection speed will be with your high speed provider, not your home network. Whether you go with a wired or wireless connection for your PC, will probably not make a significant difference. Wireless networking speeds are higher then what you'll get from your high speed provider.

If you're going to get a wireless router regardless, why not try out connecting your PC to it wirelessly and see how it goes. If it's noticeably worse then the current situation, then look at other options.

[Wookie]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

The limiting factor of your connection speed will be with your high speed provider, not your home network. Whether you go with a wired or wireless connection for your PC, will probably not make a significant difference. Wireless networking speeds are higher then what you'll get from your high speed provider.

If you're going to get a wireless router regardless, why not try out connecting your PC to it wirelessly and see how it goes. If it's noticeably worse then the current situation, then look at other options.

Bolded 1 part.
I know, networks go way faster than any service provider offers. But, I've always found them to be flaky! So I've been hesitant with doing this.
Bolded 2 part.
Yeah, it's $45 for a desktop NIC. Was looking at just trying that to see how it goes.

[jammies]

I think what you are saying is you want to set up a wireless bridge from router to router. To do this, you will probably need to use open-source firmware like DD-WRT on the end router, which is referenced and expanded upon in these instructions http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/3639271.

[Traditional_Ale]

Get like an eight-port ethernet hub and run the cables through your heating/cooling vents. This is for residential right?

[Nancy]

What jammies said. Though, I think I will cast my vote with Traditional's suggestion as someone who is totally anti-wireless. I have had a lot of success with cold air returns. It may take a while of fishing. Tie a heavy bolt to some string and throw it the length of the cold air return upstairs until you find the down-channel. If you are lucky you can get cable through cold air returns down to the basement, where you can tie them into a common switch.

[Rathji]

I would also suggest hardwiring it in either via cold air return or by doing proper pulls.

Doing proper pulls of Cat5(5e,6) is not that hard, I posted some basic instructions on this board a while back. If you are interested in how I could give you some pointers. Just need a Drill and a 10 foot coat hanger type wire, and to patch some drywall here and there. In fact, if your house is newer ( ~10 years?) your phone line might already be cat5, and then it is even simpler to switch 2 ends to rj45

[mykalberta]

Power over Ethernet

Similar to this from Memory Express (although I dont have that one so I cant write a review for it).

http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...X2008(ME).aspx
http://www.poweroverethernet.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_over_Ethernet

Althought streaming isnt lightening quick with the 360 and Vista Home Premium.

[llama64]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Power over Ethernet

Similar to this from Memory Express (although I dont have that one so I cant write a review for it).

http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX2008(ME).aspx
http://www.poweroverethernet.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_over_Ethernet

Althought streaming isnt lightening quick with the 360 and Vista Home Premium.

Keep in mind that this solution maxes out at a theoretical 14 Mbps. In addition, the Netgear ships with a 10BaseT ethernet port, further limiting bandwidth to 10Mbps.

This is not enough to stream standard definition content let alone high definition content.

It might be enough to play Xbox Live games on though. But I would suggest a Wireless G network over power line networking personally.

EDIT:
I'm looking into doing something similar to the OP, except my chosen solution is using Apple's Airport products. My Airport Extreme (wireless hub) serves my main desktop and creates a wireless network. When I get my hands on an Airport Express (wall plug unit thingy, it will be connected to the wireless network as a client and serving it's signal to another router (my old wireless one). I'm *hoping* I can get this to work.

[Wookie]

I'm just going to move my desktop upstairs with a wireless NIC.

Keep router/modem downstairs.

We'll see how the streaming goes.

I hate cables, and don't want them in and out of airvents across floors etc.
Townhouse built in 1979.

Thanks for suggestions. I'll probably wire the place when I do renos.

[mykalberta]

Nix the MemX one - didnt read about 14mbps.

The ones I have run at 85 Mbps

http://www.netgear.com/Products/Powe...tAdapters.aspx

I have 2 of the powerline ethernet switch kits I bought from Ebay used and they work great.

Also have set my small biz clients up with them - also work great. For my buisness I reccomend them over wireless any day of the week. They are easy and elimitate the need for the user to have any knowledge whatsoever.

Currently, I have them setup at 5 households and 17 buisness in Calgary and 8 buisness outside Calgary and no problems whatsoever. In fact everytime I ask, they always say they love it. I prefer it due to cable hell that always ensues.

Agreed the 14mbps is very slow - too slow.