home network problem

[bottlerocket]

Looking for some advice. I have my modem in the guest room/office where my main desktop is. My PC was down for a few months and meanwhile I used power line to move the Ethernet to my living room (center of the house vs one corner) and the router is now out there with my smart TV, NAS and 360.

Problem now is wireless for my desktop is an option I'd like to avoid. The modem has to stay with the PC since the coax drop in the living room is running DirecTV and its not compatible. Would it be possible to run 2 routers but only one on wireless? So modem, wired router, out to PC and power line, wireless on other end of power line and then connected to the peripherals previously listed in the living room. Thoughts?

[Unicorn Jeff]

What about a switch?

[bottlerocket]

What about a switch?

Can you run a switch prior to a router? I can definitely get one and put it in there but wasn't sure if I could go modem > switch > power line > router. Will 2 routers not work? I already have a cheapo dlink that the wireless doesn't work on any more but if I need a switch its time to go to newegg I guess!

[big_tiger]

Can you run a switch prior to a router? I can definitely get one and put it in there but wasn't sure if I could go modem > switch > power line > router. Will 2 routers not work? I already have a cheapo dlink that the wireless doesn't work on any more but if I need a switch its time to go to newegg I guess!

No. Better off putting the router back where it was and get an wireless access point where you had it before. If you dont need wireless in your living room, get a switch.

[bottlerocket]

No. Better off putting the router back where it was and get an wireless access point where you had it before. If you dont need wireless in your living room, get a switch.

I do need wireless in my living room. The living room is at the center of the house and some devices have trouble getting wireless from across the house through so many walls. I need wireless as well as wired in the living room but I cannot have the modem in there. Is it possible to have that sort of setup and still have the PC hard-wired in the room with the modem?

[big_tiger]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833127256

Looks like what you need.

[ceyko]

Based off what I understand (get so confused on these things without diagrams. ), I think big_tiger hit the nail on the head.

I think in the consumer market there is confusion. Everything is a "router" or "wireless router". I'll do a quick breakdown of the 3 major components of a home network.

router - this is a layer 3 device. What that means in basic terms is it makes traffic go from one IP network to another. i.e.your internal network (home) to the internet

switch - at the consumer level these are layer 2 devices. Without getting into technical details, they are a beefed up version of a hub. This is what you'd use create more ports in a location

AP or access point - this is what is wired to or physically part of a router or switch that allows end points to connect via wifi

A wireless router is a combo of an AP/Router or AP/Router/Switch, most consumer routers are Router/Switch combos...etc...etc.

The reason I broke this out is I've seen a lot of scenarios where ONLY an AP is needed, or ONLY a switch is needed...etc...etc.

Generally speaking, dedicated functions are better - but for home purposes it tends to not matter. I'm still a firm believer in real Cisco/Aruba/etc APs as opposed to consumer APs. Either way, I'd avoid buying APs that are combos. This is personal preference, I could outline experiences - but at the end of the day you have to go with what budget/desire allows. I have some....benefits of acquiring APs that are just getting trashed or otherwise are given to me. Most do not. (it's one of the few benefits of my gig. )

Anyway, consider the 3 major components - I think what was posted (an AP/switch combo) would allow you to use wired and wireless and should meet your needs.

[Ratt]

Based off what I understand (get so confused on these things without diagrams. ), I think big_tiger hit the nail on the head.

I think in the consumer market there is confusion. Everything is a "router" or "wireless router". I'll do a quick breakdown of the 3 major components of a home network.

router - this is a layer 3 device. What that means in basic terms is it makes traffic go from one IP network to another. i.e.your internal network (home) to the internet

switch - at the consumer level these are layer 2 devices. Without getting into technical details, they are a beefed up version of a hub. This is what you'd use create more ports in a location

AP or access point - this is what is wired to or physically part of a router or switch that allows end points to connect via wifi

A wireless router is a combo of an AP/Router or AP/Router/Switch, most consumer routers are Router/Switch combos...etc...etc.

The reason I broke this out is I've seen a lot of scenarios where ONLY an AP is needed, or ONLY a switch is needed...etc...etc.

Generally speaking, dedicated functions are better - but for home purposes it tends to not matter. I'm still a firm believer in real Cisco/Aruba/etc APs as opposed to consumer APs. Either way, I'd avoid buying APs that are combos. This is personal preference, I could outline experiences - but at the end of the day you have to go with what budget/desire allows. I have some....benefits of acquiring APs that are just getting trashed or otherwise are given to me. Most do not. (it's one of the few benefits of my gig. )

Anyway, consider the 3 major components - I think what was posted (an AP/switch combo) would allow you to use wired and wireless and should meet your needs.

This is all good advice.

[bottlerocket]

Based off what I understand (get so confused on these things without diagrams. ), I think big_tiger hit the nail on the head.

I think in the consumer market there is confusion. Everything is a "router" or "wireless router". I'll do a quick breakdown of the 3 major components of a home network.

router - this is a layer 3 device. What that means in basic terms is it makes traffic go from one IP network to another. i.e.your internal network (home) to the internet

switch - at the consumer level these are layer 2 devices. Without getting into technical details, they are a beefed up version of a hub. This is what you'd use create more ports in a location

AP or access point - this is what is wired to or physically part of a router or switch that allows end points to connect via wifi

A wireless router is a combo of an AP/Router or AP/Router/Switch, most consumer routers are Router/Switch combos...etc...etc.

The reason I broke this out is I've seen a lot of scenarios where ONLY an AP is needed, or ONLY a switch is needed...etc...etc.

Generally speaking, dedicated functions are better - but for home purposes it tends to not matter. I'm still a firm believer in real Cisco/Aruba/etc APs as opposed to consumer APs. Either way, I'd avoid buying APs that are combos. This is personal preference, I could outline experiences - but at the end of the day you have to go with what budget/desire allows. I have some....benefits of acquiring APs that are just getting trashed or otherwise are given to me. Most do not. (it's one of the few benefits of my gig. )

Anyway, consider the 3 major components - I think what was posted (an AP/switch combo) would allow you to use wired and wireless and should meet your needs.

So if Big_tiger hit the nail on the head and said I need a bridge/ap could I just use a spare router I have in that function?