Adding a 802.11n router to a home network

Hello,

I just got a new computer that is equipped with a wireless-n network card. I have a DSL connection and the network in the house is 802.11b/g. The gateway is a Motorola and the router and modem are the same device.

If I were to take connect one of the four ports on the Motorola to a new wireless-n router will it there be interference or conflicts from running two networks? How can I do this properly to minimize any potential problems?

I was thinking of gettting one of the cheap wireless-n routers on the market:

Cisco-Linksys WRT160N

or

D-Link DIR-601


What is the advantage of getting a more expensive one like this:

D-Link DAP-2553


Thanks in advance for the help!

 

You can turn your second router into a AP just by disabling DHCP on the LAN side. I also assign a static IP to the new router that is outside the DHCP range issued by the upstream router. By connecting the 2 routers together LAN-LAN your good to go. The upstream router will handle the dhcp for the downstream router. I would set the downstream AP up as N only since you already have the b/g covered. Now if you get a dual band you can operate the 11n in the 5ghz band and not have interference with the lower 2.4ghz used by b/g.

So if you go with a dual band router you have the un-cluttered 5ghz band at your dispose.

Take a look at Real Help For Your Small Network - SmallNetBuilder for further detail and performace of the routers.

 

Will there be a noticeable difference in performance on the 5ghz band?

 

Depends. If you have a lot of 2.4GHz noise, the cleaner 5GHz band will have less interference. By that token, however, if you don't have a lot of other wireless devices around you might not see an improvement since the 2.4Hz band is mostly free as well.

Also, over the same distances and transmit power, 5Ghz has less range and penetrating power than 2.4GHz.

 

I would choose the WRT160N between your list (assuming its a version 3). You should opt for the dual band if your in a wifi congested area and all channels are taken. (Use inSSIDer to check networks around you)

 

All in all any wireless upgrade from b/g to n makes sense only if you plan to transfer a lot of files between computers on the LAN or your DSL connection is equal to or faster than roughly 20mbps.
If you want to upgrade though- I agree with flipfire- WRT160N is the best choice.

 

After running the ipconfig command I get:

Default Gateway: 192.168.1.254
DHCP Server: 192.168.1.254

On the OLD router I get:

IP Address: 192.168.1.254
DHCP Starting IP Address: 192.168.1.1
DHCP Ending IP Address: 192.168.1.253

I have disabled DHCP on the NEW router but I am not quite sure what to set the IP address to. Right now it is the same as on the OLD router...

Thanks!

 

Modem Router - 192.168.1.1
AP - 192.168.1.2
DHCP pool - 192.168.1.3 - 254

 

Should the cable from the OLD router be plugged into WAN port or one of the LAN ports in the NEW router?

 

Both will work.

You might as well use the WAN port so it will free up a LAN port.

If you use the second router as an WAP only, you might need to select a "WAN port to switch" setting.

 

May or may not, you will have to give it a try. If it does not work just plug into lan port.