What setup should I go for?

[dbh]

I have a few machines in the house connected via ethernet and wifi to a DG834 but I'm not happy with my throughput (connected at 54mbps with good signal but transfers are around 800KB/sec) and even if the microwave is used in the house it'll kill the wifi my net connection just drops like a lead balloon

Annoying so I've decided to do something about it!

I've recently put a new pc in the living room acting as a FTP/HTPC/NAS etc. There's also a Xbox 360 in the cabinet that I'd like to get connected as well.

Upstairs in my room I've got my main pc that's connected via wifi to the router along with a 2nd Xbox 360 that's hooked up via ethernet to share the net from my main pc.

Ideally I'd like both my 360's to be independant of being tethered to a pc and maximise the throughput over from other computers to the FTP/HTPC/NAS. As I'll be transfering atleast a couple of gigs every so often.

I know a gigabit connection would be the way to go but running ethernet cables around the house isn't an option (still with the parents so don't think they'll appreciate this!) and I'd like to keep costs down if possible!

So I've been looking at my options. Get a dual band Wireless N router and two access points one for my room and one for the living room. I'd definitely want to put an access point for the PC in the living room as I'd like to enable it to Wake On Lan so I can access it when I'm at work.

My only worry is that with such shoddy wireless performance in the house as it is will 11n make any difference? I know there are homeplugs etc but heard that there isn't much difference between that and wireless? There's also ethernet over coax (as we do have aerial sockets in each of the rooms in the house)

What would you guys suggest to get the best guaranteed connection to the living room pc?

[dbh]

Anyone?

[dbh]

*watches the tumbleweeds go by*

Sigh.

[shaithis]

If you have (or know someone with) an android phone you can download a free app called "Wifi analyzer"

It's primary use is to see what channels are free and/or less prone to interference but it also displays signal strength......you can walk around the house with the phone and see where the strong and weak areas are and from there you might find that a single "universal wireless repeater" would do the job.

I am unsure of how good the wireless is in the DG834 but wifi signal quality can change significantly between one router and another, I recently got an extra 5-6m of good signal when switching recently.

It may be worth using the DG834 in bridged mode and use a standard router (one without ADSL) plugged into it, perhaps even one that's supported by DD-WRT (it allows you to increase voltage to the wifi transmitters)....or if you want to replace the router in one hit, I would strongly advise going for one of the better routers (like the draytek 28xx), which is probably going to be 100quid+

[dbh]

I have been looking at routers this week and was thinking of this new TP-LINK one which is coming out soon. http://www.tp-link.com/common/subjec...s/TL-WR2843ND/ their other one single band http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TL-W...3694814&sr=8-8 got good reviews. I've got an eye-fi card and from reading the specs of it seems it's a 2.4Ghz single band device so I'm thinking of whether it's worth me going dual band or not. Food for thought though might be worth me just setting up repeaters around the house as you suggested. Thanks.

[shaithis]

I have heard good things about the TPLinks and that model is actually supported by DD-WRT if you felt like re-flashing it.