I have an ASUS RT-AC66U Router. The wifi coverage and speed is fantastic except for anything inside my entertainment center.

My entertainment console / cabinet / center is a solid wood piece of furniture and some of my devices have hard time getting good wifi coverage inside it. I've been using a Netgear WN2000 range extender/wireless bridge to hook up the receiver, xbox 360, bluray player, and ps4. Is there a better approach than using a bridge? Is there a good bridge you'd recommend? I haven't seen much that have AC capability. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

11/27/2013 1:56:30 PM

Well, putting things inside of wood is going to have serious attenuation issues. If you are broadcasting a 5 gig SSID, then you should consider broadcasting a second 2.4 gig SSID and connect devices to that SSID. 2.4 will travel twice as far as 5 (while admittedly having a lot more co-channel interference), and has less attenuation issues through thick materials.

In my house, I run both a 5+ and 2.4 gig SSID that I connect to depending on the circumstance.

You also might look for an access point that has the highest dBi rating on the antennas. Should be on the box. But again, that could be dicey depending on your application.

On the obvious side, you should get better placement of your access point, nearer to the entertainment system.

[Edited on November 27, 2013 at 2:24 PM. Reason : .]

11/27/2013 2:19:45 PM

Powerline has come a long way. If you don't mind spending the coin on this integrated switch version I've purchased two over the years with good results.

http://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Powerline-Network-Adapter-XAVB5004/dp/B004PA9PBQ/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1385580178&sr=8-16&keywords=powerline

I also recommended an Actiontec to someone that was literally inside of BB and that was pretty well rated on Amazon. They haven't had any issues, but it's only one link so you'd need to add another switch in your entertainment center.

http://www.amazon.com/Actiontec-PWR511K01-HomePlug-Powerline-Network/dp/B00871SR68/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1385580249&sr=8-10&keywords=powerline

11/27/2013 2:26:03 PM

I have also had good success with powerline. I use it upstairs for our streaming content box. Wireless was unreliable at the distance from the termination point of the cable modem.

11/27/2013 2:27:23 PM

Trust me when I say that coverage is not an issue. This router blankets my back yard, let alone the 15 feet to my living room. Any device outside of the entertainment center has solid coverage. I run a 2.4 and 5 ghz network so we're good there. The bridge itself has 4 ethernet ports that I hook these devices to directly, I am not wirelessly connecting to anything. Do you think a power-line adapter to a gigabit switch would be a better approach?

[Edited on November 27, 2013 at 2:50 PM. Reason : .]

11/27/2013 2:45:39 PM

I guess I misread your original post. That bridge looks just like the first powerline deal except you're replacing the wifi side on the WN2000 with powerline source.

What's your ultimate goal, to eliminate the need for the bridge? Are you satisfied with the performance you're getting on your devices from hardwiring them to the WN2000 (I assume you probably have that sitting on top of the entertainment center instead of inside of it?)

A great deal of my devices are close enough to wifi router where it wouldn't be an issue, but I just choose to hardwire.

11/27/2013 3:44:34 PM

http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-Wireless-AC-Universal-Connector-WUMC710/dp/B0090DX8O8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385585077&sr=8-1&keywords=linksys+wumc710

I bought one of these and it has worked flawless so far. Used to have issues streaming 720p on my ps3 wirelessly and now I can stream 1080p without any problems.

11/27/2013 3:46:11 PM

I should have checked slickdeals.

http://www.adorama.com/TNPL4052E.html?emailprice=t&utm_term=ir&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=Other&utm_source=rflaid10451

20 dollar gamble for you.

11/27/2013 4:39:17 PM

Quote :

"What's your ultimate goal, to eliminate the need for the bridge? Are you satisfied with the performance you're getting on your devices from hardwiring them to the WN2000 (I assume you probably have that sitting on top of the entertainment center instead of inside of it?)"

Goal - to provide better quality speed (preferrably AC level) to my 360, xbone, and receiver.

I currently have the WN2000 sitting behind my tv on the top of the entertainment center.

I've been looking at that Linksys WUMC710 for a while as the next logical step for this approach but the reviews are not so great on it. I'm glad that you've had a good experience with it.

I guess what I'm trying to decide between is an AC bridge or powerline adapter.

12/10/2013 1:36:01 PM

At the moment I have my cable modem and AP upstairs on one end of my ranch home. I have a wired line running from there to the middle part of my house where I have a switch that connects up some A/V gear. The opposite end of the house doesn't have good wireless coverage. Ideally, I'd move the cable modem and AP to the middle of the house but I have DirectTV and don't have a TWC line where I'd want the cable modem.

Is it possible to have a switch be the first hop after the cable modem with the AP after the switch and still have the AP serve up I/P addresses? I'd have one computer upstairs connected to the switch and one line out of the switch connected to the AP. I'm trying to avoid having to crawl through the attic (again) to run another line.


[Edited on October 12, 2014 at 2:21 PM. Reason : .]

10/12/2014 2:13:45 PM

moca or deca. i get 100mbps full duplex with mine and decas are like $8.50 each

10/12/2014 8:08:16 PM

I don't think that solves the problem.

10/15/2014 7:08:32 PM

wasn't answering your issue. what you want is a wired router in place of the switch in what you described

10/16/2014 7:10:37 PM