I'm sorry, I didn't mean to add confusion to the issue. I was just trying to say if you make 8-ports on a router a priority you are going to rule out some otherwise pretty fine wireless routers. 4-ports shouldn't be a deal breaker (but 8-ports could be a great tie-breaker).
When I think of AP I think of a Wireless Access Point meaning it's designed to give you wireless access in an area that's relatively weak. If you can hardwire the AP you will get optimum performance and you can place the AP's Ethernet ports (and a fresh Wifi signal) exactly where you need it.
If you can't hardwire your AP then you will be configuring it as a WiFi extender (or repeater) which you already have? That means you probably won't be able to locate it in the far side of the house because the signal is already too weak. You'll probably need to locate somewhere (call it "halfway") between your wireless router and the far side which would leave your Ethernet ports sitting in the wrong location.
I don't think of a switch as an AP, it's a uh, well, it's a switch. Everything connects at gigabit speeds including the wire that connects to the router. (Many of us don't consider a gigabit wire a "pinch point".)
You don't say much about how your current 7000 is performing. If it's doing OK you can save a bunch of bucks by simply adding an 8-port switch to it.
And is the new AP to replace your existing Dlink range extender? (Is it a range extender? I don't even know what a WUMC is.) You could simply add a switch.
But I don't know much about what you're using it for? Is that what's feeding WiFi to the "other side of the house"? Is it in a sub-optimal location because of where you needed the Ethernet ports? Perhaps you will get better performance by relocating it? If so then perhaps you can easily run an Ethernet line from the new location to a switch located where you need the Ethernet ports?
I don't know how much flexibility you have regarding configuring your dlink. One configuration is as a simple repeater; if the client sends on the 2.4GHz radio the dlink would simply resend to the router on 2.4GHz. That has severe performance penalties.
Another way would be to have all clients talk on the 5GHz radio and have the dlink always talk to the router at 2.4GHz. Or vice versa. Much better performance. There can be other permutations as well.
If my guesses (and they are just guesses) are anywhere near correct you might just be able to accomplish everything you want for about $100 (two switches and a length of wire).
As you can tell, I'm cheap. I'm also a fan of understanding and fixing what you have. You'll then be in a better position to know exactly where to throw your money.
Thank you two very much for your input, I appreciate it!
I have ordered that Asus GT5300 and a trendnet green 5 port unmanaged switch, mostly based on recommendations.
No need for apology, Klueless, I probably wasn't the clearest when I posted, I felt a little hand-lazy as I had an injection earlier that day for possible carpal tunnel, so was conserving my typing.
It's possible I misunderstood the DLink's function when I bought it years ago. edit: Yea, the more I read up on it, I don't see anything about what I thought is was doing. That may be part of my problem, weaker signal in that half of the house. They are now calling it a media connector bridge.
https://www.linksys.com/gb/p/P-WUMC710/
Here's more on what I should have elaborated on earlier.
2k sq ft home, rectangular, single story. Out in lightly populated country, so not -much- channel interference. Internet is Spectrum, coming in as coax. Motorola(Arris) surfboard SB6190 modem, owned. The Nighthawk R7000 (main router) is in the western quarter from one end of the house, and the Dlink AP is about the 3/4 mark going in the same direction. The Nighthawk has the PC, Samsung connect, and a couple other things wired into it. The Dlink has the TV, amp, Xbox, and Security camera NVR (8 cameras) wired in.
I also use the DLink to assist the signal on that half-ish side of the house, (edit: at least I thought it was)as the nighthawk doesn't reach as reliably far through the few walls it goes through to get to the eastern side of the house. The Nighthawk is NOT wired into the AP at this time, although in the future I may be able to wire in whatever AP I use to the main router. I do understand that wired is the fastest/bestest.
I was looking to upgrade the main router, and as there are a few future additions coming to the house. At this time I am running about 25-30 devices total on the network, with 10-22 wireless devices active at any given time.
My plan is, and input is welcome here, is to upgrade the Nighthawk with the GT5300, then swap the Dlink for the nighthawk, and use the nighthawk as an AP.
I also think of an AP as a signal repeater, and a wired junction, where the wired items plus the wireless devices on that signal is then sent to the router, then beyond.
I plan on using the switch to plug in the extra stuff into one port on the AP(nighthawk), and use the other 3 free ports for more important connections, TV, camera NVR, etc. The extras I see coming are other gaming stations (for the grandkids), and plan on keeping mostly game consoles on the switch, as they will mostly only be used one at a time.
My goal for all of this is to rely on the new router for the western half of the house for signal, and rely on the nighthawk for signal to the eastern side of the house.
Any tweaks or tips will be welcome. I'm still reading up on channel management, etc, to get the best performance from this configuration.
Thanks!
