Replace a router or add?

[flenn]

I currently have a Trendnet TEW-633GR (D-LINK DIR-655 hardware clone) and am looking to replace it with a current gen router. I know that running slower wifi devices (802.11B or G) on a N router will slow down all connections so I was originally going to ask if the current crop of new dual band routers are affected in the same way and whether you can get around this using a guest network for slow devices and the main network for N devices. Are the slowdowns a function of the network or the radio?

Then, after thinking about it, I have another question -some background: My family's needs have grown to the point where we have more than 10 wired devices (gaming consoles, tivo, PC's, home server, media players) and over 10 wireless devices ranging from 802.11B, G and N. At any one moment, we could be streaming Netflix, watching TV via the HDHomerun, transferring files from the home server, playing a PC and/or console game and more. Although the TEW-633GR is hanging in there, I feel that will all the activity, it probably makes sense to upgrade to a current gen router that offers more performance for multiple connections.

So, here's the question: Do you think it makes sense to add a router rather than replace the TEW-633GR? From the router's location, I have 3 wired runs throughout the house, 2 with gigabit switches, one with 10/100 switch. They service hard wired devices at each location. It would be very easy to swap out the 10/100 switch and use the TEW-633GR as an access point in its place. I could then add a RT-N56U or E4200 (or the new TEW-692GR) to do the heavy lifting at the original location. If so, by setting up the Trendnet to service the B and G devices only, the new router could handle all the N connections. Thoughts?

 

[stevech]

Use ONE router per ISP service.

Add Access Points (APs) to increase coverage, or
Add Access Points on different SSIDs to link with old 11B devices and let 11g/n connect to a different SSID produced by newer APs or the WiFi router.

Any WiFi router can be reconfigured to emulate an AP. Though it was a router, when so configured, call it an AP.

There's a FAQ here on how to setup a WiFi router to be an AP.

Any AP can connect to THE router via cat5 wire, HomePlug AV, MoCA, or least desired, via a wireless repeater link called WDS. The latter usually needs to be between like-brand/model devices, and a WSD repeater halves the throughput.

 

[flenn]

Use ONE router per ISP service

Just to clarify. If I turn my TEW-633GR into an access point and hardwire it to my newly purchased latest gen router, say the E4200, I would only have ONE router for my one ISP, correct? The AP would have one SSID and the E4200 would have a different SSID. Is there a speed hit putting 11g and 11n devices on the same radio? If not, I would let the new router handle both and, as you said, let the AP do the 11B stuff.

TIA

 

[stevech]

yes, you have the idea.

11g devices in some uncommon modes can slow down 11n - in the usual 20MHz mode of 11n. Unless you are pressing for really high speeds, it's probably a non-issue. But 11b coexistence is such that if the client cannot be upgraded to 11g, then it probably makes sense to have a dedicated 11b-only SSID on a different channel (1, 6 or 11).

In the 40MHz mode of 11n, things are more complex and irregular among vendors, as to the impact of 11g/11n mixes. I think the 40MHz mode is relatively rarely used for a number of technically boring reasons.