Do I need a new router or extender?

landmark

Reputable
Mar 4, 2015
10
0
4,510
I have a long house. My modem and router are in my office in the middle of the house, and my TV is in the front. In order to stream TV, I've been using a wi-fi extender, But the extender never worked all that well and now it seems to have completely died.

My current router is Netgear WNDR3400. It's a few years old but works fine.

Do you think I need a a more powerful router and forget the extender (and if so which router)? Or should I get another extender (and if so, which extender)?
 
Solution
I'm not really (or really not) into networking but even a stronger router only goes so far,the wifi card in the tv has it's limits too. A new extender might be the best solution for you or the next thing,if the tv has a lan port could you also look at this,
http://www.newegg.com/Powerline-Networking/SubCategory/ID-294?Tpk=powerline
it uses the powerlines in the house to distribute the internet signal to all wallsockets,one get's placed near the router,the other near the device that needs internet.They work best directly in the wallsocket so if it is in use buy one that extends (called "pass-thru") as a wallsocket as well.
Make sure that an extender picks up the signal where it is still strong,it can't make a signal stronger,so place it...

Vic 40

Titan
Ambassador
I'm not really (or really not) into networking but even a stronger router only goes so far,the wifi card in the tv has it's limits too. A new extender might be the best solution for you or the next thing,if the tv has a lan port could you also look at this,
http://www.newegg.com/Powerline-Networking/SubCategory/ID-294?Tpk=powerline
it uses the powerlines in the house to distribute the internet signal to all wallsockets,one get's placed near the router,the other near the device that needs internet.They work best directly in the wallsocket so if it is in use buy one that extends (called "pass-thru") as a wallsocket as well.
Make sure that an extender picks up the signal where it is still strong,it can't make a signal stronger,so place it not too far from the router.
 
Solution