so I got this PC from my parents that just needs a HDD. It's a Dell with P4 2.4 HT, will have 2gb of ram and a big HDD when I'm done. I plan on putting it in my basement and attach my 2 external hdd's to it and maybe run windows server on it (betty?)

as of now, my main cable (from cable company) comes in to an area in my basment where it goes into a booster and splitter to go on throughout the house. I have my cable modem on a jack in my FROG right now and into a 4port/wifi router. I have spotty coverage in some areas of the house.

What I want to do is put the cable modem in the basement, then connect it to a 4 port router (maybe even wifi). Run a cat 5 from that router to another wifi router on the 1st floor, then another on on the 3rd floor. I feel this would give me much better coverage throughout the house. Can this be done this way?

Would I have to run a cat5 out from the WAN port on the routers to go to the next one?

What else woudl I need to do? Change any settings in the routers?

I have easy access to run cables, so that's no problem. Unfortunately, I'm getting good at sheetrock work :mad:

Don't use two routers. You'd have two networks to deal with which would be funky. Use a router and a switch instead. Or if you just want wifi upstairs, an access point.

more details please

You don't need two networks in your house. When you buy internet access from an ISP you get an address on their network. When you connect your computer to a cable modem it takes up that address. Similar to building a house on a street.
When you buy/use a router IT gets that address so you can essentially make your own network behind it because the ISP still sees you're only using one of their addresses. It's like instead of building a house at that address you're able to build a whole road of your own and put as many houses (addresses) as you want on it and the router acts as the intersection so it knows which way to route(hence router) data to get to it's destination.
Buying a switch would be like buying more land on the road to build more houses. Think one house (one PC or device) per port. If you add a switch, you gain more ports and can build more houses.

If you were to buy another router, you'd have another network and the overhead of two intersections to deal with. Think of what a pain it'd be having to go through 2 lights to get out of a development versus pulling out of your driveway and making a left. Same concept.

An access point is essentially a wireless switch.

Without getting technical, there's a visual for you.

If you WANT to get technical, you can go here: http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Hardware_Software/2006/router_switch_hub.asp

Gibby pretty much covered what I would say.

so, assuming I use my current Dlink router at the modem, what would I run after that? A wireless access point on each floor?

of course, since my basement is unfinished, I could actually mount my current wifi router on the ceiling in the basement, under the first floor. That would probably give me adequate coverage for the basement and first floor, right?

this is the sort of WAP I could use?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833122064

run the cat 5 from my router to it ?

yes to your last 3 questions .... you may be able to get away with one access point .... I run one in my basement and it work in my attic ... my house is built extreamly well, 1" subfloor 5/8 solid hardwood floors ... wireless works in attic.... all though I do not use the wireless up there ... I ran cat5 to all rooms, I just use wireless in the living room mostley ... so I'm not totally sure it works well up there. :)

maybe that's what I should do, just run cat 5 :(

I dunno. I'm still open to suggestions :)

I have on wifi now:
TiVo
Xbox360
powerbook
Dell Notebook
iPHone

I have only my desktop on cat 5 and my vonage adapter

modem/router/vonage/desktop/x360 are all in my FROG

Go with the access point on each floor idea. If you want to keep it simple, use some of these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833164110&T
Put them in the corner of the house where you running the cat 5 up behind the wall. They should have enough gain to push through the rest of the house.

:yeahthat: