Home network with IP phone, wifi, multiple hard-line access points

cg1 — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 08:57:56 -0800

Wifi: Can I have 1 wireless router & 1 non-wireless router in the same location? Or 2 wifi routers? I have a very specific home office. I have an IP phone and require hi-speed access everywhere. I am moving to a new house (it's actually an old house, so no modern wiring for ethernet), and am trying to figure our a way to:
- have a strong wireless signal on both floors and on back porch
- have a location in office (on 2nd floor) *and* on 1st floor where I can plug the IP phone into an ethernet jack, so I can work from upstairs or downstairs

I am fine for buying new hardware if I must. Currently, all I have is the crap wireless router (Westell 327W) the folks at Verizon DSL gave me. I'm thinking I could plug that into a phone jack on the 2nd floor office, and get a strong wireless router to put on the 1st floor - and I could plug my IP phone into either depending on where I'm working for the day. If I have to buy a new component, I'd rather it be wireless - if possible - just to have a strong signal all over the house.

Questions:
- Can I have 2 wireless routers in the same location? Are there any pitfalls to such a setup?
- Can I have a wireless router in 1 part of the house, and a non-wireless router in another (for plugging in the phone)?

Any router reccs would be welcome as well. I'm working on a Mac PowerBook G4, but my wife has a WindowsXP laptop - so we need something that works with both systems.

Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with routerconfiguration

Home network with IP phone, wifi, multiple hard-line access points