improving wifi signal with second modem?

[Juicepod]

We've currently changed to cable internet but noticed that the wifi signal around the house is touchy now. When we had Bell(dsl) the wifi signal was stronger. I actually still have two of the Bell modems (2wire) and I'm wondering if I can just attach the Bell modem to the Rogers one with an Ethernet cord and improve wifi strength or create a second network. So maybe some of our wifi devices can connect to the modem instead. Would I also be able to turn of the wifi signal on the Rogers modem? Not sure that would be useful or not. I don't know much about networking as you can tell.

[jmilch]

Originally Posted by Juicepod

We've currently changed to cable internet but noticed that the wifi signal around the house is touchy now. When we had Bell(dsl) the wifi signal was stronger. I actually still have two of the Bell modems (2wire) and I'm wondering if I can just attach the Bell modem to the Rogers one with an Ethernet cord and improve wifi strength or create a second network. So maybe some of our wifi devices can connect to the modem instead. Would I also be able to turn of the wifi signal on the Rogers modem? Not sure that would be useful or not. I don't know much about networking as you can tell.

The signal strength didnt have anything to do with rahter you had DSL or Cable. It has everything to do with the hardware.

And no, you cannot attach the DSL modems to your current cable modem and do anything with it. Also, you are probably describing integrated routers, since you are not saying you have a separate modem and router.

So basically your only real option would be to disable the wireless on your current combination modem/router, and run a better wireless router. Essentially not using the integrated wireless with the current modem, but using a external wireless router.

I actually did the same thing (different providers, but same idea) and my wireless signal improved significantly.

[Juicepod]

Well I connected the Bell modem to the Rogers one with and it's giving off the same ID that it had and I can connect to it and get the internet. I'm also using a Raspberry Pi connected to my TV with xbmc running and I have a wifi dongle on that but I think the connection isn't the greatest because of the Rogers modems wifi signal. I think I will trying connecting it to the Bell modem and see if it improves. I have an older wireless G router should I use that instead?

[ORL]

You can set both up if you desire and the devices are capable of interacting as so.

You need to know though that if the devices are both in the same channel spectrum and have all the same info that they will compete with each other and this is bad. It will destroy your network performance as they will both try to communicate with devices in range and this will cause the host interface quite a bit of confusions and collisions. In turn reducing your connections effective abilities by nearly 60%.

Can you post both routers information? Just make and model/revision and I can do from there if its possible.

[jmilch]

Originally Posted by Juicepod

Well I connected the Bell modem to the Rogers one with and it's giving off the same ID that it had and I can connect to it and get the internet. I'm also using a Raspberry Pi connected to my TV with xbmc running and I have a wifi dongle on that but I think the connection isn't the greatest because of the Rogers modems wifi signal. I think I will trying connecting it to the Bell modem and see if it improves. I have an older wireless G router should I use that instead?

You really arent changing or helping much like that though. Is the integrated router a G/N band?

[Juicepod]

ok the first one which is the Rogers one that we are using now is the Cisco DPC3825 and the Bell that we use to use is the 2wire 2701HG-G. By integrated router you mean these ones that are specifically made for Bell or Rogers. I noticed that they are no WAN connections on these. All i'm wondering is if the Bell one would give off a better wifi signal.

[T0mmy1977]

A range expander would help.

[Jahova]

I've done this before. First disable DHCP on the second router. Then give it a static IP address under the next subnet mask like 192.168.137.0. Connect router 1 to the gateway port of router 2 and pretty much good to go.

*edit*
Oops forgot to include set your wifi name, mode, key, and etc all the same exactly as the first router's wifi. Also, you cannot do this with a 'modem', but you can with an actual router.