Router(s) for Long Apartment

[Big Wendell]

Currently I am running a 3rd gen Airport Extreme extended by an Airport Express. My apartment is quite long and I am not getting coverage. As you can see in the attached floor plan, I have the Extreme in the study (front of the apartment) and the Express in the bedroom. I get lousy coverage in the dining room and kitchen. Making things complicated is the light well in the middle of the apartment. That means I've got external brick and concrete walls between the two routers. Would a mesh network help? Could I essentially snake the signal around and through the hallway? Or would simply having a newer, better router/extender system help? Am I totally not grasping how Wifi networks work?

 

[techwarrior]

If you can’t connect the express via Ethernet, have a look at power line adapters. If the express connects wireless to the extreme, you cut bandwidth by 50%. If the wireless signal is weak, the express is probably worthless.

Power line will give you a good connection back to the router.

Mesh probably would have the same issue.

Also, if there are a lot of competing networks around you, have a look at channels.

 

[hobowankenobi]

Agreed.

Two APs connected via Ethernet or powerline adapters should cover everything well, as a single network. Lots of modern systems to choose from.