Add a WiFi modem to the Actiontec M1424WR

We have an Actiontec M1424WR Rev e modem/router.

We have the Verizon Double Play bundle, Internet and Phone only, no TV, and with the iMac connected to the Actiontec via Ethernet cable, our speeds are excellent. E.g., On a Saturday morhing, the iMac gets d/l speeds of 58Mbpa, u/l speeds of 34Mbps

The internet signal comes into the Actiontec via Coax cable.

The Actiontec is located on the third floor of a three-floor townhouse.

The WiFi signal to the AppleTV three floors away can be _dismal_ at prime time in the evenings. A recent Ookla speedtest returned 1.47 d/l, 3.58 u/l, 66 ping.

I have seen posts indicating that the Actiontec M1424WR gets poor ratings for WiFi signal strength and have seen posts claiming that you can turn off the WiFi on the Actiontec and add a WiFi capable modem with a good reputation for wireless strength. Specifically, I see a lot of recommendations for ASUS routers.

Can any of you network gurus confirm this?

Would this be a good plan for acheiving better WiFi signals at the AppleTV?

Is there another way which does not involve pulling ethernet cable throughout the house?

Many thanks.

Accepted answers

eljefe2

A powerline adapter won't work from two outlets in the same room if both of those outlets aren't on the same phase of the building's power wiring.

Most residential power in the U.S. is 220-240 volt two phase. One phase feeds each half of the main circuit breaker panel. Individual 110 volt circuit breakers are on one phase or othe other of the main feed. 220-240 devices, such as air conditioning motors, have a feed from both sides of the CB panel and use both phases.

In the case of the power line adapter, the signal can't bridge between two different 110v circuits that are hooked up to different sides of the main CB panel.

Here's the bottom line to me: I've had reasonable results with power line adapters and so have other people I know. The OP could give it a try, or not. I don't see that there's much to lose, especially if they buy the adapters from someplace where they can return them if they don't work.

As always..... different strokes for different folks. Smiley Wink

All comments

eljefe2

I doubt any WiFi device will work well through 3 floors of a building.

Might you already have coax running to the TV on the first floor? If so, a fairly simple solution would be a MoCA adapter, such as the Actiontec ECB 2200.

Mansplainer

Sadly, we do not have a Coax connection in the basement.

Looking on another networking site I found this posted by a guy in a multi-story townhouse:

"I currently have the Actiontec set up as the DHCP server and an Apple airport Extreme serving as the wireless plus an Airport Express upstairs to extend the network. Only two things I cannot do:

Running DD-WRT on my router (won't run on either the Actiontec or the Apple).

Using Apple's Guest network feature so guests don't have to use my home network."

What do you think of that possibility???

eljefe2

I'm not an Apple kind of guy so I can't tell you whether or not that configuration would work for you.

Hopefully someone else with hands on experience will chime in.

Mansplainer

Thanks very much for chiming in. Much appreciated.

logan81

yeah I wouldn't say radio signals bounce off walls, but that doesn't mean they will cleanly go through a wall. Its not like your WiFi router is a radio tower. Remember for successful WiFi your router has to get a signal to your PC with minimal packet loss and then your computer has to send a good signal back to the router. To do this through multiple materials and to do it at a high rate of speed is not simple tech like a radio. The information being sent back and forth is massive and every time information gets lost it has to get resent until all the information is received.