Wireless Network for a large house

I found the Netgear brand WiFi routers to perform quite well, so I have standardized on them (though Linksys makes good APs as well).

NOTE: Netgear WAPs DO NOT work with WiFi VoIP phones... Steer clear!

Life was happy, until I introduced WiFI VoIP phones, after which Netgear routers gave nothing but grief. After diagnosing by myself for a few weeks, and then another few weeks of Tech Support (which was a TOTAL waste of time), I had no option but to replace all the NetGear? WAPs with Linksys WAPs (wrt54g). Since changing over to Linksys, everything works.
My theory is, that the Netgear routers don't handle UDP packets too well, when in Access Point mode — most likely leaking memory. The WAPs work fine when rebooted, for a few hours — then the WAPs hang to the point, that they don't respond to ping. Worst of all, the radio is left on, so there is no failover to other WAPs. Once you reboot (power or reset), the WAP comes right back up, for another two hours.
It's not heat — I placed on WAP in front of an A/C (continuously on), and it hangs just the same. Setting Asterisk to qualify the SIP link to the phone makes the WAP die sooner.

The Netgear technical support experience was out of this world:

• Reboot the router! But I've already explained to you that I rebooted the router.
• Update to the latest firmware! But I told you in my FIRST message that I updated to the latest firmware.
• Don't put the router in front of the microwave! But I told you in my first message, that this happens with FOUR routers around the house.
• Change the MTU to 1400! But I told you already that I have no problems accessing the net, once the router dies, all connectivity dies... this is not a networking problem.
• Bad router, return to store! All four of them?
• What modem are you using? I don't use a modem, I told you that early on! (and even if I did, it's not the issue — I lose connectivity to my own network as well)

If this amuses you... you can find LOT'S more at DSLreports

My (LEAST — NOW) favorites are the WGT624 and WGR614v6 which, coincidentally are a Firewall + Router + Access Point.

I only wanted three Access Points, but as it turns out the WGT624 (and WGR614v6) is half the price of a plain Access Point... and, you can just disable the Firewall/Router functionality.

Things to know, when setting up more than one Access Point (AP):

• Disable the router/firewall on the individual AP
• Don't use the "turbo mode" (108MB or such, it's just a compatibility headache)
• Remember, there are really only three channels; 1, 6 & 11 — others overlap
  • Set all APs on different channels, use patterns like 1-11, 1-6-11, 1-6-11-1 when deploying the APs
• You can use the same SSID on each AP, and you'll have "roaming"
• Absolutely remember to set the WEP encryption (with 128bits), consider using WPA
  • If you don't set the WEP encryption, anyone driving by can (and will) latch onto your network and use it for spamming the world, and you will be the one blocked from the net
• Make sure your access point firmware is up-to-date, netgear web site offers all the updates/upgrades
  • The process is really simple, not to shy away from — just download the file (firmware upgrade), then point your browser to the AP, Maintenance/Router Upgrade, upload the file — and you won't even lose your settings, takes just a minute
• One (or more) access point — remember to also do a site survey, find out what channels your neighbors are using — apply same logic, remembering the channels and overlap

UPDATE — IMPORTANT

• Don't get WGR614v6 — or if you get it, don't upgrade to 1.0.11 (latest) firmware — my wireless routers have started to go down about four times a day, which is clearly unacceptable
• I will be trying to figure this out with Netgear, and once (if) I do, I will update thie page
• Problem symptoms: you can't ping the router, let alone connect through it
• Possible aggravating factors: I have many WiFi VoIP phones now, doing UDP via port 5060

Bottom line: until Netgear fixes the four times a day hangs, this is not the router to use!