My WiFi Hardware

We have a Zoom 5350 Cable Modem/Router in the attic which provides enough internet for email

and web surfing provided we are either in the bedroom or not too far from the attic.

Here's what I have to take it to the next level:

•  NETGEAR FVS318 ProSafe VPN Firewall 8 with 8-Port 10/100 Switch
•  Hawking HWREN1 Hi-Gain Wireless-300N Range Extender
•  NETGEAR Powerline 200Mbps Nano Adapter - Starter Kit (XAVB2101)
•  NETGEAR XWNB5201 Powerline 500Mbps to N300 Wi-Fi Access Point
• Apple Airport Express

 I've been working on various configurations to try and extend the range and the strength of our broadband connection. The report in the lower left was run from my iPad connected to the various WiFi Networks  I have running.  My Zoom Modem produces the weakest signal which sort of makes sense since its traveling from the attic two floors down.  The Hawking HWREN1extender in the Kitchen does well to repeat this signal and if I am to believe the speed test, my download speed is double than what it is straight off the Zoom.

In theory I can plug one of the Nano Adapters into a wall outlet and run a LAN cable from it to the HWREN1 for a stronger signal.  Unfortunately, this doesn't work.  all it does it jam our network so we cannot connect, I suspect the problem being an IP conflict.

I ran out of time to fully troubleshoot and since I'm likely to move a few components around I didn't make the effort to physically connect to each device and reconfigure it.