Network setup and wireless ranges

[Verbium]

I couldn't really think of a better title than the one of chosen. I've got a few questions to ask but they're all linked.

I've currently got Be unlimited running at 14-15mb @ 40db (yes its high and no i haven't played much with any margins, its a new house and brand new line). For the past 6 months i've been playing around with routers to try and find the best setup, i went from the speedtouch that came free to a netgear DG834GT. Both don't give the range i need to reach the top of the house efficently.
The house is 3 floors and at the very top its quite easy to pick up a lot of other networks (BT Homehubs and sky packages) but only at low signals.

I had an old linksys router sat round and its now flashed to dd-wrt firmware to increase the range. I disabled wireless on the netgear and routed through to the linksys router. I often found that while having wireless and DHCP switched on with the netgear router that it slowed the internet response times.
So signal is ok upstairs but i keep getting drops in speed at random times and today its decided to stay at 100Kb/s download and not the usual 1.4/1.5Mb/s.

The constant fiddling is getting on my nerves and i'm just looking to replace the whole lot with something more reliable and with better range.

I've looked at a few options:
1. Get a standalone ethernet ADSL2+ modem and setup with a Pre-N router of some description.
2. A all in one ADSL2 modem/router Pre-N

What do you guys think would be the better setup?

 

[brendy]

If I was in that situation id probably fit the wireless router near the telephone line and run a cable up to the top floor and connect in a wireless repeater (if money wasnt a problem) or alternatively connect the router to the highest wall socket in the house (do you have one upstairs?) as the higher the router the better chance of a reception you get.

 

[Verbium]

The BT master socket is downstairs and we aren't using the rest of the relay sockets as this causes a lot of noise on the line. I did originally want to run a wire up the house as it would be the best solution but it would mean a lot of holes being drilled, plus my family wouldn't be so happy with that.

 

[E1mo]

I live in a 4 story victorian house and the only solution has been to buy a wireless access point and move it to the 3rd floor.

 

[wij]

Get a couple of homeplug adapters and a stand alone wireless ap, its probably the easiest and most reliable solution.