Routers

[Super-Spy]

I was initially looking to extend the WiFi rage in my home by purchasing an additional WiFi router to supplement my Nighthawk R7000 running DD-WRT. The idea was to connect the two through Ethernet and set up the new router as a wireless access point.

Looking around, it seems there is a raft of new technology.
Would I be better off getting a newer, more perform-ant router and use that as my main router and use the Nighthawk as the access point ?

Does a Mesh system provide any advantages over the above approach ?

Looking for the cheapest path to extending coverage and improving performance

 

[Super-Spy]

Thanks @BigT

I thought a Mesh system would be better than what I am planning so good to know.

The main router (currently a Netgear R7000 running DD-WRT) is with the Virgin Media modem on the ground floor.
I get good 5Ghz reception on the ground and first floor but no so good in the loft. There is a Cat 5 wire running from the router to the loft though where I have a switch with various wired items connected such as a NAS. I want to add another router/access point into that switch in the loft ti improve wifi for items such as tablets and mobile phones.

The loft is essentially two rooms separated by a partition wall and a door.

I did think about a wifi access point but thought a router in AP mode would have better performance. Also, there is always the option of buying a newer, faster router for the ground floor and moving the Netgear R7000 to the loft to act as the AP.

 

[Super-Spy]

Thanks for the education. So the beam from a dedicated AP is likely to be better than a router.
Is 80Mbps a decent speed. I would expect a 5GHz router in AP mode to be faster than that or have I misunderstood ?

 

[Super-Spy]

Thanks for all the insights @BigT