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The setup would be as the diagram below.
The issue is that when in Room A, the WiFi signal from the router/modem in Room B is flaky, causing the devices in Room A to drop the connection all the time.
I can easily add another 3-port Powerline networking plug in Room A (I have them elsewhere) to get wired connections into the Wii/XBox/Sky TV box.
My question: I want to get the two WiFi devices in Room A connected via the 'mystery box', which will allow a strong signal since it is in the room, and which will use the (effectively, via Powerline) wired LAN connection to the modem/router in Room B, and not just pick up the existing WiFi signal from Room B,
So do I need something in repeater or access point mode for my mystery box, and can it be made to work over a wired connection?
He'll need a switch as well for the wired nodes, unless the AP has one built in. – Flup – 2013-05-23T14:44:13.943
Some do; some don't. Could also be a wireless router in bridge mode. – Tanner Faulkner – 2013-05-23T14:47:17.740
In terms of this approach, if I shut off the WiFi in Room B, I presume I would need to set up some sort of forwarding from the new router/AP in Room A to the router/modem in Room B, i.e. just having a wired connection between them won't automagically forward packets ? – Alan B – 2013-05-23T15:01:24.577
As long as the AP in Room A is in the same subnet as the router in Room B, it actually will automagically "forward" packets. If, however, you pick up a run-in-the-mill wireless router, it will perform NAT and essentially separate your two networks (though it will still automagically work!) This is why you would want a router with bridge mode, or a WAP. – Tanner Faulkner – 2013-05-23T15:09:57.187