Setting up WDS/Access Point - 2 Routers?

I've currently got a Belkin F5D8236 Router 'N' in the living room (next to the cable modem) using used by the Wii, laptop and dm500. However, i've just moved the PC, networked printer and NAS into the utility room at the back of the house and it's on the edge of the wireless range. i basically need a 4 port switch in there to run the devices and i'm trying to figure out the best/cheapest way of doing it.

Option 1 - i'm thinking of buying a cheap 2nd Wireless Router (£20 ish?) that supports WDS so i can connect it to the main Belkin wireless router - that will extend the range AND have 4 wired ports to use.

Option 2 - i could also buy some home plugs (£40 ish) but i'd still need a swtich (£?) on the end (i have a 4 port hub but if my networking education serves me right, this will just cause lots of collisions hence the need for a switch - am i right?) SSOOO.. the 2nd router with WDS support sounds like the perfect/cheap solution


opinions or other suggestions? I'm guessing that BOTH routers don't need to support WDS as the main router is just doing the DHCP thing and should be none the wiser, it's the 2nd router that needs to act as the slave/repeater.

bump - would just a 4 port hub off a homeplug work?

with WDS m8 i am pretty sure you need both routers to support it.

what you do is put the mac of the peer router into the WDS config so you do this on both routers.

so R1 you would input R2's mac
and R2 you would input R1'a MAC

set up encryption etc,

there loads of tuts on how to set up WDS about.