Building a new WIFI network

Maybe try a different channel that isn't congested as things will probably improve.

 

Hmm, well in that case I wouldn't go out and buy two Expresses straightaway but just try one at first. I would suggest plugging one directly into your router and disabling the router's wifi signal so that it's the AirPort broadcasting the signal. And rather than placing it centrally (though that is ideal) try placing it near to where you would use the signal most. If you go with multiple devices then consider linking them by ethernet cable instead of extending the signal wirelessly. That way you'll have full strength in two locations...when you extend wirelessly you'll get the best signal possible from the secondary router but it may still be getting a weak signal from the main router. That said, if you do extend wirelessly then the Apple routers are very good for this...I use an Extreme and an Express normally but then again that's because I'm only in a flat when I do use them.

 

The bottom line is that nobody can tell you how wifi or homeplug will perform for you, nor how they will need to be arranged.

It is all dependent on your local environment.

 

What about wiring your house with ethernet jacks?

 

^ This. From the sound of it, I wouldn't expect an access point in the middle floor to be a sufficient remedy but it's going to take some trial and error to find the ideal setup for your WiFi network.

Could be. You need to try and see what speed you get. Hardwiring with cat6 would be my preference but I'm not familiar with your home.

 

If yu try and use a wireless connection to extend your range the trade off is that most of the bandwidth is used by the routers to extend the range. you REALLY want to use wire to interconnect the routers.

The very best solution will be to pull Ethernet cable. It is not hard to do. Find a place where you can drill, use closets where an exposed wire is acceptable ans remember that Ethernet cables can be 100 meters long if need be. So they can snake all over. Connect each floor via ethernet. Hard wired Ethernet will always give the best performance. (Use Cat 6 cable)

The new Apple router have an antenna pattern that compresses the antenna pattern into a flattened "pan cake" and would NOT be ideal for a multi-floor house. a 5GHz band would be less flattened by a size size antenna.

When you have coverage problems your first solution would be to look at antenna. Apple is not the best brand because there is no way to add an external antenna, you ony have the built-in one to use.