@ JoeM,
No, if you are connecting your device to the main router network speeds would be normal and not much change. Almond 2015, you could connect it either as a Router or Range Extender or as an Access point (hardwired range extender), in order for you to access the sensors via cloud, Almond 2015 should have internet connection and it doesn't matter which mode it is setup and your client device (iOS or Android) should have internet access, so that it could communicate with the cloud.