6ghz reinforced concrete wall penetration

[chris13]

I'm deciding between the GT-BE98 and RT-BE88U routers.

Currently, my 5GHz Wi-Fi signal strength is around -65 to -60 dBm. How well would a 6GHz Wi-Fi signal perform when trying to penetrate reinforced concrete walls—the kind that requires a rotary hammer drill to make a hole?

 

[degrub]

worse. you would need openings with line of sight.

 

[OzarkEdge]

I'm deciding between the GT-BE98 and RT-BE88U routers.

Currently, my 5GHz Wi-Fi signal strength is around -65 to -60 dBm. How well would a 6GHz Wi-Fi signal perform when trying to penetrate reinforced concrete walls—the kind that requires a rotary hammer drill to make a hole?

As frequency increases, wavelength decreases... AI is your friend on this one:

"Shorter wavelengths travel less distance because they have a higher frequency, which means they are more easily absorbed or scattered by obstacles in their path, leading to a quicker loss of energy and a shorter travel range compared to longer wavelengths with lower frequencies that can penetrate further through mediums like air or water."

WiFi-7/6GHz is not going to solve our concrete/masonry problem and only makes our clear air problem worse.

OE

 

[tgl]

Here's some actual data for you, taken from WiFi Explorer on a MacBook, reading signal strength from UniFi U6 Enterprise APs:

closest AP (same room, maybe 12ft away):
5GHz: -40 dBm
6GHz: -34 dBm

next closest AP (perhaps 30ft, two drywall-on-steel-studs walls to penetrate):
5GHz: -79 dBm
6GHz: -74 dBm

furthest AP (perhaps 60ft, 3 walls and a concrete elevator shaft to penetrate):
5GHz: -88 dBm
6GHz: -93 dBm

(The numbers bounce around a few dB, but these are pretty representative.)
The APs are all set on 12 dBm Tx power for 5GHz and 18 dBm Tx power for 6GHz, so that accounts for higher 6GHz readings from the closer APs. I do get a just-usable connection to the middle AP from where I'm sitting, but the furthest one is not usable from here in either band.

tl;dr: 6GHz doesn't go through elevator shafts worth a darn, but then again 5GHz isn't good at it either. If you're getting 60-65 in 5GHz now, I don't think 6GHz is going to work well for you. You'd need to install another, closer AP.

 

[chris13]

Here's some actual data for you, taken from WiFi Explorer on a MacBook, reading signal strength from UniFi U6 Enterprise APs:

closest AP (same room, maybe 12ft away):
5GHz: -40 dBm
6GHz: -34 dBm

next closest AP (perhaps 30ft, two drywall-on-steel-studs walls to penetrate):
5GHz: -79 dBm
6GHz: -74 dBm

furthest AP (perhaps 60ft, 3 walls and a concrete elevator shaft to penetrate):
5GHz: -88 dBm
6GHz: -93 dBm

(The numbers bounce around a few dB, but these are pretty representative.)
The APs are all set on 12 dBm Tx power for 5GHz and 18 dBm Tx power for 6GHz, so that accounts for higher 6GHz readings from the closer APs. I do get a just-usable connection to the middle AP from where I'm sitting, but the furthest one is not usable from here in either band.

tl;dr: 6GHz doesn't go through elevator shafts worth a darn, but then again 5GHz isn't good at it either. If you're getting 60-65 in 5GHz now, I don't think 6GHz is going to work well for you. You'd need to install another, closer AP.

thanks that's what i'm looking for, it helps to visualize how much reduction from 5Ghz to 6Ghz
well, the thing is the current router is just behind 1 reinforced concrete wall and measured from 14ft furthest away in that room
i will just go with RT-BE88U, was considering the 6Ghz option if i'm able to get decent signal strength.