AC-68 Increase Range?

[serious]

Hi,

I'm not very proficient with router set-up, so most of the info on this forum is over my head.

Basically, I need to increase the range of my AC-68 wireless signal. I'm in a 1200 sq. ft. apartment, so I'm assuming I should be able to get wifi in any room. I tried both the 5 Ghz and 2.4 Ghz bands and I can sometime, barely get 1-bar of signal strength from the 2.4 wireless network at the other end of the apartment (40 feet away?).

Looking over my settings, it looks like the Tx power is at 100%. Is there another setting I should adjust?

I bought this router, hoping it would be top-notch. So I figure I must not have it set up correctly.

I'm on Merlin 376.45

 

[david279]

This maybe http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showthread.php?t=19262

 

[bbb0777]

This maybe http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showthread.php?t=19262

OP, note that to do that, you'd need to flash to an older version of the firmware (which is totally fine, just letting you know). You say your firmware has a slider for power output - that means it's the latest version, which is not compatible with the modifications in that linked thread.

Also, OP - what device is showing low bars? A smartphone? If so, do you have another smartphone to test with? Just to confirm the phone (or whatever the client is), isn't the problem.

Last quick thing - is your router on the floor? Higher is better. Antennaes screwed in well? Center antenna straight up, outer antennas set at ~45 degree angles?

 

[TonyH]

Hi, OP
Is the router located pretty well in center of your apt. and high? Have inSSIDer(you need version 4 to check -AC signals) which will give more detailed readings about your WiFi environment. Relocating router is one thing to try. There is no set rule about router's location,
have to spend some time trying with patience. I always manage to cover my house with just a router. A 2 story house with basement. Every level of the house is covered with useable signal level.

 

[4Leaf]

Hi,

I'm not very proficient with router set-up, so most of the info on this forum is over my head.

Basically, I need to increase the range of my AC-68 wireless signal. I'm in a 1200 sq. ft. apartment, so I'm assuming I should be able to get wifi in any room. I tried both the 5 Ghz and 2.4 Ghz bands and I can sometime, barely get 1-bar of signal strength from the 2.4 wireless network at the other end of the apartment (40 feet away?).

Looking over my settings, it looks like the Tx power is at 100%. Is there another setting I should adjust?

I bought this router, hoping it would be top-notch. So I figure I must not have it set up correctly.

I'm on Merlin 376.45

Try switching both your 2.4 ghz and 5 ghz bands to 20 mhz. Doing this will prevent more interference if you live in a crowded area near a lot of other wireless networks.

I also recommend downloading inSSider 3 which will help you choose the best wireless channels to use. This software program will show you all the wireless networks around your area and which wireless channels they are using. It is best to choose the wireless channels that are the least being used in your area. Here is a link to the software program below.

http://www.techspot.com/downloads/5936-inssider.html

 

[serious]

Awesome! Thanks Guys!!!

Moving my router off the floor boosted my 2.4 Ghz signal at the far end of my apartment. But then moving it around to a new place, fixing the antennas (as mentioned) and keeping it up high really boosted the signal.

Now I get 4 full bars (mac & iphone) out in the backyard, where previously I got nothing. This is only on the 2.4 Ghz signal, which I understand is the norm.

Thanks also for clarifying the power-boost option. Good to know that was only for previous Merlin builds. I thought I read something about the option and couldn't find the option on the most recent build.

I did try earlier looking at the SSID info and moving around the channels, but that really didn't help. Moving it to a new location was key.

 

[L&LD]

One more reason to go with 'location, location, location', first.

 

[bbb0777]

Thanks also for clarifying the power-boost option. Good to know that was only for previous Merlin builds. I thought I read something about the option and couldn't find the option on the most recent build.

I did try earlier looking at the SSID info and moving around the channels, but that really didn't help. Moving it to a new location was key.

Just to clarify - the power-boost isn't something you "find". It could...probably should, be called hacking. But anyway you don't need it, so it's a moot point.

One more thing to clarify - choosing the "best" channel won't increase your signal strength; choosing the best (least crowded) channel is about maximizing your download speed.

 

[serious]

Well... Everything was working well. Until I put a new TV w/wireless in the problem room, farthest away from my router and it can't connect. It shows 1-2 bars, but then can't load Netflix.

My iPhone 5S in the same room can connect fine, but also get less than the full 4 bars of signal.

So I guess I now need to know how to "hack" AC68 to boost the signal. Any links or tip?

I'm running Merlin 376.47 and trying to connect the TV to my 2.4 GHz signal, that is n-only and running at 20Mhz.

 

[bbb0777]

Well... Everything was working well. Until I put a new TV w/wireless in the problem room, farthest away from my router and it can't connect. It shows 1-2 bars, but then can't load Netflix.

My iPhone 5S in the same room can connect fine, but also get less than the full 4 bars of signal.

So I guess I now need to know how to "hack" AC68 to boost the signal. Any links or tip?

I'm running Merlin 376.47 and trying to connect the TV to my 2.4 GHz signal, that is n-only and running at 20Mhz.

1. Did you move the TV to a better signal area to confirm it works there? Just to make sure the problem is a too-weak signal for the TV, and not something else.
   
2. Did you manually try channels 1,6, and 11 in 2.4ghz, and confirm none of them work?
   
3. For increasing output power, the first response in this thread has a link that talks about how to do so. Though again - you'd need to "downgrade" to Merlin 374, or switch to the "Merlin Fork", which is a fork off of Merlin 374 that keeps Merlin 374 updated with newer bugfixes, etc."

 

[serious]

Thanks for the help.

I was on the phone to Vizio customer support and I ended up changing the wireless security (WPA2/WPA, AES+TKIP), which didn't help. I also have a second device, a Roku streaming stick plugged into the same TV and it can't grab a solid wireless signal either.

I moved the channels around, but that didn't help.

What I did, was move the router closer and that worked. I went from being about 40 feet away, to being about 30 feet. Either way, I'm really annoyed with this AC68. The box made big claims about it's extended range, but this thing is getting shut down quickly in my apartment. Maybe, it has to do with it being an older building with lathe and plaster walls.

Either way, looks like I'll need to get a repeater/wireless extender to help my AC68 wireless network limp into my bedroom 40 feet away.

 

[serious]

Sorry if this is already covered elsewhere. I did a quick look and couldn't find an answer...

Is there a popular opinion on whether it's better to swap out the AC68 antennas (either 9dbi or ant-157) vs getting a wifi extender? Should I try one before the other?

It looks kind of like a repeater is a "sure thing," whereas the antennas "might" improve things. I'm just worried a repeater won't give the benefits of the native AC1900 speeds.