Which is the best router under $17.5
Problem with that may be the common issue that the client-to-router direction yields a weak signal at the router - due to the client's low power.For under $20, you might want to consider the TP-Link TL-WR841N. I get 3 out of 5 bars from this 2.4 Ghz N300 router located about 100 ft. away at a neighbor's house across the street.
Points well taken, Stevech. However, that doesn't pose a problem for me as I don't access their secured router. My point was that, if I can get 3 out of 5 bars 100 ft. away with 2 walls separating the client and the router, imagine then what is seen by the clients on their premises for under $20. As an aside, as someone with some experience in RF as a radio amateur, I can truly appreciate things on the receive side such as dynamic range, sensitivity, selectivity and noise floor.Problem with that may be the common issue that the client-to-router direction yields a weak signal at the router - due to the client's low power.
The from-router signal strength is but part of the story.
RF, me too. Professionally. Ham for more decades than I'll admit.
Consider: All WiFi routers transmit their beacon frames at the lowest possible modulation order and thus the PA can operate at highest possible power. Similar to the fact that WiFi transmitters can use about 6dB more power when using 802.11b or low end of the 11n modes, for a given client (modulation order changes frame by frame per client vs. time and conditions). A WiFi SSID survey is usually logging RSSI of beacon frames, not data frames which use a more aggressive modulation mode than do beacons.
As the modulation order in OFDM modes increases, the TX power has to reduce in order to preserve the TX Rho (waveform accuracy or "EVM" error vector magnitude). It's a fact of life with OFDM having a high peak to RMS power ratio as compared to non-OFDM modes. This is the famous "OFDM PA back-off" topic.
? VW was caught cheating to run on the road far in excess of the regulatory limits.Netgear's major complaint was that the Asus devices were not consistent with what was approved by the FCC - and Asus was caught in 3rd party testing...
Similar to what is currently happening with Volkswagen and the diesel thing...
As I read, Asus was not exceeding the regulatory limits for the US FCC and similar regulations. The EIRP limits vary by antenna beamwidth.
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