Model with the strongest wifi signal?

[1ceLaz0r]

My beloved parents have been on a Netgear AC1750 since 2019 which amazingly has worked stable these past years. However my parents have upgraded their phones 3 times from s4 to now s23s and my mom is getting a new iPad and the routers 5ghz signal just isn't strong enough to penetrate the multiple walls from the router location upstairs to downstairs and 2.3ghz is just too slow. I'm not able to run a cable downstairs at all so doing a wired bsckhaul mesh isn't possible and the walls will make any wifi backhaul useless.

So that leaves me with upgrading the router to something thst can broadcast a stronger 5ghz 80mhz channel to downstairs area, so what Asus model would get best results for that? Ax86u pro? 88u pro?
?
Or something more basic like the RT ax57u, RT Ax3000 or maybe even the expertwifi Ebr63?

 

[bbunge]

My beloved parents have been on a Netgear AC1750 since 2019 which amazingly has worked stable these past years. However my parents have upgraded their phones 3 times from s4 to now s23s and my mom is getting a new iPad and the routers 5ghz signal just isn't strong enough to penetrate the multiple walls from the router location upstairs to downstairs and 2.3ghz is just too slow. I'm not able to run a cable downstairs at all so doing a wired bsckhaul mesh isn't possible and the walls will make any wifi backhaul useless.

So that leaves me with upgrading the router to something thst can broadcast a stronger 5ghz 80mhz channel to downstairs area, so what Asus model would get best results for that? Ax86u pro? 88u pro?
?
Or something more basic like the RT ax57u, RT Ax3000 or maybe even the expertwifi Ebr63?

Difficult to predict. Wifi signal strength is limited by local regulations. Yes, some routers may be better than others but... pick one, buy it from someplace that does easy returns and try it or several.

Edit: the AX86U Pro is on sale at Amazon again. $201. Might be a great starting point.

 

[Tech9]

So that leaves me with upgrading the router to something thst can broadcast a stronger 5ghz 80mhz channel to downstairs area

This may not help much. First, the new router will be limited by the same local RF regulations; Second, the client device has to penetrate the same number of walls back to the router. Increasing Tx power on the router side works only up to the point the router can still hear the client. RT-AX86U Pro is a good starting point indeed, but only you can tell of it works in this environment or not. In Europe you can try DFS channel 100 at 80MHz wide, it allows up to 1000mW, not guaranteed to work though. Lower 5GHz channels 36-48 are limited to 200mW, 2.4GHz band is limited to 100mW. If you use narrower channel bandwidth of 40MHz it will also increase the signal strength with 3dBm. Sometimes it's good enough to cover devices at the edge.

 

[L&LD]

Don't listen to the naysayers. Test new models in your (or your parent's) environment and return if needed.

Specs do not a router make. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The RT-AX86U Pro may be the worst one to test first with. Even if it may be better than the router your parents have today.

[Review] ASUS GT-AX6000 vs RT-AX88U Pro vs RT-AX86U Pro

After I tested tested each of the three routers, I decided to make a dedicated video to find out which one of them is the better WiFi 6 router. I look forward to any questions and feedback.

www.snbforums.com

 

[Tech9]

So that leaves me with upgrading the router

Mentioning your region/country may help getting better suggestions. Help us a little so we can help you. Looking at your older posts - you are perhaps in the US? Your parents too? The same model routers behave differently in different regions. The Tx power is different, the channel selection is different, etc.

 

[1ceLaz0r]

USA

 

[Justinh]

In Europe you can try DFS channel 100 at 80MHz wide, it allows up to 1000mW, not guaranteed to work though. Lower 5GHz channels 36-48 are limited to 200mW, 2.4GHz band is limited to 100mW. If you use narrower channel bandwidth of 40MHz it will also increase the signal strength with 3dBm.

@Tech9 do you have the equivalent US specs readily handy?

 

[Tech9]

General information here:

List of WLAN channels - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Verify recent changes with local authorities.

In general - over 400mW is pointless due to reasons described in Post #3 above.

 

[Tech9]

And something else to add, may help assessing the situation with no special measurement tools: there are signs when the client is too far already - the up/down link rates become highly asymmetrical. If this is happening already with >5:1 ratio - increasing router/AP power won't help. Higher dBi antennas on the AP side with narrower vertical beam may help, but mostly in open spaces with less obstructions and refractions. The way outdoor APs are set by default, for example - they usually have 4-5dBi antennas vs 2-3dBi for indoor APs.

 

[sfx2000]

My beloved parents have been on a Netgear AC1750 since 2019 which amazingly has worked stable these past years. However my parents have upgraded their phones 3 times from s4 to now s23s and my mom is getting a new iPad and the routers 5ghz signal just isn't strong enough to penetrate the multiple walls from the router location upstairs to downstairs and 2.3ghz is just too slow. I'm not able to run a cable downstairs at all so doing a wired bsckhaul mesh isn't possible and the walls will make any wifi backhaul useless.

Couple of things...

1) Range is usually defined by the client, not the access point - and you really cannot beat physics - signal loss is 10LogR on a horizontal axis, so the loss is not linear...

2) Keep it simple for the parents - they're smart, but they're not network experts - I would actually suggest a 2 or 3 node mesh system as opposed to upgrading a single Router/AP if coverage is an issue.

I realize this is an Asus sub-forum, but if you'd like to have safe/secure access to manage their LAN/WLAN, you might actually consider Google Nest Wifi - they're not very feature rich, but Google pushes out updates on a regular basis, and the base software is one of the most secure of any routers - they're basically headless chromebooks and they're damn near brick-proof..

Like I mention above, keep it simple, and they will be happy, as you will be...

BTW - kudos for considering it's likely time to retire the AC1750 class netgear - depending on the specific model, it probably has not had an update in years...

 

[coxhaus]

If you use the ceiling for APs you don't have to cut any walls. You just make a small hole to where the CAT cable comes out and plugs into the AP.
I dedicated a closet shelf to home run all cables for the POE switch. Ran patch cables up into the attic and punched a small hole in the ceiling where I wanted an AP mounted. It is very easy. You don't have to mess with any walls. Fill the holes with foam after testing.

 

[1ceLaz0r]

If you use the ceiling for APs you don't have to cut any walls. You just make a small hole to where the CAT cable comes out and plugs into the AP.
I dedicated a closet shelf to home run all cables for the POE switch. Ran patch cables up into the attic and punched a small hole in the ceiling where I wanted an AP mounted. It is very easy. You don't have to mess with any walls. Fill the holes with foam after testing.

Not an option. My father won't allow it and I'm too old and and in pain from arthritis to get up ladders and ceilings nowadys hence why I early retired from IT networking engineer, my body can't take it any more, I just write script and code part time at home.

 

[jzchen]

I have a Deco BE95 and GT-BE98 Pro. I learned a long long time ago, and seems to still apply today, that external movable antennae provide better adjustability/signal than fixed internal antennae. For that reason alone I'd shy away from the Deco design. If you have so many walls to penetrate it may be a 3 piece setup one on top of the other (2nd, 1st floor,) and then across, vs diagonal which all those walls would eat up signal, worsened by an angle.

Can't say what units to buy as that depends on budget...

 

[Tech9]

Need a working 1st solution

It’s hard to recommend hardware for a place we know very little about. If the old router is almost doing the job then perhaps any 2-pack home mesh system will be better in coverage. Speed will be fine even for cheaper dual-band options. I have installed 2x Deco systems and both work well. Google Nest and Amazon eero are also set and forget in Easy Button category.

 

[jzchen]

Regarding signal strength this is restricted/limited by the FCC. Bottom line is they test all equipment and make sure it doesn't exceed the limit that they allow to the human body (1.6 W/kg per my Google search just now). No matter the model you choose it can't possibly exceed that signal strength, basically levelling the field. Encoding may improve efficiency so you'll get improvement 256kB-QAM to 1K-QAM to 4K-QAM (AC to AX to BE).

 

[Tech9]

make sure it doesn't exceed the limit that they allow to the human body

you'll get improvement 256kB-QAM to 1K-QAM to 4K-QAM

Both statements above are incorrect. Regional RF regulations are unrelated to human body safety limits and higher modulation schemes require better signal to noise ratio effectively reducing the usable range.

 

[jzchen]

Both statements above are incorrect. Regional RF regulations are unrelated to human body safety limits and higher modulation schemes require better signal to noise ratio effectively reducing the usable range.

I see. Thanks for correcting me. But not sure how they get FCC IDs based on regions of the US?

 

[Tech9]

If you look at the product label you'll see multiple certification logos with numbers. FCC with ID is one of them.

 

[jzchen]

Not an option. My father won't allow it and I'm too old and and in pain from arthritis to get up ladders and ceilings nowadys hence why I early retired from IT networking engineer, my body can't take it any more, I just write script and code part time at home.

Somewhere along the line they're gonna need to consider upgrading the speed of their service. (The detail of their service speed seems to have been lost in the merge of threads)...

 

[Tech9]

Two retired people with few active devices will be more than happy with basic plan 100Mbps ISP.