Need a better wifi range

ViciousClone

ViciousClone

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So i got this Tenda AC9 from my ISP when the fibre was installed, but the coverage or let me rather say, reach of the wifi is k*k.

My dlink 2570u did the same.

Anyway, i know this is a free-to-use router, so thought why not just buy one now and get it over with. The house isn't massive, 210 squares i'd say?
Browsing i found a few nice routers that seem to be good. One below i thought would work lekker compared to the current router?

ASUS RT-AC59U AC1500 Dual-Band Gigabit Wireless Router - Wootware

Buy ASUS RT-AC59U AC1500 Dual-Band Gigabit Wireless Router at Wootware with fast shipping & superb service.
www.wootware.co.za www.wootware.co.za

I don't want to pay massive amounts for a router ( saw some going above R4000, sjoh! ) ANy advice on a decent router would be great!
Fibre connection is a 100/100mbps
 
Neuk_ said:
This is one of the reasons I told my ISP to keep their shitty router and I bought an Asus RT-68U.
Click to expand...
Should have rather just taken the 'shitty' router. One never knows when a backup is needed.
Also, if I'm correct, it's not like your monthly subs or installation cost is reduced if you decide to not take the 'free' router.
 
MEIOT said:
Should have rather just taken the 'shitty' router. One never knows when a backup is needed.
Also, if I'm correct, it's not like your monthly subs or installation cost is reduced if you decide to not take the 'free' router.
Click to expand...

I have other older routers if I need and memories of having to reboot and reset my girlfriends ISP supplied R300 Tenda router were still very fresh in my mind.
 
irBosOtter said:
Get two Unifi AP's and switch the wifi off on your main router. No single wifi router is going to cover your needs. You need two of these:

UniFi's New U6+ Claims Top Spot in its Price Class | Blog

scoop.co.za scoop.co.za
Click to expand...
+1

I look back on my pre-Ubiquiti days as the Dark Ages of wi-fi. It's unthinkable to ever go back to crappy consumer APs. I have three UniFi APs spread around the property. Strong wi-fi, seamless handoff. Wi-fi problems and irritations a thing of the past.

So easy to manage, too. With a few clicks I just yesterday created a new network for the 12 house guests we're getting.
 
djbrendan said:
I hear you, but why two? Can't someone just place one in a central point of the house.
I've installed a MIMO before for a friend and that seems to work great.
Click to expand...

Well why don't you move your current router to the middle of the house then?

If you use one unifi you will still sit with the same issue, it's not like an Unifi AP magically has more range.

The "Long Range" in that AP name makes people think they will get much better range, it does not, unless you have no walls in your house....
 
irBosOtter said:
Well why don't you move your current router to the middle of the house then?

If you use one unifi you will still sit with the same issue, it's not like an Unifi AP magically has more range.

The "Long Range" in that AP name makes people think they will get much better range, it does not, unless you have no walls in your house....
Click to expand...

The Unify APs will make a huge difference.

They are not the same as normal wifi on routers.
 
irBosOtter said:
Well why don't you move your current router to the middle of the house then?

If you use one unifi you will still sit with the same issue, it's not like an Unifi AP magically has more range.

The "Long Range" in that AP name makes people think they will get much better range, it does not, unless you have no walls in your house....
Click to expand...
The router is in the middle.

No i get that the long range doesn't mean i can stand down the street to get wifi signal, but surely it's a lot better range than the routers ?
 
djbrendan said:
The router is in the middle.

No i get that the long range doesn't mean i can stand down the street to get wifi signal, but surely it's a lot better range than the routers ?
Click to expand...

Well, my old tp link with 2dbi antenae had better range than the lr model I replaced it with, but I weren't looking for range, just stable wifi that always works
 
irBosOtter said:
Huge difference in what?
Click to expand...

Unify long range APs give a much better range than normal wifi APs.

For a regular size single story building, one long range Unify AP would be more than sufficient. It just needs to be placed and configured properly.

I have recently installed a long range Unify AP in a huge double story building (consulting rooms for a local specialist), and still had full signal outside in the street.
 
Captain Morgan said:
Unify long range APs give a much better range than normal wifi APs.

For a regular size single story building, one long range Unify AP would be more than sufficient. It just needs to be placed and configured properly.

I have recently installed a long range Unify AP in a huge double story building (consulting rooms for a local specialist), and still had full signal outside in the street.
Click to expand...

Three 2 layer brick walls and the signal is no more. Either way, the AP LR has one 3dbi antenae, the AP lite two 3dbi antenna.... difference is tri polarity and bigger size antenna in the LR, and power can go higher, 24 vs 20 dbi on high power but setting the ap's to high power just givess issues, so usually set it on low, medium or auto. Personally never got better reception with the lr's, same range as the lite

Anyway, where does OP live? Can lend you an LR to test with if you are in Cape Town area
 
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irBosOtter said:
Three 2 layer brick walls and the signal is no more. Either way, the AP LR has one 3dbi antenae, the AP lite two 3dbi antenna.... difference is tri polarity and bigger size antenna in the LR, and power can go higher, 24 vs 20 dbi on high power but setting the ap's to high power just givess issues, so usually set it on low, medium or auto. Personally never got better reception with the lr's, same range as the lite

Anyway, where does OP live? Can lend you an LR to test with if you are in Cape Town area
Click to expand...
That would have been awesome. But i'm in George.
 
As far as I am aware, the Unifi units that people are recommending require ethernet connections to the main router and you may need a power over ethernet injectors to supply power to them.

Perhaps you should start by installing ethernet cable in your house and using your old router (2570u) as a secondary access point. Place the 2570u in an area where you have bad/no wifi reception and connect it to the main router using the network cable. Setup the same wifi name and password on both routers (use different wifi channels though) and disable the dhcp server on the 2570u. Your wifi devices should automatically connect to the backup access point when it loses signal from the main router.

If you can't install ethernet cable, look at power line adapters which can create a network connection over the electrical cables in your house.
 
djbrendan said:
No i get that the long range doesn't mean i can stand down the street to get wifi signal, but surely it's a lot better range than the routers ?
Click to expand...

Slight improvement on the downlink, but a long range access point can't improve your connected devices range sending back to the ap!
 
bobcpt said:
As far as I am aware, the Unifi units that people are recommending require ethernet connections to the main router and you may need a power over ethernet injectors to supply power to them.

Perhaps you should start by installing ethernet cable in your house and using your old router (2570u) as a secondary access point. Place the 2570u in an area where you have bad/no wifi reception and connect it to the main router using the network cable. Setup the same wifi name and password on both routers (use different wifi channels though) and disable the dhcp server on the 2570u. Your wifi devices should automatically connect to the backup access point when it loses signal from the main router.

If you can't install ethernet cable, look at power line adapters which can create a network connection over the electrical cables in your house.
Click to expand...

This is ideal and what I did, two routers in the house connected via ethernet that goes though the ceiling.

Same SSID's + passwords and different channels. Everything just works.
 
Rickster said:
This is ideal and what I did, two routers in the house connected via ethernet that goes though the ceiling.

Same SSID's + passwords and different channels. Everything just works.
Click to expand...

Looks like your double routers caused a double post :ROFL:
 
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