Help getting stronger wifi signal in a 1300 sq ft apt.

[funkendrenchman]

So we have a Comcast router and modem in our downstairs living room. It works great down there, but as soon as we go upstairs and turn the corner we pretty much lose the signal. We live in a 1300 sq ft. apt, but it's in a commercial building so it has metal studs which interfere with the signal. We have a Netgear wifi extender in our upstairs hallway, but it doesn't do much - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

What is the simplest set up we could use to get a good signal in our upstairs rooms? Any suggestions?

[creaky fossil]

I'm no wireless wizard, so this is just loose thinking -- extend the cable from where it exits your apt wall, to a spot with less signal interference relative to the upstairs rooms, put modem/router there? Cost = more cable + male/female ends (and possible mount for modem/router?).

[Meadow Skipper]

Additional question: does the router age have any effect? I’ve been wondering if upgrading my older Comcast router might improve the signal range.

[funkendrenchman]

I'm no wireless wizard, so this is just loose thinking -- extend the cable from where it exits your apt wall, to a spot with less signal interference relative to the upstairs rooms, put modem/router there? Cost = more cable + male/female ends (and possible mount for modem/router?).

I've tried everywhere but the stairwell. I am trying to avoid running and covering up cable.

[PNWbrit]

Additional question: does the router age have any effect? I’ve been wondering if upgrading my older Comcast router might improve the signal range.

Probably a good idea anyway. And depending on what model of Comcast router it is you might be able to re-purpose it as a booster too.

If not the little $50 plug in boosters work great.

free - Wifi Analyzer app is useful to check what's going on too.

[GAPERsauraus REX]

Additional question: does the router age have any effect? I’ve been wondering if upgrading my older Comcast router might improve the signal range.

I had a similar issue with my house. Router was stuck in a basement, surrounded by a wood built-in. Often had issues getting good signal upstairs and range extender didn't help much getting it to the rest of the upstairs.

I upgraded to a newer $75 router (Netgear Nighthawk) and it made a huge difference. Regular wifi works in 90% of the house. Allowed me to place the extender in a more central location upstairs and it extends to both my garage and front yard. Pays for itself in a year if you are still renting your router from Comcast.

Other things that may help:
1) Update the firmware on your router
2) Update the firmware on your extender

Just google either of those and you'll find step by step instructions for each, depending on your model.

[TexasGortex]

I recently upgraded my 5+ year old old router and saw vast improvements in speed and a decent jump in range. This was because of new technology, not because the old one was worn out. I’d buy a decent aftermarket router if I were you. Most should come with some very very simple setup software to walk you through it.

Mesh routers are designed specifically to do what you want. It’s what I would have gone with if I didn’t get full house coverage with my new router. This will be a little more expensive and complicated, but still pretty basic to set up. It’s basically a more robust version of those little extender things.

[ticketchecker]

I have an airport base station at one end of my 1400 sq ft apt with an airport express at the other end. I'm on the second floor and let my tenants above and below me use my wifi and for the most part they get good signal everywhere. I know they're running Apple TV's and such too.

[Flyoverland Captive]

I upgraded to an AirPort Extreme; vast improvement. People told me the Nighthawk was top of the line, but it gave me lots of issues with interference; ymmv.

[jacob_dbu]

Honestly, I would just buy a 3-pack of Google Wifi. They are expensive ($300), but it will just work and that is worth every penny. Easy to setup, easy to use, and the wifi will be fast.

[RShea]

First step is start with a site survey to see what the neighbors signals and channels are being used and strength of those signals in various places in your apartment and make sure you are on the channel (or channels if it is dual band) 1, 6, or 11 for the 2.4 ghz that has the least amount of other signals or lowest signal strength from others. Then probably need to drop the modem/router and get your own router- dual band AC version (which will provide both 2.4 ghz and 5 ghz bands) that has good reviews and at least 3 external antennas (Asus, TP-Link, maybe Netgear). Then redo your network survey and see what your coverage is on both 2.4 ghz and 5 ghz bands. You could also forego the router providing any of the wireless (just have Comcast if they manage their router, turn off the wireless completely) and get a business class Access Point if you can mount it up (needs a cable run though at least part way up the wall or ceiling)- Ubiquiti Networks AP Long Range AC is one, EnGenius AC AP (also need the power injector for these). If you do not improve with any type of 1st floor switch over of the primary device, then step 2 maybe required.

If you absolutely can't run any cable and the new first floor suggestions does not still reach the 2nd floor, then you may want to look at 2 other options. First it depends on if you have any power outlets close to the stairs (preferably at the top of them- but may work if at the bottom as close to the opening as possible) and put a wifi range extender there to boost the signal as you look upstairs. TP-Link model RE450 or similar faster AC dual band that plugs into a wall outlet or there are some stand alone base units out there too. If there are no AC outlets anywhere near the stairs, then I would look at the electrical power powerline injectors- again along the lines of TP-Link TL-WPA8730 KIT or similar. You need 2 of them, one near the router and a second upstairs to allow you to forego running any cable. Then you would be able to plug a device in the remote location (including a second router that allows being set up as an access point or one of the above solutions in access points or range extenders.) This is hard without knowing the layout and walking the apartment testing for signals, noise of other interference involved- especially the 2.4 ghz bandwidth.

[MTT]

Ehh, go buy a nice ASUS router. You will not have problems.

I have an RT 66U I have a good signal when I am at the neighbors - 70 feet away in a trailer

[evasive_MT]

In addition to a router update- how long have you had the modem? I'd never thought about that until a tech happened to look at my modem while connecting a TV service and said it was way out of date. He swapped it for their current model. That dramatically increased my speeds.

[skimaxpower]

I have an airport base station at one end of my 1400 sq ft apt with an airport express at the other end. I'm on the second floor and let my tenants above and below me use my wifi and for the most part they get good signal everywhere. I know they're running Apple TV's and such too.

I third the recommendation for Airport Base Station with Airport Express to extend the range. Airport Express is also handy for airplay connection with home stereo.

[gregorys]

Late to the party, so you likely have made choices already: BUT - if I'm asked these kinds of questions my answers are: Separate the router/firewall and the Wifi, IMO.

1) Avoid ANY consumer grade router. The number of unpatched holes in pretty much every router is astonishing. Personally, I won't use Linksys, Asus, Dlink, etc. If you do, then stay current with firmware updates. I'd recommend Ubiquity's stuff. But setting up their router, if you're doing any complicated, may be beyond the average technical home user. But if you can swing the technical stuff, there's absolutely nothing better for the money. [Well, unless you really like abuse, and then there's Mikrotik.]

2) Wifi. Same company. Ubiquity, but for wifi use Unifi. The AC lite has better coverage than anything I've seen; is aesthetically pleasing; management is great, and you can do a "public" wifi system with vouchers for visitors.

And @Rshea's suggestions on a "site survey" and channel selections are good.

Good luck.

-Greg

[funkendrenchman]

Thanks for the suggestions. Might try a Nighthawk first, then Google Wifi. Supposedly, Comcast is about to introduce a mesh system, but I'm sure Google Wifi will be less expensive in the long run.

[yzeater]

Another vote for the Nighthawk here. We have a decent sized, one-level house, and it's made our signal great everywhere inside, and in most of our yard.

[LightRanger]

1. Don't rent a modem.
2. Don't rent a router.

[funkendrenchman]

1. Don't rent a modem.
2. Don't rent a router.

What do you recommend instead?

[LightRanger]

Check out thewirecutter.com

Purchase their current recommended modem. Screw in cables. Profit.

Same with router, though personal preference has a bit more weight there.

We've owned our own modem for a couple of years now (and router for as long as I remember). Easy to set up and easy to manage IMO.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[muted]

I had the same problem, new wireless modem + router and wifi extenders solved the issue. Simple and easy, thankfully. We have two bands now also, which is sweet.

I think I bought and returned a NightHawk because it wasn't backwards compatible for our old ipad (not saying all Nighthawks are the same). So figure out what wifi standard each device has before buying.

[gregorys]

I suppose there are cases where Wifi extenders are the answer.
But realize that the extenders are going to, at best, halve the speed [available bandwidth] of any wifi system. Likely the difference will be far greater than half, but that's the theoretical best possible case.

[Neglecting a cross-band extender where it listens on 2.4ghz, for example, and transmits on 5ghz. But the technical details to doing that well are so crazy hard, I can't imagine anyone doing so for any reasonable money.]

So, while a perfect 802.11N MCS15 connection is 300Mb/s radio speed, the throughput is 150Mb/s in real ethernet speed. Step down a few steps because of less than perfect signal quality and you're at, say, 70Mb/s throughput. Add in an extender, and it's trivially easy to see how you could be into <20Mb/s or even single digits.

---
And @LightRanger's suggestions on buying router/modem are excellent. I don't know that it will improve your wifi signal a lot - especially if you don't buy excellent stuff - but it does save money. [On that note: Generally all-in-one devices, say wireless routers don't do either job especially well. Dedicated equipment usually does - so while my requirements are quite a lot different than many others' here - I'm far more satisfied having a router/firewall that's dedicated [business class] and the same for my Wifi AP. Plus, should you need to replace any of the devices, you only have to replace and reconfigure that single device - say the wifi system. Modular design is pretty handy, IMO.]

[Telemarketeer]

I have a bad ass router/modem that I bought and don’t need. Was $150. I’d sell it for $100 NIP. I’ll get the model # when I go home.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[muted]

Whoops, he is already using an extender, I just saw that. But....funken, you should ditch the comcast shit ASAP then try the extenders again. I had dropped signals or various speeds all the time with Comcast shit, and had many techs come out and rewire the outside, cut down branches, etc.

Turns out it was just overheating old equipment that lost a signal once it was too hot, and my new phone was on a different band anyways, the old equipment wasn't made for it. then I got wireless extensions...I haven't noticed lack of speed like greg says, but that's because I don't stream movies on it, most likely. I stream movies right near the router. So what worked for me may not for you, obviously.

[RShea]

1. Don't rent a modem.
2. Don't rent a router.

FIFY
1. Don't rent a modem- unless you are Bill Gates, Warren Buffet or a Dentist with way too much money to burn.
2. Don't ever use a modem/router all in one provided by your ISP.