Solved Recommend a powerful router

[Hoods]

Hi. I recently moved myself and my new laptop to the other end of our house and my wifi signal is pathetic and/or intermittent. I am using a Netgear router I've had for ages, which has a theoretical range of 30m. I'm probably 15m and two rooms away from it. Can anyone suggest what brand and other specifications of router would transmit a good signal in these circumstances? Thanks.

 

[Berton]

I am using a Netgear router I've had for ages

That's a big clue to problems. It may be time for one of the g/n models with dual 2.4GHz and 5GHz. I got a lesser known Router sold by Western Digital, has been great for a couple of years now. Impacting Wi-Fi can be things like in older houses with lead-based paint on the walls, insulation in walls [usually with add-on rooms or working from outside]. The type of connection from the Modem is important in knowing if the devices can be move to a location with a straighter shot to the computer/s. Wi-Fi is not much different from the CB radios, line of sight, distance and nothing in the way such as appliances in the kitchen if in direct line to impede the signal.

 

[Hoods]

Thanks Berton. Seems dual band is essential, so I will get one of those. I have been looking at the Negtgear R7000 but it's quite expensive, so good to hear other cheaper brands do a good job.

Unfortunately I can't relocate the router itself because my PC needs a direct ethernet connection. I forgot to mention it's satellite broadband, which struggles to give me a decent speed at the best of times, but it's adequate if not weakened, if you know what I mean. I walked through the house towards the router with the laptop and it just doesn't like my bedroom, where I get 2 bars vs. 5 in the actual office.

 

[Berton]

You're welcome. Netgear has always done good by some of my clients as has D-Link. Cisco/Linksys may be good [haven't used one for awhile] but I'm a bit old-fashioned, outer styling doesn't mean a lot to me.

 

[Hoods]

In fact I rang Netgear support shortly after our conversation and they were very helpful. They recommended the 6300 because I specifically need both ethernet and wifi. I got one quite reasonably off ebay. Will be interesting to see if it makes a difference. At any rate it will mean a better, dedicated signal for my customers (I'm in tourism) so the money was well spent.

The other thing I can try besides that, if I still have a poor signal, is a powerline thingie in this room, as they are pretty cheap. Do you have an opinion on those? Not sure if I was reading that right, but I sort of gathered that although your signal improves, your throughput speed is diminished when running off a powerline.

I already have a better reception after FINALLY being gable to track down the right Windows 7 Atheros drivers for this previously Windows 8 Toshiba laptop (new). It is NOT easy getting all the drivers you need for W7, which didn't occur to me when I made the change. I am still lacking an ethernet driver, and googling reveals that driver is a problem for a LOT of people, even with an out of the box Toshiba running W8. However, I can live without that one.