What's "normal" for 5GHz wifi range?

[CarvedDuck]

Hi, I have recently purchased and returned 3-routers (TP-Link, Zyxel, Netgear) as the 5GHz (N) range has been terrible.

Using Android Wifi Analyzer, it goes from 5-bars down to 1 or 2 at 25-feet line-of-sight. I have the router on a shelf in a spare bedroom and standing in the lounge, I can see the router. I measured 24'-7" and get a fluctuation 1 or 2 bars. Using a win7 laptop and/or windows-phone 8.1 show the same.

Trying to use it for Netflix is impossible with it chopping in and out, so I am stuck with using 2.4GHz but that is overloaded with other 2.4GHz -only, devices in the home.

I am about to send back yet another router (ASUS) as 5GHz range sucks.

Am I expecting too much?

Please suggest a router that will do better if you have had personal experience with the 5GHz (N) band. I do not want to buy into wifi-AC stuff. Notsure that would be better anyway.

Thanks

 

[DMHolt57]

...about 40ft. max on 5 Ghz, its more of a bluetooth, doesn't travel through walls well either...

 

[theveterans]

DMHolt is correct. The higher the frequency, the shorter the wavelength thus less range at the same sensitivity and TX power. Also, higher frequencies doesn't penetrate walls as well as 2.4 GHz. WiFi AC improves throughput but not much range (still better than 5 GHz N but no match for 2.4 GHz). The solution is to have 5 multiple APs for complete 5 GHz coverage but then it gets costly.

 

[rvcjew]

What models have you tried and does your house have lots of corners?

 

[CarvedDuck]

Thanks, please note the line-of-sight statement. I guess this one goes back too. At 40-ft there is no signal from 5GHz.

As to models, sorry, I'd have to go back through invoices, but they were all current models with at least N600. The current ASUS is the vertical flat-plane looking thing, at work so no model #. Looks nice