New Router/Extender/ or Access Point for Boosting Range

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iMisterPotato

Reputable
Apr 1, 2015
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4,630
Hey guys, so I have a FIOs Gateway Quantum Router in my living room and the range is less than stellar in my room. I was thinking about trying to boost the range but I don't know how I should go about this. The main reason I want to boost the range, is because the upper level of my house only gets 2-3 bars on wireless devices such as cellphones and tablets. But on laptops it gets the full 4 bars. I have a wired ethernet outlet in my room that runs to a switch that then runs to the router. Should I use a repeater, buy an access point, or get a new router?

For comparison, my router is about 36 feet away from my room and goes through 2 sheet rock walls. Do you guys think my routers range just sucks and that I should get a new one, or buy a repeater/ new access point.

If I have to buy something new, can you guys suggest anything?

-Thanks for your help ^^
 
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Laptops get better bars because they have large antennas (and likely pushing out more power to them as well).

The "bars" is a pointless measurement as each OS and even each wireless card is completely inconsistant at that. Very well that the laptops and the phones are getting the exact same signal DB level it is just being reported differently.

Is the problem that your speed is lowsey or simply that it does not have 5 bars? If there is no speed issue I would not get anything.
If there is a performance issue I would look at getting a better primary router as 2 sheet rock walls (at least if not heavily insulated) should be very easy for 2.4ghz band to penetrate and even 5ghz should still get through. The modem/routers provided by the...
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DookieDraws

DookieDraws

Distinguished
Oct 8, 2004
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Well, you say that you get 2-3 bars on wireless devices, such as cellphones and tablets. But on laptops it gets the full 4 bars. So obviously the router is providing adequate coverage to the upper level of your house. Is the internet slow on cell phones and tablets? Maybe those cell phone and tablets must simply have older/weaker wireless receivers in them. If possible, try and position your router up a little higher on a shelf or table and see if this helps. Or simply move it to another location by using a longer Cat 5 or 6 cable. Why not move the router to the upper level of the home? Try my suggestions out to see if you can fix your problem before spending any money. If all fails, then consider buying something. What, is up to you.
 
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boosted1g

Titan
Jun 12, 2013
14,846
8
74,965
Laptops get better bars because they have large antennas (and likely pushing out more power to them as well).

The "bars" is a pointless measurement as each OS and even each wireless card is completely inconsistant at that. Very well that the laptops and the phones are getting the exact same signal DB level it is just being reported differently.

Is the problem that your speed is lowsey or simply that it does not have 5 bars? If there is no speed issue I would not get anything.
If there is a performance issue I would look at getting a better primary router as 2 sheet rock walls (at least if not heavily insulated) should be very easy for 2.4ghz band to penetrate and even 5ghz should still get through. The modem/routers provided by the ISP are usually lowsey so getting a router, like the Asus AC68U should show some increased range.
 
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