Jump to content

Question About Wireless Range Extender Speed


artto

Recommended Posts

I just upgrade to a higher internet speed - 24mbps, actually getting about 30mbps.

 

When I'm close to the router (3 to 4 feet) the speed is fine.

 

Because of the way my house is designed, and the way it's built, I have to use a range extender/repeater to get a strong enough signal at the other end of the house.

 

I'm currently using an Amped SR10000 range extender. Even if I use the laptop or tablet right next to the range extender the speed is at best about 1/3 what it is when connected wireless close to the router.

 

If I used a "faster" range extender like the Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 will this improve the speed of the wireless connection at the range extender? The reason I ask is the Amped SR 10000 specs speeds of 300mbps while the Netgear Nighthawk specs 1900mbps. It seems to me that my Amped SR10000 already has more than adequate speed for 24-30mbps.

 

Whats going on?

Edited by artto
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am hoping that Thaddeus will jump in here to explain, but my understanding from a bit of reading I've done lately is that range extenders for the most part are pretty pathetic, and what you should be using is another router, set up as a "repeater" so to speak.  I have a router I would like to put into practice like this, but would really appreciate some guidance as to how to go about it.  Hoping we can both benefit from member input....

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

If your laptop has to be close to your wireless router otherwise it drops speed, what makes you think that your range extender isn't dropping speed?

Is the range extender sitting right next to your wireless router?  If yes then there must be a significant amount of overhead in the wireless transmission.

 

If your range extender is far away, such as mine, 40 feet and through several walls from the router then a drop in speed is expected.  Probably lucky to get 50% signal.

 

I currently use Buffalo AGN300N boxes on my networks which are wireless receivers and ethernet connected to devices such as AVR and remote computers. They handle streaming TimeWarner and Xfiniity (live tv no less) very well and one of them a good 60 feet with walls between.  Great for hooking up AVRs without wireless or high powered computers (non-laptops) to the network remotely.

 

I currently use Netgear WRN2000 range extenders for other uses.  There is usually a fare drop in performance but I always considered that to be a proximity issue.  Lower signal strength means more re-transmits.

 

Best way to do it is to use a second wireless router with ethernet wired into your primary router.  Move that new wireless router to a new location (wired to first) in the other location house for better reception.  Performance will increase significantly.  IMO.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Since my initial post I did some experimentation.

 

The wireless speed is actually pretty good within about 20' of the main router, upstairs or downstairs. It drops off rapidly after that, especially in other areas of the house because of all the steel that's in between (closet shelves, kitchen appliances, horizontal & vertical HVAC ducts, steel beams & posts, water & gas pipes, etc).

 

I moved the range extender upstairs (it was downstairs in the listening room where I need the signal strength for the tablet (using Splashtop so I can use the tablet as a remote control for the laptop/J River). Now it's in the kitchen above the listening room and actually a little closer line-of-sight to the where I use the laptop/tablet in the listening room and certainly closer to the HT AV equipment in the living room.

 

The thing that I don't understand is if I use WiFi and the laptop or tablet is right next to the range extender I get a significant drop in speed no matter were it's located. However if I connect the laptop to the range extender via its ethernet ports the speed is where it should be. I don't get it. Why would the ethernet connection on the extender be so much faster when the signal to the range extender from the router is still wireless? I would put the range extender closer to the HT A/V equipment (upstairs) but then I'm back to the distance/steel interference problem and the signal strength drops off. A "catch 22"

 

I'm tempted to go through the trouble of moving the router downstairs, centrally located. I know from testing that even with the router at its current location (upstairs far SE corner of the house - listening room equipment downstairs and HT upstairs at far NW corner), downstairs middle of the house I'm not losing much wireless speed. Move just 10'-15' farther away and the speed is down 50% even though signal strength is still good. With the range extender the signal strength is 95% but the wireless speed is consistently 1/3 or less.

Edited by artto
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is there possibly throttling in the range extender?  It could be managing the speed for all wireless devices since possibly the controller forwarding the packets isn't up to the task. 

 

If you look at the different wireless routers, not just range extenders, they usually will also show you their possible performance based on subjective load.  Again this is relative but wired should always be faster since there is a significant lessening of the overhead and lack of encryption (which may have something to do with it).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I put the range extender right next to the wireless modem in my office as you suggested and the results were the same, about 1/3 the speed of an ethernet connection directly to the modem and about 1/2 the speed of WiFi from the modem.

 

Tech support at Amped (the range extender manufacturer) said it's probably because my modem is a type G, and is therefore only half duplex (as opposed to full duplex). That kind of makes sense since the range extender is producing, at best, 1/2 the speed of the WiFi connection directly from my modem.

 

After running speed tests from many locations around the house with both the laptop and tablet using the modem's WiFi signal I think it's best I just go through the trouble of relocating the modem to a more central location in the house. That in itself will put the WiFi broadcast signal 20+ feet closer to where I really need it AND avoid many, if not most, of the metal obstructions that are also part of the problem.

Edited by artto
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...