Looking for an improved Wi-Fi router option?
Looking for an improved Wi-Fi router option?
I possess a TL-WR740N, an older TpLink router with one antenna. It's located on the first floor near my PC, only partially visible from upstairs (about 2 bars). I've kept it beside my monitor and cabinet for the past five years. I'm curious about how much of the Wi-Fi signal is being weakened by my PC and the thick concrete walls in my house (at least 15cm thick). Could you estimate the percentage loss? I plan to relocate it to a higher shelf, but I don't have space for a power outlet and need to connect a LAN cable. I'm thinking of mounting it on a shelf in the ceiling. Our home has old construction with substantial concrete walls, which further impacts Wi-Fi performance. Would you suggest an approximate reduction percentage? I'm considering purchasing a new router soon, possibly with dual antennas for better coverage. For online classes, I need something reliable. I also require a USB port to access my external HDD as a NAS. Can I repurpose my current router as a Wi-Fi extender after installing the new one?
Not feasible without checking measurements, right? Still, concrete is excellent at stopping WiFi signals. Your computer matters only if it's placed on the router. For such a small price, you'll end up with poor quality devices. They'll also provide just 10/100 Ethernet, not gigabit, making NAS use extremely slow and frustrating.
You're experiencing limited bandwidth due to your internet plan. The speed you're seeing now is likely constrained by your router's capabilities and the distance between your external storage and your phone. If you're planning to move files from an external HDD to your router and then to your phone via Wi-Fi, the performance will depend on how efficiently the data transfers through the Ethernet connection.
To estimate the impact of upgrading your router's speed, consider that a price increase typically correlates with improved hardware and bandwidth. For example, if your current router supports 1 Gbps but you upgrade to a model offering 3 Gbps, you could see a significant boost in transfer speeds. However, the exact improvement depends on your specific setup and usage patterns. You may want to test different speeds to see how they affect your download/upload rates.