Looking for ways to improve your WiFi connection?
Looking for ways to improve your WiFi connection?
I’m thinking about upgrading to a new router to improve WiFi coverage for everyone in the house. Right now, our setup has four floors, and the router is located on the ground floor. We’ve tried using an AP from a “Fritz! WLAN repeater,” but it doesn’t work well because the signal weakens quickly inside the same floor. My phone often drops when I move around, especially in the next room. The house isn’t modern—there are no solid walls or dry ceilings—and we’re using the standard router from Vodafone. I want full coverage on the third floor and ideally even the fourth floor without extra APs. If possible, I’d prefer to keep the current setup but improve it, or install an AP there later. I’m not very familiar with networking, so your guidance would be really helpful. Let me know if you need more details!
Have you considered placing the router on the second floor and running cables up and down? Or perhaps on the third floor where most of your wired devices are located? I haven’t succeeded with wireless yet, so I’m sticking to network switches. Linus has shown that wireless can work if you’re willing to invest more.
There isn't a solid, affordable solution yet that meets all your needs. It might get a bit cluttered, but I'd rather get a better, more reliable experience. Budget picks usually include TP-Link (it works okay for me), or whatever fits your situation. For heavy Wi-Fi use, opt for faster standards like WIFI-5 (802.11ac) or WIFI-6 if your device supports it—otherwise, think of it as a future-proof upgrade.
Improving your WiFi isn't easy, is it? A single wireless router can't deliver strong vertical coverage unless your home has unusual construction—like thin plastic walls and floors. Omnidirectional antennas struggle to send signals upward, and each barrier you encounter weakens the signal further. For larger homes, you'll likely need additional APs on higher floors, possibly connected via Ethernet to the main router. If you can afford it, the Ruckus R750 works well; otherwise, several budget-friendly APs can provide similar results. The bigger your building, the more APs you'll probably need for good coverage.
WiFi 6 devices offer enhanced performance through built-in optimizations, delivering improved speeds and supporting more connections simultaneously. The advantages for WiFi 6 clients on WiFi 6 networks stem from faster potential data rates (approaching gigabit levels when compatible settings are applied) and increased capacity for multiple users. Range remains unchanged unless antenna power is boosted beyond local regulations, as both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands continue to be used.
We do have a gigabit connection, so WIFI 6 would make sense i guess. Next question: With my current setup i have 2 wifi networks. (1 from the main router and one from my improvised AP) Is there any way i can make it one network and make devices automatically connect to the AP with a better connection? If it isn't clear already, i have absolutely no clue about this stuff.
Pay attention to ideal configurations for near-stable gigabit performance on WiFi 6. Key factors are minimal physical blockages, especially horizontally, wide channel ranges (80-160MHz at 5GHz), and no interference between channels. Using dual adapters such as 2x2 or 4x4 with support for 160MHz can also help. Achieving this is possible if you align everything properly. Assign the same SSID to both devices—they function as a single network under the same access point. Ensure identical security settings (password, encryption) on both APs to avoid confusion. Adjust broadcast channels so they don’t clash. A wireless scan can assist in choosing optimal channels. For mobile clients near new APs, tweak antenna power so overlap is slight enough to weaken signal but strong enough to reconnect when better options appear.
I usually believed you needed to join an ecosystem to use several APs under one SSID. I plan to focus on optimizing the hardware first before making any purchases. Switching both APs to the same SSID so devices can choose based on signal strength might be enough. My coverage is mostly in my home, but not from just one AP. Thanks for your support so far!