You need a router.
You need a router.
My Family has been struggling with a poor ISP modem router and we're aiming for a wireless solution that covers the entire home instead of relying on extensions. I've been checking out the ASUS RT-AC58U, but I'm curious if there are more affordable options with better performance. Since I'm in Australia, prices should be in AUD, and anything under $130 AUD would be ideal. I want to keep my setup efficient without sacrificing speed. The house is about 450 square meters—let me know if you need more details. Thanks!
For larger homes, one router isn't enough. A 450-meter house requires additional support. You'll need one or two repeaters to extend the signal. Most routers can only cover 2-3 walls. The signal weakens with each barrier. This model supports Access Point mode, acting as a repeater for your ISP device. Pair it with a long cable and place it where the main router's signal starts to fade. You can set this up wirelessly, but for best performance use a wired connection. Many ISP fiber routers also function as modems, so you'll likely need one eventually.
Ensure the receiver or sender dongle on your computer supports dual channel and uses 5GHz instead of 2.4GHz. The key difference is that 2.4GHz struggles with concrete walls, while 5GHz penetrates better. Your router is in another room about 10 meters away with a concrete wall between them—2.4GHz won’t work well for gaming due to packet loss, but 5GHz does. You might still need a repeater or signal booster since the coverage area is roughly 50 meters (this number came from a source that may be outdated).
The residence features any Ethernet connections linking other areas to the ISP modem location. Yes, you can place a wireless access point in a more central spot, though 450 square metres is substantial—so one AP may not suffice. If using Ethernet cables for a dedicated access point isn’t feasible, the TP-Link RE200 WiFi extender has received positive feedback and remains affordable. Some routers also include a built-in WiFi repeater (my used D-Link 868L model has performed well). A more costly alternative is a wireless mesh network, where the primary node connects to the modem and additional nodes join via wireless or Ethernet. Key aspects of mesh systems are dedicated radio channels for backhaul traffic. Relevant resources: Ubuquiti Unifi APs, setting up Unifi AP, WiFi extender reviews, best Wi-Fi router, and mesh networking kits.