Your connection might be affected by the quality of your access point.
Your connection might be affected by the quality of your access point.
Currently operating one of these units downstairs in my two-story home – https://www.belkin.com/au/p/P-F9K1002/ Connectivity upstairs is extremely slow, and even in other rooms the speed is poor. Our connection is 300Mb/s. I’m wondering if this access point isn’t strong enough to travel through the walls and should be replaced?
A mesh network is likely the optimal choice for your home. Even top WiFi routers face challenges penetrating walls and floors, leaving areas without coverage.
I've switched to an Ubiquiti Mesh network in my home, and it's really improved everything. Before, with just one router, connections were unreliable and speeds were only about a third of what they should be. Now, the mesh setup gives me full bandwidth almost everywhere, even in areas where there was no signal before.
Initially, based on the details, it appears this setup supports 100 Mbps Ethernet and uses a single-band wireless N device. I’ll check for some wireless AC options. Belkin isn’t typically recognized for top routers or access points. Regarding walls, performance varies depending on construction materials. 2.4 GHz and even 5 GHz usually work well through wood, drywall, and plaster. However, once you hit brick or concrete, problems can arise. Also, positioning the AP as high as possible helps extend coverage. Be aware that devices operating on the same frequency can interfere with each other. 2.4 GHz is common for cordless phones, baby monitors, Bluetooth, etc., offering solid range. Interference from nearby networks on the same or adjacent channels is possible. 5 GHz provides shorter range but less interference risk. In the US, some 5 GHz bands are already allocated to services like weather radar, which can lead to conflicts. Another factor is your home layout. I reside in a 1,300 sq ft house, roughly square in shape. My router is mounted on the second floor. Overall WiFi coverage covers the entire house, possibly extending to the basement and yard, especially since it’s elevated.