Best way to extend range on RT-BE88U? Small dead spot that I need to get coverage to.

[Mognar]

Hi,

I upgraded our wi-fi recently and installed an RT-BE88U. Definitely happy with the new hardware, but I do have a dead spot in my daughter's room that I would like to get coverage to. Originally, I tried using the older N66U to extend, but the results were not great.

The BE88U is in the living room and my daughter's room is above the garage. We get great coverage into the first 10 feet or so of her room and the rest gets sporadic, if any coverage. Unfortunately, her bed and desk are in the dead area. What would be the best way to extend full coverage into her room without breaking the bank? I can't move the hardware for multiple reasons, so looking to add an extender or whatever may be suited for the task. I've never had to deal with dead spots on wi-fi before, so don't have much experience and which is why I'm here

My daughter is only here one weekend a month, so trying to do it without spending hundreds of dollars, but will do what is necessary to extend the coverage.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Mog

 

[degrub]

We discussed the options before in your previous thread to solve the issue. The physics and obstacles didn't change because you obtained a BE class wifi router. Still limited by regulated max transmission power in the router (same across versions) and, more likely, the transmission power of her devices.

You can try setting up a repeater closer to the main wifi router, maybe in a window facing the garage, if available. Otherwise, a solid solution is to run a cable (ethernet CAT6 or RG6 coax) up to her room.

Or maybe relocate the bed and desk to the existing coverage.

 

[Mognar]

In my previous post, I was inquiring about using the older router as a repeater. Here, I'm looking for suggestions for whatever new hardware will work best with the new BE88U to extend the coverage fully in the 2nd floor. Since this is the BE forum, I'm hoping others have used some specific brands, models, etc. and could recommend something that we could use that would not break the bank, wihtout adding a 2nd BE88U or similar. Simply put, I've never purchase an extender, etc, so not sure what I should be looking for or what other have found to work well with this router. Hope that makes sense. TIA!

 

[degrub]

Do you have any wifi 7 devices that can take advantage of the BE features ?
There is no range improvement with BE class over AX class equipment.

Since you have a BE class router, you could try

https://www.asus.com/us/networking-iot-servers/range-extenders/all-series/rp-be58/

BTW, repeaters give you 1/2 of the available bandwidth by definition if it is using the same radio for uplink and re-transmit to clients.

You will have to position it so that is gets good signal level for the wifi uplink and is able to Tx/Rx from the client devices in the garage room without causing issues with the main wifi router. i don't know if there are any Tx power adjustments available if you place it in the room on the side with the adequate existing signal as it may have too much Tx power for the room.

The solutions for the wifi issue are still the same as the original. All you can do is experiment and see if it works. Buy from a retailer that has a generous return policy.

 

[CaptainSTX]

In my previous post, I was inquiring about using the older router as a repeater. Here, I'm looking for suggestions for whatever new hardware will work best with the new BE88U to extend the coverage fully in the 2nd floor. Since this is the BE forum, I'm hoping others have used some specific brands, models, etc. and could recommend something that we could use that would not break the bank, wihtout adding a 2nd BE88U or similar. Simply put, I've never purchase an extender, etc, so not sure what I should be looking for or what other have found to work well with this router. Hope that makes sense. TIA!

For your use case a travel router would be an easy and inexpensive solution since you only need to cover a small area of your home primarily for use by one individual. Gl-inet travel routers work very well, are compact and are inexpensive. Set up the travel router where it can pick up the signal from your primary router and depending on how you configure it rebroadcast the WiFi either working as a repeater using the same SSID or have it rebroadcast using its own SSID which your daughter could use when visiting and in her room.

 

[jksmurf]

For your use case a travel router would be an easy and inexpensive solution since you only need to cover a small area of your home primarily for use by one individual. Gl-inet travel routers work very well, are compact and are inexpensive. Set up the travel router where it can pick up the signal from your primary router and depending on how you configure it rebroadcast the WiFi either working as a repeater using the same SSID or have it rebroadcast using its own SSID which your daughter could use when visiting and in her room.

Consider the Asus RT-AX57 Go. Why?

• Relatively cheap (cheaper than the new BE58 Go)
• Compatible with Guest Network Pro (see list); i.e. a 3006 Codebase Node - but no Merlin FW, which does not matter if only ever a node
• Compatible with Guest Network Pro VLANs (see list) i.e. a 3006 Codebase Node - but no Merlin FW, which does not nto matter if only ever a node
• Internal Antennas - no kids or dogs breaking them...
• Uobtrusive, smallish footprint, white colour to match walls...
• You can use it as a Travel Router later ...

So why not just an RT-AX58U or something on the 3004 codebase?

• Also possible. if super cheap ... similar speeds
• Merlin-supported - but for a Node not necessary at all, most say stick with stock anwyay

my 2c in a 3min post.

 

[Mognar]

Do you have any wifi 7 devices that can take advantage of the BE features ?
There is no range improvement with BE class over AX class equipment.

Since you have a BE class router, you could try

https://www.asus.com/us/networking-iot-servers/range-extenders/all-series/rp-be58/

BTW, repeaters give you 1/2 of the available bandwidth by definition if it is using the same radio for uplink and re-transmit to clients.

You will have to position it so that is gets good signal level for the wifi uplink and is able to Tx/Rx from the client devices in the garage room without causing issues with the main wifi router. i don't know if there are any Tx power adjustments available if you place it in the room on the side with the adequate existing signal as it may have too much Tx power for the room.

The solutions for the wifi issue are still the same as the original. All you can do is experiment and see if it works. Buy from a retailer that has a generous return policy.

Thanks. My daughter received a new Iphone at her moms, so not sure if that's wifi 7 or not, will confirm with her. I checked into the BE58 and found it at Amazon for $80. I was going to purchase it until I read the reviews. Seems the software is currently a bit buggy and if the router loses power, you have to factory reset the extender and start over.

 

[Mognar]

For your use case a travel router would be an easy and inexpensive solution since you only need to cover a small area of your home primarily for use by one individual. Gl-inet travel routers work very well, are compact and are inexpensive. Set up the travel router where it can pick up the signal from your primary router and depending on how you configure it rebroadcast the WiFi either working as a repeater using the same SSID or have it rebroadcast using its own SSID which your daughter could use when visiting and in her room.

Thank you, I'll look into them.

 

[Mognar]

Consider the Asus RT-AX57 Go. Why?

• Relatively cheap (cheaper than the new BE58 Go)
• Compatible with Guest Network Pro (see list); i.e. 3006 Codebase a a Node - but no Merlin FW, which does nto matter if only ever a node
• Compatible with Guest Network Pro VLANs (see list) i.e. 3006 Codebase a a Node - but no Merlin FW, which does nto matter if only ever a node
• Internal Antennas - no kids or dogs breaking them...
• Uobtrusive, smallish footprint, white colour to match walls...
• You can use it as a Travel Router later ...

So why not just an RT-AX58U or something on the 3004 codebase?

• Also possible. if super cheap ... similar speeds
• Merlin-supported - but for a Node not necessary at all, most say stick with stock anwyay

my 2c in a 3min post.

Thank you very much, looking into both, leaning towards the 58u. Seems the 58u was discontinued

 

[degrub]

Thanks. My daughter received a new Iphone at her moms, so not sure if that's wifi 7 or not, will confirm with her. I checked into the BE58 and found it at Amazon for $80. I was going to purchase it until I read the reviews. Seems the software is currently a bit buggy and if the router loses power, you have to factory reset the extender and start over.

You can use an AX class (wifi6) extender as well if you don't need wifi 7 features. A phone or tablet will not benefit from wifi 7 over 6 anyway, except for speed test numbers. Even true for laptops. Most internet servers limit the bandwidth per client somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 Mbit/s anyway. So only bragging rights for higher local connection sync rate numbers. Practically meaningless for real world stuff.

 

[jzchen]

I have quite a few different extenders/repeaters....

Most of them are wired via Ethernet backhaul. I do not have experience with wireless backhaul on the two ASUS ones I have: RP-AX58 nor RP-AX56.

Since you have a WiFi 7 router, I highly recommend getting a WiFi 7 repeater/extender.

I do not have experience with Netgear but I like the flexibility of backhaul that they have, EXS27 looks nice but no personal experience. Also I prefer external antennae...

Most of the extenders I have running are TP-Link brand. The RE405BE is a nice one, one sale at Best Buy for another day...

Budget? Brand preference/avoidance? It's going to be hard to beat the recent price drop for that RP-BE58 to be completely honest.

EDIT- Typically you can connect Ethernet to these for example from the extender to a PC, if that is an option...

 

[SashaSolitaire]

Why not the ZenWifi BD4. It easily integrates with the router you have. I currently run a home setup with the BE88U and 2 BD4 units and cover about 3,600sqft without any dead zones. Granted I ran ethernet cables to the terminal spots for the BD4 units, but the performance has been excellent.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1864226-REG/asus_zenwifi_bd4_1pk_zenwifi_bd4_dual_band_mesh.html?msclkid=dcbb7982c9fb11ea6cc91174b62827b3

 

[win465]

Why not the ZenWifi BD4. It easily integrates with the router you have. I currently run a home setup with the BE88U and 2 BD4 units and cover about 3,600sqft without any dead zones. Granted I ran ethernet cables to the terminal spots for the BD4 units, but the performance has been excellent.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1864226-REG/asus_zenwifi_bd4_1pk_zenwifi_bd4_dual_band_mesh.html?msclkid=dcbb7982c9fb11ea6cc91174b62827b3

That’s a really good suggestion, especially since the price is reasonable. I also just got the BE88U and need a bit more range, but I don’t have any way to set up a wired backhaul. Do you think it’s worth getting this if I can only use a wireless backhaul?

 

[Tech9]

I also just got the BE88U and need a bit more range

RP-BE58

RP-BE58｜Range Extenders｜ASUS Global

Boost your WiFi with the ASUS RP-BE58 WiFi 7 range extender. Enjoy speeds up to 3600 Mbps, seamless AiMesh compatibility, and easy setup.

www.asus.com

 

[win465]

RP-BE58

RP-BE58｜Range Extenders｜ASUS Global

Boost your WiFi with the ASUS RP-BE58 WiFi 7 range extender. Enjoy speeds up to 3600 Mbps, seamless AiMesh compatibility, and easy setup.

www.asus.com

Interesting. If there are small extenders like these, why do people buy routers to use AI Mesh instead?

 

[degrub]

possibly for net throughput with additional radios available on the router for up/down link.

 

[Tech9]

If there are small extenders like these, why do people buy routers to use AI Mesh instead?

Different products with different purpose. This specific product is exactly designed for range extending, most of the time wireless, it has small size, integrated power supply, no external antennas and lower price. It's also AiMesh compatible.

 

[jksmurf]

Different products with different purpose. This specific product is exactly designed for range extending, most of the time wireless, it has small size, integrated power supply, no external antennas and lower price. It's also AiMesh compatible.

Yup. What he said.

You’d think (hope) that they’d make them a lot cheaper than a Router too, as they don’t have to supply FW with all the Router-related functions, but I’m not sure this is always the case.

 

[Tech9]

I've played with a few RP devices from ASUS. They are similar to the corresponding RT series router hardware and run similar firmware. No WAN port is the difference and related to the specific use case. Some extenders have full router features with NAT, NTP, DHCP, etc. I have one from TP-Link with all AP, Extender, Router, OneMesh modes available.

 

[jzchen]

Just make sure they support WDS Mode if you need to have the MACs of their clients passed through to the router, for whatever reason...

I don't have the RP-BE58 but I have recently put away the RP-AX58 and RP-AX56...