Coverage/range of an ASUS Router

[ChuckT]

Am trying to assess my house's requirement for coverage from a Router. We currently have a ASUS AC 66 (?) router. How can I measure it's coverage and make a educated assessment if it's "enough" or not?

 

[hggomes]

Depends on what client you are:

Android: Wifi Analyzer
Windows: InSSIDer, Wi-Fi Analytics Tool, Acrylic Wi-Fi, Xirrus Wi-fi Inspector
MacOSX: iStumbler, Wifi Explorer

Theres alot others, its a matter of googling it.

 

[thiggins]

Am trying to assess my house's requirement for coverage from a Router. We currently have a ASUS AC 66 (?) router. How can I measure it's coverage and make a educated assessment if it's "enough" or not?

Signal strength is not a reliable indicator. The reading you get depends on the device you use.

You know that signal is "enough" if you get the bandwidth you need in the locations you want. The behavior of the applications you use will tell you that.

If you want another measurement tool, try timing file transfers or one of these tools.

 

[stevech]

If you have an Android phone, free download WiFi Analyzer app.
It will show you signal strength as you walk around. But that's only the From-Router signal.
The weakest link is the To-Router signal which is rarely displayed by freeware.

So a guesstimate is that you want your from-router signal to be excellent since it is usually stronger than client-to-router.
The tool displays signal strength in dBm (decibels relative to 1 milliwatt (0.001 watt). Less negative = stronger signal. -70 is good. -60 is excellent. -30 is adjacent to the router or access point. -80 to -90 is poor.

Try to avoid WiFi range extenders. That's a repeater. It re-transmits what it receives. It is placed mid-way so it receives a decent signal but improves a weak signal area.
An Access Point (AP) is connected by one of several means to the router. The AP is placed in the weak signal area.

There is a similar tool for Apple iPhone or iPAD but I'm not of the Apple religion and thus uninformed on what to download and use.

 

[sfx2000]

There is a similar tool for Apple iPhone or iPAD but I'm not of the Apple religion and thus uninformed on what to download and use.

Actually there isn't a direct analog in the iOS world if not jailbroken, however Airport Utility (Free download) does have a scanner built in..

On Mac - Wireless Diagnotics has a scanner, and I recommend WiFi Explorer there...