Wireless Network Supplement

[hackattack]

Hey guys, I am new to the forums here.

I have recently bought an Asus RTAC66U Router and I find the network connection isn't as strong everywhere as I would like it to be.

I tried getting a Wireless extender for all-around wireless strength, but it didn't do much. It was a Netgear n600 wireless extender, and I just ended up returning it.

I have a PS3 all the way down in the basement, and online gaming is important to me.

Any suggestions?

 

[Asmodian]

I have had good luck with three ASUS WL-ANT157 on my RT-AC68U, if you can point them (flat side) where you need more signal. They might reduce signal where you don't point them and they aren't cheap when buying three.

 

[PrivateJoker]

Basements can be difficult spots for RF to work well. Also most omni-directional wifi antennas will throw out a pattern that roughly assembles a 3D donut in shape, depending on the angle of your devices on the floors above & below the router, it can be more difficult to get a signal that penetrates above/below and still radiates in a horizontal dimension with good distance.

You might want to take a look at the reviews on the main site of power line adapters (and buy them from a place like amazon where you can return them easily if they don't work out) or get an N600 or N900 router that either has a "client" mode built into the factory firmware, or that will take DD-WRT or Tomato and run it in client mode plugged into the Ethernet of your PS3. I do that in a couple spots in my house because the wifi built in to even a $50 N600 router tends to be vastly better than the wifi built into most client devices. I get a very useable 5ghz signal on a pretty mediocre Linksys e2000 setup w/ DD-WRT in an area where few clients (mobile phones, smart TVs, etc) could pull down.

And the Asus high gain semi-directional antennas do have a skinnier beam pattern (much flatter donut) than the stock omnis, and probably would be a detriment to improving your wifi in the basement. If the PS3 was on the same floor as the router, it could be a different situation.

 

[Asmodian]

You can "point" the directional antennas down but that might make wifi above the basement much worse. I agree both the power line adapter and the client wireless router might be a better idea.

 

[LocalDude]

Before you buy anything... Point the "Stock" antennas horizontal, and see what happens. You are essentially turning your donut sideways. I wouldn't buy that expensive "semi" directional antenna.

If I bought anything, it would be a "higher gain" omni directional antenna. It would give better results. I know that there are some readily available at 7dbi. there are also bigger ones at 12 dbi. I'm not sure what comes on the AC66. I read it might be 9dbi, but they seem small for 9dbi. I could be wrong.

 

[Asmodian]

All the omni-directional antennas are the same as the directional antennas in so far as they change the shape of the donut but cannot actually make it a larger volume.

The high gain omni-directional antennas flatten out the donut so I don't think they would help here unless tilted to stand the donut up, like you suggested with the stock antenna or I did with the directional antennas.

 

[hackattack]

Thanks guys, for all of your suggestions. To be honest, I was trying to see if any of you could reccomend something else like an extender or a different piece of equipment used to maximize the wifi signal in my home. I don't really believe in antennas and I just would like my wifi around the house to be all around strong and fast.