Router questions

[GauntletV2]

So I'm by no means educated on routers. So this is a few questions, and some recommendations if possible.

1: Id like to improve WiFi range through my house, and i assume that a new router will improve that. Will it? (Coming form a 5+ y/o fios base router)

2: As well as improving WiFi range, are all routers the same in that, i need no more than ~3 Ethernet ports, and decent WiFi. Does a router with more ports (ethernet) differ from one than less? What do more antenna do?

3: Someone explain 2.4 ghz vs 5 ghz in a real world metric. I think i know that 5ghz is less crowded, higher penetration, but lower range. But if I put it downstairs and a room over, will it be better than what i have? (plywood and drywall walls)

4: recommendations under 150$

[Skiiwee29]

2 hours ago, GauntletV2 said:

So I'm by no means educated on routers. So this is a few questions, and some recommendations if possible.

1: Id like to improve WiFi range through my house, and i assume that a new router will improve that. Will it? (Coming form a 5+ y/o fios base router)

2: As well as improving WiFi range, are all routers the same in that, i need no more than ~3 Ethernet ports, and decent WiFi. Does a router with more ports (ethernet) differ from one than less? What do more antenna do?

3: Someone explain 2.4 ghz vs 5 ghz in a real world metric. I think i know that 5ghz is less crowded, higher penetration, but lower range. But if I put it downstairs and a room over, will it be better than what i have? (plywood and drywall walls)

4: recommendations under 150$

1: Their is a limit to the "gain" or signal output from a SOHO router set by the FCC. Now with that said, usually a 20$ router will have poor performance as it cheaps out on components usually to provide a good quality signal. You will want to get a decent router to ensure it has quality under the hood.

 

2: Unless you get a stand alone Access Point, the default configuration for SOHO routers is 4 ports. The routers with multiple antennas just provide more MIMO, or Multiple In Multiple Out points to prevent potential congestion and collisions. 

 

3: 2.4ghz is the standard and has the best range available due to its channel size. The 5ghz is a much larger channel and thus has a shorter range. If your going to look at placing it in your house, the best would be in a centralized location in the house and as high as possible in that room. It is acceptable to anticipate up to 50% signal loss as the signal passes through objects and it could affect your speeds, signal strength etc... 

 

4: I personally have a Netgear R7000, but that is out of your price range. 

 

Here are some links to some I think might be good choices

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833320091

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA1YH2RK0482

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833320215

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833320192 (looks sexy IMO)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833122786 (Baby Brother of the R7000)

 

There are many more out there than just these. 

 

Happy hunting!!