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Forum Discussion
Netgear router range
Looking at getting a new router and am leaning towards a current Netgear model. I see you go up in the model series (in price and speed) and the range supposedly increases from ~2000 sq ft to ~3500sq ft. Is this just another marketing exaggeration or do their more expensive routers actually have more range (notwithstanding the same maximum regulated power output)?
16 Replies
What is size of your home in sq feet?
Can also depend on building materials as well that can impact range too.
Something to review and try something to see what works for you.
I have a RS700 in my 5000 sq ft home up on 2nd level. When it's wifi is on, range is good, however I like to have just one extender on far side of home to ensure getting good coverage.
or do their more expensive routers actually have more range
On the Pro series products, Netgear often publishes "maps" of coverage***. (something we do not see with residential products.)
Given that the WiFi coverage is roughly circular, 2000 sq. ft. corresponds to a radius of about 25 ft. 3500 sq. ft. corresponds to about 33 ft. So, the marketing literature is claiming that you will get a strong signal about 8 ft. farther away from the expensive router than from the less costly router.
Who knows? It could be that the more expensive router has a more expensive antenna.
*** Here's a random example:
Who knows? It could be that the more expensive router has a more expensive antenna.
What constitutes a "more expensive" antenna - is there such a thing in a router?
What constitutes a "more expensive" antenna - is there such a thing in a router?
Good question. WAY beyond my competence level. Notice this comment in the RS500 Product technical specifications:
RS700:
It could be that the more expensive router has a more expensive antenna.
FWIW, the power limit regulations include the antenna gain. What can vary is the number of antennas (to improve MIMO and beam forming).
- RS200: 4 antennas
- RS500: 6 antennas
- RS700: 8 antennas
Of course each antenna requires its own transmitter and receiver circuitry. So the more expensive routers have more hardware. The RS200 is also dual-band, the others are tri-band.
Not an expert on antenna design either, but 3D (generally meaning 3D-printed) antennas can be used to shape the coverage area for each antenna (which I think can be used to further improve beam forming and MIMO), but can also be used to reduce the internal space the antennas need inside the router.
Ah, OK, so more antennas can direct the signal better. But in my home I'm really looking for a uniform distribution of signal, would beamforming produce a directional signal at all times or is it active (adaptive)?
p.s. Although Netgear does not publish radio information, most Netgear products have FCC filings which do. It might be entertaining to compare the report of the RS200 ($200 on Amazon) against the RS700 ($550 on Amazon)
RS200: https://fccid.io/PY323400615
