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Why are WiFi Range Extenders specified in speed (Mbps) instead of distance (feet)
I have a Netgear Wireless N150 WNR1000 Router and I want to extend the range from my 2nd floor to my basement. I don't understand why the Netgear WiFi Range Extenders specify ability to extend the W...
Wi-Fi is very complex. There are so many parameters to work with:
- Protocol (802.11 a/b/n/g/ac and the recently introduced ad)
- Frequency (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 60 GHz)
- Streams (Common configurations are 1x1, 2x2 and 3x3)
- Internal vs External antennas
- Transmit Power
- Channel selection
- and more
All of these affect performance. The industry uses speed as a way to simplify the decision, but it's misleading for many reasons, not the least of which is that the biggest number is always the best. It's often the most expensive, too! The reality is that the biggest number is not always the most suitable for one's needs. For example, an AC5300 router cannot be fully leveraged by most people. It supports up to 4x4 streams, which the vast of majority of devices don't support.
To make an intelligent choice requires some knowledge of the above parameters. How to explain it all to a layperson? Very difficult. I think the only real solution is to ask an expert. The right choice will depend on the customer's environment, existing network and devices. Maybe somebody can come up with a guide.
Thank you for your rely. I think I understand how link speeds would be a
function of distance and intervening building materials. That makes sense
to me. I apologize for being dense but what I still don't understand is how
layperson (customer) would make an intelligent choice when there may be 5
products specified with different Speeds (Mbps) and Costs?
Wi-Fi is very complex. There are so many parameters to work with:
- Protocol (802.11 a/b/n/g/ac and the recently introduced ad)
- Frequency (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 60 GHz)
- Streams (Common configurations are 1x1, 2x2 and 3x3)
- Internal vs External antennas
- Transmit Power
- Channel selection
- and more
All of these affect performance. The industry uses speed as a way to simplify the decision, but it's misleading for many reasons, not the least of which is that the biggest number is always the best. It's often the most expensive, too! The reality is that the biggest number is not always the most suitable for one's needs. For example, an AC5300 router cannot be fully leveraged by most people. It supports up to 4x4 streams, which the vast of majority of devices don't support.
To make an intelligent choice requires some knowledge of the above parameters. How to explain it all to a layperson? Very difficult. I think the only real solution is to ask an expert. The right choice will depend on the customer's environment, existing network and devices. Maybe somebody can come up with a guide.
Thank you very much for taking time to reply to my question. Your answer
was quite helpful and I now know that I need to learn a lot more about
Wi-Fi protocols or talk with someone who does.
I am somewhat surprised that when I go to the Netgear website, I can find
all of the different specifications for their equipment but they don't seem
to have a Pre-Sales phone number to help guide customers.
Thanks again.