When we are connected to a wireless network and we notice that we can hardly surf the Internet, the first thing we think is that the Wi-Fi signal is very weak. Once we have ruled out the presence of possible intruders in our network or the more than likely interference from neighbors , we can only ask ourselves one thing: could we be too far from the router? What is the average range of a Wi-Fi network?
Range depending on signal frequency
Wireless networks use radio waves to transmit the signal, just like TVs or smartphones. That is why the more we move away from the source of the emission, the more the power of the signal weakens.
In any case, if we focus only on the frequency of said signal, we can calculate more or less what is the range that our router can have.
- 4GHz: 45 meters indoors and 90 meters outdoors.
- 5GHz: 15 meters indoors and 30 meters outdoors.
The new 802.11n, 802.11ac and 802.11ax standards, which operate in both frequency bands according to the needs of each moment, can reach greater distances.
Factors that influence the coverage of a Wi-Fi network
But not everything depends on how often the wireless network is working. There are also other equally or more important factors that directly affect the quality and power of the signal.
The router or access point used
There are several factors that determine the range of a router, such as the orientation of the antennas, the 802.11 protocol used, the transmit power of the device, and radio interference from the surroundings.
If we are using a mobile phone, we can even notice the increase or decrease in the signal simply by turning the device, depending on its alignment with respect to the router. Some access points also tend to incorporate antennas, which make the signal strengthen in the direction they are pointing and weaken in other areas.
Building structure and materials
Brick walls and metal objects can reduce range by 25% . Homes are usually divided into rooms, have ceilings, floors and are usually decorated with mirrors and other furniture or accessories that obstruct the free circulation of Wi-Fi waves.
A good way to get around this type of structural problem is to install one or more Wi-Fi repeaters in areas where the signal begins to weaken. There is no golden rule: it may be that in a house with a single repeater it is enough, and in another of the same size we need 2 or even 3 extenders to obtain a similar result.
wireless standard
The 802.11 protocol, or what is the same, the wireless standard that we use to transmit the signal has a direct effect on the coverage offered. Each of these protocols has a different scope range:
- 11a: 35 meters indoors and 118 meters outdoors.
- 11b: 35 meters indoors and 140 meters outdoors.
- 11g: 38 meters indoors and 140 meters outdoors.
- 11n: 70 meters indoors and 250 meters outdoors.
- 11ac: 70 meters indoors and 250 meters outdoors.
To this day there is still no official data on the scope of the 802.11ax protocol (also known as Wi-Fi 6) . However, after carrying out tests with devices compatible with this technology, we see that, although the signal is stronger and more stable, the level of coverage is quite similar to that offered by the 802.11ac standard.
However, for practical purposes this can mean an increase in coverage, since when the strongest and most stable signal arrives, it can reach areas (within that range of 70 meters) where the 802.11ac signal is not even available due to to obstacles and surrounding conditions. Or put another way: if your Wi-Fi AC network only has a range of 30 meters due to environmental obstacles, with Wi-Fi AX you can reach up to 40 or 50 meters (always within the technical limit of those 70 meters established by the protocol).
Apart from that, we should also mention the 802.11be protocol, also known as Wi-Fi 7 . The arrival of this communication standard is scheduled for May 2024, and although there is still no empirical data, we know that it will have greater coverage, a transfer speed 10 times higher than Wi-Fi 6 and that it will operate on 2 channels. 4GHz, 5GHz and 6GHz.
Finally, it should be remembered that the power of the signal also depends on its degree of degradation. Normally, the lower the frequency, the lower the signal degradation is also.
If we look at radio waves, low frequency signals (2.4GHz) tend to have less pronounced waves as opposed to other higher frequencies (5GHz, 6GHz) that show more pronounced waves close together. This makes the low frequency waves more stable and have a longer range.
However, low frequencies are also more susceptible to interference. Most devices use the 2.4GHz frequency and if we are in a place with many electronic devices and several Wi-Fi networks, “jams” can be generated in the transmission channels. For these cases, it is best to configure the router to broadcast at 5GHz, although this also means reducing the range of the signal as we mentioned at the beginning of the post.
How to improve the coverage of a Wi-Fi network
If our router uses old technology or is in a place that does not favor the propagation of the wireless signal, we can try to improve the signal quality and coverage with the following tips:
- Find the least crowded wireless channels to broadcast the signal.
- Control the applications that eat up the bandwidth.
- Use a homemade invention to better extend the router signal (you can use a metal strainer or some silver paper to better direct the router signal).
- Turn your old router into a repeater so that the signal reaches all corners better.
- Buy a Wi-Fi repeater.
- Replace your router with a router with a Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) connection.
You can see more details on how to carry out these processes in the post « 10 tricks to increase the power of your WiFi router
