How To Avoid Wireless Dead Zones By Selecting The Right Equipment

by Harris Thompson Writer

Purchasing your own equipment to use with the services offered by your internet provider can be a daunting task. It doesn't have to be, however. There are two main devices you need to purchase in order to be able to connect to the internet: a modem and a wireless router. These are devices which you can usually rent from your internet provider, as well.

 

THE BENEFITS OF RENTING

Most AT&T Uverse Bundles customers prefer to rent the equipment, since they are not liable for upgrades or replacements as the equipment ages, and don’t have to worry about configuring the equipment or ensuring compatibility. However, sometimes these same consumers often find themselves with dead zones, unable to get a stable signal from their Wi-Fi networks. Most people who live in smaller homes are satisfied with their current Wi-Fi network, since the residential area is covered. This is not the case for larger homes.

 

WI-FI DEAD ZONES AND BANDAGE SOLUTIONS

To prevent the creation of these dead zones, consumers often purchase Wi-Fi extenders or repeaters. However, an even better option does exist. The main fault with range extenders is that they create a new network which has its own SSID and passwords. Therefore, an additional, unnecessary login is required. Repeaters also often cut your internet speed in half, which means you end up paying more for half the speed in these dead zones.

 

SELECTING THE RIGHT MODEM FOR YOUR INTERNET

The first piece of equipment that needs to be purchased is a modem, which allows you to decode and access the internet based on your connection.  Modems have two numbers that you should take into consideration: the downstream and upstream values. Popular variations include 16x4 and 8x4. The first number is the downstream, the second is the upstream.

 

16x4 modems are capable of supporting a download speed of 680 Mbps, whereas 8x4 modems support download speeds up to 340 Mbps. 24x8 modems may be required for some high-speed internet connections, however it is always a good idea to confirm with your service provider prior to purchasing the equipment. Don’t forget to take the upload speed into consideration as well, especially if your internet usage is mostly business-oriented.

 

Modems often include integrated wireless routers for convenience. However, they often fall short in terms of range when compared to standalone routers. Your service provider will usually offer assistance in configuring your modem to work properly alongside your wireless router.

 

SELECTING THE RIGHT WIRELESS ROUTER SOLUTION

Once you have your modem, the second item you need to take into consideration is your wireless router, which is the more important piece of equipment of the two. You want to select a wireless router that supports your modem in terms of connectivity and download speed.

 

The first specification you need to consider is the range of the device. Remember that the range advertised is an approximation based on certain conditions, and that obstacle such as walls and floors will result in interference and limitations, resulting in dead zones.

 

WHAT THE NUMBERS AND LETTERS MEAN

There is a large range of routers to select from, with the newest routers being defined as 802.11ac. The “ac” represents the standard and generation of the signal. Previous generations include a, b, g, and n standards. Chances are that if you purchase a 802.11ac router, it will only work on the 5GHz band, whereas 802.11n routers will offer dual-band frequency of both 5GHz and 2.4 GHz. At times, you will come across devices defined as AC1900 or AC3000. That indicates the combined theoretical data transfer speed of both bands measured in Mbps, and can be misleading. For example, an AC1900 router can either give you a download speed of up to 600 Mbps on a 2.4 GHz band, or a speed of 1,300 Mbps on the 5.0 GHz frequency, but not both.

 

THE DIFFERENT BANDS AND RANGES

The difference between the two bands of 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz is the transfer speed of data with older devices using 2.4 GHz and newer devices using 5.0 GHz.  802.11ac routers will not grant an 802.11n device to exceed the limits of 802.11n. If your current internet speed is 25 Mbps, a $300 router capable of gigabit speed won’t allow you to exceed 25Mbps. A simple ac router will cover a range of 2500 square feet from its center, whereas a wireless mesh system will cover over 5,000 square feet using nodes.

                       

WIRELESS MESH ROUTERS

Once you have decided on the transfer speed and bands, the next thing that you would have to figure out is the desired range of your wireless network. If the range exceeds 2500 square feet, a wireless mesh router is recommended. The system would consist of the main unit that is attached to your modem, and a satellite receiver which would connect to the system and further broadcast the signal, without deteriorating the transfer or internet speed all within a singular network. The more satellites that are a part of the network, the further the signal range is increased. The best thing about that is that there is only one SSID and password, instead of multiple ones.

 

The main pitfall of purchasing your own equipment is the fact that technology will progress, and that what you have purchased today will eventually become obsolete as time goes on. The new standard which is pending finalization in 2018 is 802.11ax, which will be capable of transfer speeds of 10 Gbps. What really matters, however, when purchasing your equipment is your internet speed and your budget.

 

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Created on Mar 20th 2018 08:47. Viewed 532 times.

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