As technology advances, we increasingly depend on WiFi routers for almost everything. Most people rely on WiFi routers to stream movies, browse the internet, and work from home. Therefore, having a reliable and fast WiFi router with long-range coverage is essential.
Routers that have more coverage than normal routers are called long range routers. These routers have several technical factors that increase their coverage level, including radio power, number and type of antennas, signal booster, etc.
These routers are used in places that normal routers cannot cover, such as large halls, yards or multi-story houses where it is not possible to install several routers.
Usually, the first characteristic that is considered when choosing a wireless router is its coverage strength. Users tend to buy routers that have more coverage, but do all users really need such a router? Definitely not.
From a technical standpoint, there are several differences between a long range and regular router:
Long-range WiFi routers usually have a higher power output, resulting in stronger signals. This ensures a better reception even at longer distances or through obstacles such as walls or floors.
The output power of regular router is usually between 100mw(20dBm) and 250mw(23dBm) while in long range wifi router, it’s around 500mw(27dBm) to 800mw(29dBm).
Normally, the antenna in regular router has a gain of 2dBi (dBi is the unit for measuring antenna strength) while the antenna in long range router has a gain of 5dBi. The higher the gain in an antenna, the larger the size, so you can easily distinguish a 2dBi antenna from a 5dBi one.
More antennas on on a router increases the signal strength and overall speed of the router. A long range wifi router serves a high number of users. So, it should have more antennas compared to a regular router to guarantee the connection quality of all users. Regular router has one or two antennas while long-range routers have more than three.
Beamforming is a special technology that greatly increases the coverage and speed of the network. Not all long range routers support this feature but high-level brands use this technology. This technology increases the coverage up to 40%.
Read More : What is Beamforming ?
Since a long range wifi router covers a larger area than a normal router, it can serve a higher number of users and devices. For this reason, most of them are equipped with a more powerful processor (and memory ) than regular routers.
Long-range WiFi routers incorporate advanced interference handling techniques to combat any potential signal disruption caused by other electronic devices or neighboring networks. This ensures a more stable and reliable connection over longer distances.
Typically, long-range WiFi routers are more expensive than ordinary routers due to their advanced features and improved performance. The additional technology and components required to achieve the extended range contribute to the higher price.
As it’s obvious, a long-range router covers more area compared to a regular router. You can cover a large house or office using a long-range router or several regular routers. As you can see below , you can use one Long Range Router to coverage a large house (with more than -65dBm signal level everywhere):
You can also use two or more regular routers instead of using one long-range router to cover this house, but consider in mind :
Using Two Regular Routers for full WiFi Coverage (with more than -65dBm signal level everywhere).
Important Note: In WiFi networks, users are served in turn. This means that as the number of users increases, the overall quality of the service decreases. Therefore, try not to use a long range wifi router in crowded places such as movie theaters and stadiums.
you can check the signal strength at any area of your house or workplace by using “WiFi Analyzer” applications on your tablet or smartphone. This apps display the WiFi signal strength in real-time using visual methods and charts.
Read More : Best WiFi Analyzer Tools
The average WiFi signal strength is about -80dBm to -35dBm (dBm is the unit of signal strength measurement). A larger number (a number closer to zero) means a higher signal strength. Your signal strength shouldn’t be less than -65dBm if you want to have good, high-quality wireless service.
Keep in mind that raising the power of a WiFi router has a very important technical limitation. As you know, wireless communication is a reciprocal operation, when a client receives WiFi signals from a router, it should be able to respond to the router. For this reason, the power of WiFi router is LIMITED by the power of WiFi client.Let me explain more:
In summary, long-range WiFi routers offer superior coverage, stronger signals, extended range, and improved performance compared to ordinary routers. However, these additional capabilities often come at a higher cost. The choice between the two types of routers depends on individual needs, desired coverage, and budget.
With our list of the best long-range WiFi routers in 2023, you can make an informed decision that suits your needs and budget.
The market has plenty of options for consumers, but finding the best long-range WiFi router can be complex. The good news is that we’ve put together a comprehensive list of the top long-range WiFi routers in 2023.
Wireless Standard: WiFi 6
Overall Speed: 6600Mbps
Range: Very Large House
Concurrent Clients: 60
Features: Onemesh/HomeShield
Ports: 3 * 1Gbps LAN / 1 * 2.5Gbps + 1 * 1Gbps WAN / 1 * USB 3 / 1 * USB 2
This Wi-Fi router is the best long range wireless router and can cover a 4-bedrooms house. The premium security service guarantees the best security level for your home network. One of the best feature is the IoT compatibility. The reporting system is very useful for managing whole network’s users and devices. Read More : TP-Link Archer AX90 (AX6600) Review.
Wireless Standard: WiFi 6
Overall Speed: 5300Mbps
Range: Very Large House
Concurrent Clients: 50
Features: AiRadar , AiMesh , AiProtection
Ports: 8 * 1Gbps LAN / 1 * 1Gbps WAN / 2 * USB 3
We have performed technical tests on this router. Including security testing, speed testing in 4K online games, file transfer speed testing in high-noise and low-noise environments. We also test the Connection stability and dedicated gaming capabilities. In the end, we gave this router a score of 8.5 out of 10, which is a very good score for a gaming wifi router. Asus ROG Rapture GT-AC5300 Review.
Wireless Standard: WiFi 5
Overall Speed: 1750Mbps
Range: Large House
Concurrent Clients: 30
Features: Onemesh
Ports: 4 * 1Gbps LAN / 1 * 1Gbps WAN / 1 * USB 2
The best long range Wi-Fi router with lowest price. This wireless router equipped with 3 high performance antennas along with high power signal amplifier, to make a fantastic coverage. The reasonable price has made this router one of the most popular home routers. Read More: TP-Link Archer A7 (AC1750) Review.