FAQ
TL;DR: After two concrete walls, Wi-Fi throughput can drop by 70 % [Elektroda, hermes-80, post #16571054]; “Physics hasn’t changed” [Elektroda, m.jastrzebski, post #16571948] For whole-house coverage, use one wired access point per floor and keep ping below 20 ms.
Why it matters: A realistic design prevents dead-zones, saves money, and avoids endless router swaps.
Quick Facts
• 802.11ac 2×2 link delivers up to 867 Mb/s at 80 MHz [IEEE 802.11ac].
• Ping above 100 ms signals heavy retransmits and ~50 % speed loss [Elektroda, hermes-80, post #16571629]
• Powerline speed can fall >50 % when outlets sit on different phases [Elektroda, hermes-80, post #16584411]
• Dual-band AC routers cost PLN 250–300 in 2023 [Ceneo, 2023].
• Stable HD stream needs −65 dBm or stronger RSSI [Cisco, 2020].
Can one attic router reliably serve two floors below?
Unlikely. Each brick floor adds about 15–20 dB loss; two floors plus walls easily exceed 40 dB, cutting 5 GHz range to a few metres and 2.4 GHz to one floor [Elektroda, hermes-80, post #16571079] Place a main router centrally and cable one access point (AP) per level for full speed [Elektroda, bogiebog, post #16571054]
Which is better for range: TP-LINK Archer C7 or Archer C1200?
Both use similar 2.4 GHz radios, so wall penetration is nearly identical. The C7 adds three detachable antennas and 1300 Mb/s 5 GHz, helping only with devices on the same floor. Neither alone covers three stories; the real gain comes from extra APs [Elektroda, sebonieb, post #16570994]
What network topology gives the highest speed in large houses?
- Run Ethernet to each floor. 2. Configure one AP per floor on non-overlapping channels. 3. Disable router-side extenders. This wired-backhaul design keeps intra-LAN transfers above 300 Mb/s on 2×2 802.11ac, over 30× faster than the 10 Mb/s radio link in the thread [Elektroda, hermes-80, post #16571761]
When should I use powerline (PLC) adapters, and what are their downsides?
Use PLC when you cannot run cable. Throughput ranges from 50–200 Mb/s on same-phase sockets but can drop by half or more on different phases [Elektroda, hermes-80, post #16584411] Noise from washing machines or UPS units may cause sudden speed dips—an edge-case that forces retries and high ping.
How do I test real Wi-Fi speed with iperf?
- Connect PC 1 by cable and run
iperf -s. 2. Connect PC 2 via Wi-Fi and run iperf -c <PC1-IP>. 3. Read the Mb/s figures; repeat on each floor. This avoids ISP limits and shows the link’s true capacity [Elektroda, bogiebog, post #16600188]
Why does my phone show 170 ms ping while my PC on cable shows 12 ms?
Wireless frames retransmit when signal is weak or noisy; each retry adds latency. The thread shows phone ping 172–175 ms versus cable 12 ms, a 14× increase [Elektroda, sebonieb, post #16571526] Strengthen the link (better RSSI, 20 MHz channel) to return ping below 20 ms [Elektroda, hermes-80, post #16571629]
Should I use 20 MHz or 40 MHz channel width with a 10 Mb/s internet feed?
Select 20 MHz. Wider channels raise interference and do not boost a 10 Mb/s WAN. Reducing width improved stability on the Asus RT-AC1200G+ in the thread [Elektroda, sebap, post #16600447]
Will external or sector antennas fix my range issues?
Not much indoors. High-gain antennas narrow the beam and often miss devices above or below. Wi-Fi is two-way; your phone’s tiny antenna cannot talk back at the same gain [Elektroda, Anonymous, post #16889007] Invest in more APs instead.
Why don’t devices switch to the stronger access point automatically?
802.11 clients decide when to roam. Most consumer gear waits until the current signal is lost before scanning. 802.11r/k/v assist roaming but remain rare on home routers [Elektroda, Anonymous, post #16889007]
How can I stabilise speeds on an Asus RT-AC1200G+?
Update firmware, then reset NVRAM and reconfigure. One unofficial build with newer radio drivers fixed inconsistent throughput for users [Elektroda, Gatki, post #16601434] Also keep devices 1–2 m from antennas; 50 cm proved “too close, not good” [Elektroda, bogiebog, post #16600509]
What happens if I increase transmit power above legal limits?
Speed may drop. Excess power overloads nearby receivers, causing more errors and slower rates—confirmed when 320 mW tests under-performed 100 mW [Elektroda, m.jastrzebski, post #18000106] It can also violate local regulations.
Which budget routers work well as extra access points under PLN 300?
TP-Link Archer C6, Xiaomi Mi Router 4A Gigabit, and used Mikrotik hAP ac² all cost 220–300 PLN and support AP mode with gigabit ports (2023 street prices) [Ceneo, 2023]. Enable bridge mode, give fixed channels, and reuse existing Ethernet drops for best results.
