Comparing wi-fi routers is the best way to find a device that has all the features you need. If you require wide coverage, then you need the best wi-fi routers for a wide range. A situation where some of the rooms and further corners of your home do not receive a signal is one that you want to avoid. Some other features such as high speed, mesh expansion, and parental controls could also be important to you based on what you use wi-fi for, where you live, and who with. At the end of this roundup, you can find out what our top pick was.
All You Need to Know About Wi-fi Router Range
When you are buying a new router, the range is a very critical consideration. You could find a gorgeous, high-speed router, but if the signal does not provide coverage throughout your home, then you have a problem. The range of a router is all about how far the signal can be extended, which is expressed as a physical distance. There are many great wide-range routers to choose from, so we are going to discuss the best of the options a little later on.
How Can You Increase the Range of a WiFi Router?
Routers have many features, but the range is essential if you want to access the network all over a larger home. If you are setting up a smart home, then having a strong and reliable signal extending towards all your gadgets is paramount.
If your router doesn’t have wide coverage, there are some ways to boost the wireless signal. The easiest and most direct method is to replace your device with a better alternative. You might want to consider this if you have moved to a new home or apartment, for example.
Here are some other ways to increase the range of a wifi router:
- Update your router firmware.
- Get a better plan from your Internet Service Provider (ISP), or switch providers if you have to.
- Optimize the placement of your device.
- Reconfigure the network frequency to match the router, if need be.
- Change the channel.
- Check your wi-fi accessibility, and change your password to limit any intruders who might be tapping into your connection strength.
- Replace the antenna.
What Are the Most Important Features When Looking for a Router?
Besides the coverage specifications that have been touched on already, there are a number of other important details you should look at when picking out a new device. If you get a standalone router, then you sent to look at the mesh compatibility. This feature allows you to extend your coverage at a later point, should you need to do so.
The best router is the most powerful and effective at its job. You should look at two features to determine this: the size of the memory and the type of processor. A multi-core processor is ideal. The memory should be at least 128 RAM, and we recommend that the speed be at least an AC1200. If you stream a lot, you should look at the max stream capabilities.
Now that we have covered the benefits of having a wi-fi router with a wide range, it’s time to look at the best routers on the market as far as coverage is concerned. If you are one of those with large homes, you’re going to want to take note of our final recommendation at the end of this roundup.
ASUS RT-AC88U AC3100
The ASUS RT-AC88U AC3100 router is probably one of the best all-around wide coverage routers. You’re going to find out why it made this list. This dual-band router has a 4×4 802.11AC wireless-AC3100 PCIe adapter (PCE-AC88). Here are some pros and cons of the ASUS RT-AC88U AC3100.
Pros:
- Wide coverage of up to 5000 square feet thanks to the four antennae
- High-speed wi-fi when connected to a 5G network.
- Has a guest wi-fi option for increased network security
- Can support multiple devices on its eight ports for ethernet
- Delivers speeds that are 66% faster at the 2.4GHz band, and 80% faster at 5GHz bands
- TrendMicro vulnerability detection protects from malware.
- Easy to set up
- No dead zones
Cons:
- Not the most affordable router
- May experience drops ni 5G network
Netgear Nighthawk X6, R8000-100PAS, Wi-fi 6
This Netgear Nighthawk X6 wireless router is a user-friendly, wi-fi 6 router with wide coverage. As a dual-band router, this Netgear Nighthawk product supports the 5GHz band and 2.4GHz band frequencies. It has a tri-band wi-fi 6 frequency band class. The data transfer rate is 3276.8 Mbps. The security protocol of this wi-fi 6 router is WPA2-PSK. Find out what some of the pros and cons of this device are below.
Pros:
- Supports internet wi-fi 6 speeds of up to 3.2Gbps
- Has six high-performance antennas to expand coverage
- Has dual-core processor with three offload processors
- Five Gigabit Ethernet ports and five LAN ports
- Smart connect intelligence to choose the right frequency band to connect
- Adult content feature gives more parental controls.
- Guest wi-fi 6 networks for increased control and security
Cons:
- May not support large media usage and streaming as well
- Expensive compared to similar models
For other wi-fi 6 options, you can look at other Netgear routers.
ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000
The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 wi-fi router is a dual-band frequency option and supports the 2.40 GHz band and 5GHz band. It has a fast wi-fi speed of up to 11000 Mbps. This ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 weighs 3.79 pounds. It is among the best options for a router and wifi system choices for anyone who is into online gaming. Here are some of the key pros and cons of this option.
Pros:
- AiMesh for mesh wi-fi system
- Has a 1.8GHz quad-core CPU
- AiProtection network security
- Has a 2.5G gaming port
- Triple-level game acceleration
- Has WLAN, USB, and LAN ports
- Eight antennae for wider coverage
Cons:
- Higher price point
TP-Link Archer A7
The TP-Link Archer A7 wi-fi router is another candidate for the best options if you want a wide coverage device. This dual-band wireless router can support a maximum speed of 1,750 Mbps, so it is not the faster option out there. The TP-Link Archer wireless router does, however, allow you to comfortably engage in video streaming, gaming, and other web browsing activities. Here are some of the pros and cons of the TP-Link Archer A7 product.
Pros:
- One of the best budget options
- Wide wi-fi signal coverage of up to 2,500 sq ft
- Three antennas that are easy to position
- Four Gigabit LAN ports and one USB 2.0 port
- TP-Link tether app to manage your home network remotely
- Parental controls and guest access
- Works with Alexa voice control
- Mesh system compatible
- Compatible with all service providers
Cons:
- Slower maximum speeds
If you are willing to spend a little extra, there is a higher TP-Link product model. This is the TP-Link Archer A8. What’s particularly great about the TP-Link Archer A8 is that it has multi-user multiple input multiple outputs (MU MIMO). If MU MIMO is something you are after in the wi-fi routers you consider, you should definitely check out this product.
NETGEAR Orbi RBK50
The NETGEAR Orbi RBK50 is a tri-band router (2.4 GHz, and two 5Ghz bands- 5.4 GHz, 5.8 GHz). It is a mesh router, meaning that it is easy to expand the quality of service to a larger area. If you have a large home, this is a good point to note. Here are the pros and cons of this option to help you make a decision.
Pros:
- Wide coverage of up to 5000 sq. ft
- Extra wi-fi points can add coverage of up to 2500 sq. ft.
- 4 gigabit LAN, 1 USB 2.0 ports
- Maximum throughput/ dta transfer rate of 3,000 Mbps
- Backhaul has a dedicated frequency band from the tri-band options.
- Seven ports available in total
- MU-MIMO
Cons:
- Has USB 2.0 and not USB 3.0
- Bulkier than other mesh routers
- Higher price point
Conclusion
The wi-fi routers in this roundup are some of the best if great coverage is what you are after. Besides knowing what area is covered, you also have to consider other factors like the max stream. You need wi-fi that is fast and reliable and can be reached in all parts of your home.
Overall, our pick for the best option is the NETGEAR Orbi RBK50. We chose this option among the rest because it has many great features that give you flexibility and strong wi-fi. It is among the best for large homes because it has the best coverage of 5000 sq. ft. Additionally, this area can be expanded.
The advanced features such as the tri-band feature, MU-MIMO, and beamforming all provide you and the other wi-fi users in your home with flexibility. The two main drawbacks you might have to overcome are the absence of USB 3.0 ports and the high price, but this is still a great router overall. You have to make sure all the other features solve your needs.
