Cheapest stable dual band router?

[chucky2]

I'm looking to help my uncle extend the range of his Wifi. Right now he's got 2.4GHz N in his basement (via Comcast box), but can hardly see the signal up on the main floor or past it out into his porch and yard. We've got a 5e wire up into his main and 2nd floor, was thinking putting a WiFi router up there on the 2nd floor would probably cover everything.

Thing is, he has like, no, disposable income. Anyone know if there is a stable, yet really cheap, dual band router out there?

 

[XLer8or]

What I suggest is a AP on 2nd floor depending on house construction. It maybe cheaper too.

Get a router and either bridge the Comcast device or setup router as AP.

Since you asked for router: TP-Link Archer C5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704234

 

[smitbret]

These are rock solid:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704144&cm_re=wdr3600-_-33-704-144-_-Product

 

[sdifox]

Comcast cable? Is there coax going upstairs? He could try relocating the cable modem to main floor first.

 

[chucky2]

Thanks guys for the suggestions, I'll shoot him the pricing and he can figure out what he wants to do there.

Comcast cable? Is there coax going upstairs? He could try relocating the cable modem to main floor first.

Yeah, Comcast cable. There is a cable going to the ground floor TV so that is an option, but I don't think his wife is going to want the Comcast 'brain' sitting on their TV stand. Honestly for the amount of time I'd end up burning helping him out, I could just guy the router as a gift myself and call it a day. My weekend (the rare ones I get where I have free time to go out there) time is precious, so $50 is really nothing. Buying him something he should be working to get himself though, just so I don't have to waste my own time, is really why I don't want to. Something in the $20-$30 range is cheap enough the wife may OK it...something in the $50 and over becomes an additional expense for them. Money is that tight on their end...

 

[sdifox]

Thanks guys for the suggestions, I'll shoot him the pricing and he can figure out what he wants to do there.



Yeah, Comcast cable. There is a cable going to the ground floor TV so that is an option, but I don't think his wife is going to want the Comcast 'brain' sitting on their TV stand. Honestly for the amount of time I'd end up burning helping him out, I could just guy the router as a gift myself and call it a day. My weekend (the rare ones I get where I have free time to go out there) time is precious, so $50 is really nothing. Buying him something he should be working to get himself though, just so I don't have to waste my own time, is really why I don't want to. Something in the $20-$30 range is cheap enough the wife may OK it...something in the $50 and over becomes an additional expense for them. Money is that tight on their end...

Behind tv is still better than in the basement near the electric panel. Beside this can be tried easily.

 

[sdifox]

Or get a WAP.

 

[bononos]

These are rock solid:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704144&cm_re=wdr3600-_-33-704-144-_-Product

That particular router has poor 5ghz range, even on the same floor. Apart from that its ok considering it is openwrt compatible.

 

[bononos]

I'm looking to help my uncle extend the range of his Wifi. Right now he's got 2.4GHz N in his basement (via Comcast box), but can hardly see the signal up on the main floor or past it out into his porch and yard. We've got a 5e wire up into his main and 2nd floor, was thinking putting a WiFi router up there on the 2nd floor would probably cover everything.

Thing is, he has like, no, disposable income. Anyone know if there is a stable, yet really cheap, dual band router out there?

Does your uncle really need the 5Ghz band?. The older model tplink router mentioned above is fine except for the 5Ghz range but it'll work in one room. Or you could also use a powerline WAP as suggested earlier.

 

[chucky2]

Behind tv is still better than in the basement near the electric panel. Beside this can be tried easily.

This is true. The objective was to have wireless not only downstairs in the basement, but upstairs on the ground and 2nd story floors, along with getting it projected out some onto his deck and screen porch (in the yard would just be an added benny).

He is in the country but there are houses somewhat close to him, so I'd imagine there is going to be interference on the 2.4GHz band. I was just going for dual band as some kind of future proofing.

I think maybe we'll try your idea here first, as it's free. We should be able to get a 5e cable from where the first floor TV is back down to the switch down there, and another coax cable back down there for the downstairs TV, so the downstairs can wired internet and keep the downstairs TV. Don't need to try that until we check out how the wireless works with it being on the first floor.

Honestly I was hoping for a cheap but stable dual band out, but it looks like those don't quite exist yet. Thanks All for the help!

 

[chucky2]

Does your uncle really need the 5Ghz band?. The older model tplink router mentioned above is fine except for the 5Ghz range but it'll work in one room. Or you could also use a powerline WAP as suggested earlier.

No, he doesn't need it, I just wanted it for some kind of future proofing.

 

[sdifox]

No, he doesn't need it, I just wanted it for some kind of future proofing.

If he can't afford a new router, he can't afford .ac devices.

 

[chucky2]

True, but he has kids (grown up kids), who can, and who might buy him something in the future. In fact I'll probably talk to one of them that actually has disposable income about getting their dad/parents house a router.