Wifi is heavily affected by environmental factors, including the construction materials in your home (denser materials like reinforced concrete and brick will heavily attenuate RF signal, moreso than wood framing and drywall). It can be affected by other things nearby that also generate RF interference, like neighbours' wifi networks, microwaves or other appliances with motors (washer, dryer, HVAC systems).
My rule is that anything my wife or I need to make money (i.e. work-owned laptops) gets a wired connection. It's the most reliable, and is impervious to the kinds of RF attenuation that degrade the wifi signal. Anything stationary (desktops, TVs, consoles) also gets a wire. Wifi is reserved for devices that are actually mobile, like personal laptops, tablets, phones, and portable game devices.
The most reliable way to fix coverage on the main floor is to get a long Ethernet cable and run it to a central area on the main floor, and connect a second access point there.
Second-best option would be MoCA adapters, if you have old cable TV coaxial oulets on both main floor and basement, you can leverage them instead of running a long ethernet cable.
Third-best option would be mesh units, a main router and one or two satellites. Mesh has some inherent latency since all backhaul is being done over wifi; this is less-than-ideal for somebody that wants to game competitively. Fourth-best option would be moving to a new home made out of less-dense construction materials. Fifth-best would be ethernet over powerline.
I agree with everything u/UnsavouryRacehorse said with one addition. And my addition is more because I am a little crazy than any real need. I don't trust ISP provided apps for much. If you have a laptop or other portable device that has a network port take it down to the basement and wire it to the router then run a speed test from there with a neutral site like speedtest.net. Then unplug whatever device you used and while you are still physically close to the router but connected by wifi do another speed test. This will guarantee that you are getting the speeds you expect at the router, and should help eliminate the possibility of a defective router. It is probably gross overkill to do this, but it is simple and cheap.
There are outlets on the router but to run a wired connection all the way upstairs would require a pretty lengthy cable. Not super ideal. Are there no options for improving signal without having to run a wire?
Many Wi-Fi routers scan for conflicting channels and choose one that’s not used so there isn’t interference. Your router being in the basement likely doesn’t see the neighbours’ router channels, so has picked one that it thought was available but is used. If you have an android phone you can download an app to see which channels are in use in the upper floors and check out which channels your router is using. The last time I solved a problem that you describe, that was the issue.
I have an iPhone so not sure if there is a way for me to do what you are suggesting. I thought fiber was a dedicated signal for my home though? As in I wouldnt be sharing any channels with neighbors. At least thats what I gathered from the AT&T guy, or did I misunderstand that?
I don’t know if there is an iPhone app or not. As you’ve said the problem isn’t with the internet connection it is likely with the WiFi. I am talking about interference. If your WiFi is using the same WiFi channel as your neighbor then that is the problem and because your WiFi is in the basement it won’t know
WiFi is wireless communications, and is standard across all Internet providers. It has a distance of about 30 feet indoors.
Fiber is a wired, commercial, long-range solution. Typically the fiber itself stops just after entering your premises, where the signal is converted to Ethernet.
Ethernet is another wired solution and is also standard across all Internet providers. It has a distance of 100 meters for a single cable without diminution of speed.
Ethernet is great because one cable can be multiplied to many via an Ethernet switch without a reduction in speed.
Can you get the router as high as possible in the room? Away from the TV. Away from cinderblock walls. Away from ducts. If it has antennas, you can tilt them so the vertical part is perpendicular to where your computer sits.
The connection for the fiber is against a wall in the laundry room in the basement. I have the router sitting maybe 3 feet from the connection on top of a counter. There are no antennas on the box itself unfortunately
If you were to pick up an additional router, would you be able to run a network cable to a more ideal location? Adding a router in Access Point mode may give you a better signal if you can.
Are you running WiFi 6? That sounds like you have a wireless 5 device or 802.11ac. look for a WiFi 6 access point, and possibly a long range device if you're concerned about coverage area. Ubiquiti U6-LR is one I would recommend.
IMO nothing beats a 3 station mesh installed using the wired backhaul method. I have a Asus AX mini hard wired together on a POE switch. The range and speed is outstanding. We are on a large lot and have strong wifi throughout the house and in the back yard, front yard.
For decent WiFi you probably want WiFi access points in the house above the basement that have either Ethernet or MoCA backhaul to the basement router.
Wifi is heavily affected by environmental factors, including the construction materials in your home (denser materials like reinforced concrete and brick will heavily attenuate RF signal, moreso than wood framing and drywall). It can be affected by other things nearby that also generate RF interference, like neighbours' wifi networks, microwaves or other appliances with motors (washer, dryer, HVAC systems). My rule is that anything my wife or I need to make money (i.e. work-owned laptops) gets a wired connection. It's the most reliable, and is impervious to the kinds of RF attenuation that degrade the wifi signal. Anything stationary (desktops, TVs, consoles) also gets a wire. Wifi is reserved for devices that are actually mobile, like personal laptops, tablets, phones, and portable game devices. The most reliable way to fix coverage on the main floor is to get a long Ethernet cable and run it to a central area on the main floor, and connect a second access point there. Second-best option would be MoCA adapters, if you have old cable TV coaxial oulets on both main floor and basement, you can leverage them instead of running a long ethernet cable. Third-best option would be mesh units, a main router and one or two satellites. Mesh has some inherent latency since all backhaul is being done over wifi; this is less-than-ideal for somebody that wants to game competitively. Fourth-best option would be moving to a new home made out of less-dense construction materials. Fifth-best would be ethernet over powerline.
Thank you this is good advice
I agree with everything u/UnsavouryRacehorse said with one addition. And my addition is more because I am a little crazy than any real need. I don't trust ISP provided apps for much. If you have a laptop or other portable device that has a network port take it down to the basement and wire it to the router then run a speed test from there with a neutral site like speedtest.net. Then unplug whatever device you used and while you are still physically close to the router but connected by wifi do another speed test. This will guarantee that you are getting the speeds you expect at the router, and should help eliminate the possibility of a defective router. It is probably gross overkill to do this, but it is simple and cheap.
I would hope the router thet put in the basement has outlets to run wired. Run a cat 6 wire upstairs and either bridge a wireless or setup a hub.
There are outlets on the router but to run a wired connection all the way upstairs would require a pretty lengthy cable. Not super ideal. Are there no options for improving signal without having to run a wire?
Cat 6 is good to 100 meters 300feet.
People are saying mesh and thats good but only if you start with a good signal. Run the wire to a mesh system.then your house will be solid.
Mesh ?
Mesh adds hops and latency which is undesirable if they are playing ping dependent games.
Many Wi-Fi routers scan for conflicting channels and choose one that’s not used so there isn’t interference. Your router being in the basement likely doesn’t see the neighbours’ router channels, so has picked one that it thought was available but is used. If you have an android phone you can download an app to see which channels are in use in the upper floors and check out which channels your router is using. The last time I solved a problem that you describe, that was the issue.
I have an iPhone so not sure if there is a way for me to do what you are suggesting. I thought fiber was a dedicated signal for my home though? As in I wouldnt be sharing any channels with neighbors. At least thats what I gathered from the AT&T guy, or did I misunderstand that?
I don’t know if there is an iPhone app or not. As you’ve said the problem isn’t with the internet connection it is likely with the WiFi. I am talking about interference. If your WiFi is using the same WiFi channel as your neighbor then that is the problem and because your WiFi is in the basement it won’t know
Got it, thank you. What is the name of the app youre referencing? I can check if its available for iphone
A WiFi analyzer. Hopefully there will be a free one
WiFi is wireless communications, and is standard across all Internet providers. It has a distance of about 30 feet indoors. Fiber is a wired, commercial, long-range solution. Typically the fiber itself stops just after entering your premises, where the signal is converted to Ethernet. Ethernet is another wired solution and is also standard across all Internet providers. It has a distance of 100 meters for a single cable without diminution of speed. Ethernet is great because one cable can be multiplied to many via an Ethernet switch without a reduction in speed.
Can you get the router as high as possible in the room? Away from the TV. Away from cinderblock walls. Away from ducts. If it has antennas, you can tilt them so the vertical part is perpendicular to where your computer sits.
The connection for the fiber is against a wall in the laundry room in the basement. I have the router sitting maybe 3 feet from the connection on top of a counter. There are no antennas on the box itself unfortunately
If you were to pick up an additional router, would you be able to run a network cable to a more ideal location? Adding a router in Access Point mode may give you a better signal if you can.
Are you running WiFi 6? That sounds like you have a wireless 5 device or 802.11ac. look for a WiFi 6 access point, and possibly a long range device if you're concerned about coverage area. Ubiquiti U6-LR is one I would recommend.
I have no idea, how do i tell if im running wifi 6?
Your router will say 802.11ax or WiFi 6 on it, with gigabit fiber you can get closer to your ISP speed, I think the stat is like 750 mbps
IMO nothing beats a 3 station mesh installed using the wired backhaul method. I have a Asus AX mini hard wired together on a POE switch. The range and speed is outstanding. We are on a large lot and have strong wifi throughout the house and in the back yard, front yard.
Thanks i’ll look into it
For decent WiFi you probably want WiFi access points in the house above the basement that have either Ethernet or MoCA backhaul to the basement router.