The most powerful routers by range

An interesting feature of the router niche is the small selection of manufacturers. Of course, there are a lot of Chinese and little-known brands, but few people will want to take them. We have two popular manufacturers: Asus and TP-Link. This does not mean that the choice is too limited. Both manufacturers have a lot of models and are quite inexpensive. There are a couple of other manufacturers in the ranking, but they haven't gained as much traction.

Review of Powerful Routers with Long Range and WiFi Range – TP-Link, Keenetic, Asus, D-Link

This review is dedicated to the most powerful wifi routers with great coverage area and range of the wireless signal. We decided to make this TOP just now, when a huge number of people are forced to stay at home for many days in a row. When staying for more than a month in self-isolation in an apartment or in the country house, the Internet is the only means of access to the outside world. And it is used not only for remote work, but also for watching movies, TV and online games. In this situation, there is a particularly acute question of choosing a high-quality router that can cope with the maximum load on the network and cover as much of your home area as possible.

Therefore, our today's top wifi routers include powerful models presented on the domestic market from TP-Link, Asus, D-Link and Keenetic. In theory, it would be possible to recommend to take the top-end routers from the line of any manufacturer. However, we are always guided by common sense and looking for the best options that provide the most features while not hitting the wallet so hard.

Keenetic Giga Viva, Giga and Ultra

First of all, I would like to introduce you to the two top models from Keenetic – Giga and Ultra. It would seem that Ultra is more expensive and has higher speeds – 800 Mbit/s on 2.4 GHz and 1733 Mbit/s on 5 GHz, compared to 400 and 867 for Giga, respectively.

The Viva is not far behind, with twice as little RAM (128 MB vs. 256 MB) for the same parameters as the Giga. In other respects the technical characteristics of these three routers are practically identical including the presence of gigabit WAN-LAN ports.

If you think about it, the weaker Keenetic Viva will be enough for the absolute majority of Internet users even if they connect to the gigabit tariff plan of their provider and use several resource-intensive gadgets simultaneously.

For geeks, the Giga will do. Well, the Ultra is the company's calling card, the embodiment of power and the latest advances, which in practice today in its entirety in the home is problematic.

Standards, protocols and frequencies

Let's talk briefly about standards and frequencies. There are currently two data transfer frequencies used in wi-fi: 2.4 and 5 GHz. And they also affect the range. 5 GHz is a frequency that came to us recently. It has a higher data rate, but it fades faster. Here's 2.4 GHz is currently the most common frequency.

And now let's take a brief look at the most popular standards based on frequencies.

• 802.11a – transmitting information within the network up to 8 Mbit per second. Older standard, but still in use.
• 802.11b – Also an older standard, but some laptops are still working on it. Speeds above 20 Mbit per second.
• 802.11g – 50 Mbps.
• 802.11n – 150 Mbps. It can also work with a 5 GHz frequency.

As I said before, the most common standard so far is 802.11n, and it is used almost everywhere. The speed is quite high and it hits far away, unlike 802.11ac. You can read more about the standards in this article.

Wave Parameters

In addition to frequency, we have already talked about attenuation from obstacles. And an obstacle will be almost anything. For example, if it's raining outside, a mobile connection that uses about the same frequencies will be worse. It's the same with wi-fi. The wave has a natural attenuation parameter as well. Metal structures, mirrors, and thick concrete will almost completely jam the weak signal.

The range will also depend on the antenna gain. And the bigger it is, the farther the radio wave hits. But there is also the flip side of the coin. The fact is that as the gain parameter increases, the beam of waves becomes thinner and stretches out to the side.

Look at the picture above – with increasing dB the wave of course hits farther, but it becomes harder to catch it. Such antennas are called narrow beam antennas. Other antennas with CG from 3 to 7 dB are called broadband and more often are installed on cheap models. I have a router at home which has two of these antennas and they don't get very far.

On the expensive models, usually put up to 8 or more antennas, which have a narrow antenna direction, but greater CG. Due to this, the coverage is the same, but the radio wave beats farther. Such devices when using the standard "n" can maximally catch the signal already more than 150 meters in the open area. I advise you to read the article about signal strength here. There understandable language explains all the subtleties of the transmission range with radio waves. And then you will be able to answer the question – at what distance the range of WiFi will be good enough to catch it without interference and loss.

Feature Comparison

The table shows the characteristics of all the models in the rating.

Model	LAN	USB and version	Antennas, pcs.	Internet speed, Mbit/s	Band, Hz
Asus RT-N11P	4	–	2	300	2.4
TP-Link TL-WR841N	4	–	2	300	2.4
Xiaomi Mi WiFi 3c	3	–	3	400	2.4/5
TP-Link TL-WR940N	6	–	3	400	2.4
D-Link DIR-615S	4	2.0	3	450	2.4
Asus RT-AC51U	4	–	2	300	2.4/5
Xiaomi Mi WiFi 3G	4	3.0	4	1200	2.4/5
Asus RT-AC1200	4	2.0	4	1200	2.4/5
TP-Link Archer C60	4	3.0	5	867	2.4/5
Asus RT-AC58U	4	3.1	4	1250	2.4/5

Best of the Best Wi-Fi Routers

Still in doubt about the choice? We suggest to make the final decision about the suitable router. With this help 3 best models in different nominations.

The most popular Wi-Fi router is the TP-Link TL-WR741ND.

The best-selling model, it is inexpensive and has all the necessary features for home use. It has the perfect combination of price and quality.

The fastest router – Tenda AC6.

Provides a stable coverage area at high speed. It has a total transmitting power of 30 dB. Comes with a built-in chipset of the well-known manufacturer MediaTek with 128 MB RAM.

The most autonomous router – TP-Link TL-MR3040

Is a standalone model for distributing 3G or 4G Internet in any environment. We can put a router, connect a modem to it and distribute Wi-Fi even in the field. Battery lasts for 9 hours. It also supports SIM-card installation, which means it is possible to do without a modem.

The rating includes models with different bandwidth, coverage area and frequency for any budget. The average user does not need to buy the most expensive model. At the same time for the network deployment in the office it is better not to be stingy. The models for all situations are in the rating.

Which router should I choose for my apartment?

Choosing a quality router is a difficult task. You need to pay attention not only to the brand and cost of the device, but also to its technical characteristics. This will determine the duration and stability of the router.

The rating of the 10 best routers for the apartment will help you decide on the model. It contains models of the most famous brands with technical characteristics, pros and cons.

TP-LINK TL-WR840N.

Budget router model. At a cost of just over 800 rubles, the device outputs data transfer speeds of up to 300 Mbit. The design includes a WPS button for quick configuration of wireless network protection.

The bandwidth can be controlled by an IP-address. The device works stably due to the special wireless bridge WDS. The built-in repeater allows you to spread the signal around the room.

Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi Router 4CF

The device is equipped with intelligent control, works stably. The router is equipped with a modern processor and built-in memory of 64 MB. The maximum wireless connection speed reaches 1167 Mbit/sec.

The high-quality construction and equipment of the router allows you to connect up to 64 devices simultaneously. Your personal data will be reliably protected by WEP, WPA and WPA2 technologies.

• Advanced functionality at a low cost;
• easy operation (no need to make any additional settings to connect);
• good speed;
• ability to connect multiple devices simultaneously.

Mikro Tik hAP AC Lite Tower

Comparing models

The wide range of routers for the home, presented in the market, complicates the choice of the device. The comparison table with the most popular models and their technical characteristics will help.

Model name	Price, rubles	Frequency, GHz	Maximum speed, Mbit/s	Number of external antennas	Dimensions (W/H/D), mm
TP-Link TL-WR840N	870	2,4	300	2	182/35/128
Tenda AC6	1600	2,4 и 5	1167	4	220/142/49
Netis WF2880	2300	2,4 и 5	867	4	145/35/155
Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi Router 4C	2400	2.4	1167	4	–
MikroTik hAP AC Lite Tower	2800	2,4 и 5	430	0	34/119/98
ZyXEL Keenetic Extra II	3000	2,4 и 5	1167	4	167/33/100
Keenetic Viva (KN-1910)	5200	2,4 и 5	1267	4	159/29/110
Huawei B525	8900	2,4 и 5	1300	0	226/163/52
Asus RT-AC86U	13 000	2,4 и 5	2917	3	220/83/160
LinkSys EA8500	18 900	2,4 и 5	2530	4	256/56/183

WAN port types

The first thing you should find out from technical support is the connection method provided by the ISP. This knowledge will allow you to identify the router model more accurately.

1. Ethernet .. A common option that is present in all routers. A network connector is used to connect the device – RJ-45. If a person has such a connector, he can easily buy any router.
2. ADSL .. The models are not widespread, because they have a small bandwidth. Most often, they are installed in villages and settlements, where there is no possibility to lay an optical cable. The connector type used is RJ-11.
3. GPON. This connection is incompatible with the previous one and is suitable only for large servers. The technology is new and expensive, but it provides the user with maximum speed. A fiber optic cable will be personally laid to connect to the user's apartment. Its bandwidth is 500 Mbit per second or more. Communication is provided without interference or speed reduction.
4. 3G and 4G. These are popular routers that do not need an additional wired connection and work from the cellular network. Only a USB port is required for operation. Then a person configures the transmission, so that it is possible to distribute the Internet.

There are also universal models. They are used only by people who will apply all the functions offered. For the average user, this option will only create a lot of trouble.

Rating of the best powerful routers

This is a powerful router with an 802.11n communications standard. It is suitable for installation in the house and will give the user an uninterrupted supply of Internet. There is support for 3G and LTE cellular communications. Information is protected by WEP, WPA, WPA2. For convenience, the front panel has a Web-interface. If the power at home is turned off, the router will switch to the built-in batteries, which adds autonomy. The connector used is RJ-11.

The device is used as an access point. The router will provide Internet access at 150 Mbps in a house or multi-room apartment. The bandwidth is enough for a person to do his favorite business with comfort and not to think about problems with the connection.

The product has no problems with installation. Suitable for use in video surveillance, where the signal is transmitted over long distances. Mounted on a vertical surface. Channel width is adjustable from 10 to 40 MHz. This solution will allow you to adjust the range yourself (the manufacturer recommends the value – 20 MHz).

• does not heat;
• easy setup;
• transmits a signal up to 5 km;
• reasonable price;
• high speed of data transmission;
• no failures or errors in operation;
• high-speed installation.

The router is suitable for home and office use. The design is classic and compact, so the user will not see anything new in it. There are four antennas for the 5 GHz band and one – for 2.4 GHz, it is located inside the device. The external antennas can be rotated to the sides without any problem. The product is placed on a wall or table.

To prevent the case from heating up, there are special holes on the bottom and sides that remove excess heat. To inform the user, there are LED indicators on the front panel. They indicate the current state of the product.

New technologies in routers

Routers with a large range of Wi-Fi, are regularly improved. Developers use new technologies to make the signal not only powerful, but also constant.

Wi-Fi Mesh System

This type of device, ideal for a private home of at least 300 square meters. Often used for dachas with several floors.

The powerful signal can penetrate even sturdy brick walls. Also such routers are provided with excellent multi-level protection. Therefore, they can be used in enterprises and military institutions.

Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax).

Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) router transmits the signal at high speed. Gigabit device allows you to get speeds up to 11 Gbps. Also, such products work steadily regardless of the number of connected users. The router works in several bands, and is used not only for home use, but also in enterprises.

For your reference! It should be understood that the speed of Wi-Fi depends not only on the power of the device, but also on the conditions of Internet provision. At cheap rates, the speed is lowered artificially and even the coolest equipment will not be able to increase it.

The best models of powerful routers with a long range for an apartment or a country house

In order to use the Internet without restrictions, it is necessary to study the rating of wi-fi routers. In the top are selected the most popular devices, which are of high quality and easy to use.

Top budget models

Such devices are suitable for small apartments, where the number of users does not exceed 3-5 people/devices.

Wi-Fi router netis MW5230

Inexpensive router will be ideal for a small room. Despite its budget price, the model copes well with its tasks and transmits a signal throughout the room. The maximum signal transmission speed is 300 Mbit/s. This figure is enough for a small room. The 3 antennas allow you to use the device both at home and in the office.

TP-LINK Archer A5

Wi-Fi router from this manufacturer gets into the rating for a reason. The well-known brand offers a quality model at an affordable price. 4 antennas allow you to find an access point even outside the room.

The user himself indicates the number of available connections. It is also possible to form white and black lists. This is very important if the router is used in the office.

Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi Router 4A

The router allows you to get a strong signal. The peculiarity of the device is that it can be controlled by a cell phone. To do this, it is enough to download a program. The case is made of high quality plastic, so it will last a long time. Quickly picks up the street signal and spreads it throughout the access area.

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