As an experiment, I did a really informal connection quality test today. Using WiFi Analyzer on my Android phone I measured the average dBm in 4 different areas of the house. To give you an idea of the house layout I have the router(s) on the 3rd floor (converted attic space) the main floor is well above ground and the basement is half-in / half-out (foundation is on a slope).
This is a comparison of 3 different routers:
TP-Link TL-WR1043ND v1.7
- 400MHz CPU, 32MB RAM, 8MB ROM
- 1 year old technology, $70 new
Linksys WRT54GL v1.1
- 200MHz CPU, 16MB RAM, 4MB ROM
- 6+ years old technology, $60 new (still available in stores)
Linksys WRT54GC v1.0
- 4MB RAM, 1MB ROM
- about 2 years old, picked it up for $6.00 used
Router configurations and results are as follows:
TP-Link TL-WR1043ND with stock (3) 3dBi antennas
Ch. 11
N & G Mode
Main Floor Living Room: -50
Basement Living Room: -65 to -70
Basement Kitchen: -70
End of Hall in basement: -65 to -70
TP-Link TL-WR1043ND with (3) 8dBi antennas with 1 meter cables
(antennas fully extended apart from each other)
Ch. 11
N & G Mode
Main Floor Living Room: -55
Basement Living Room: -75
Basement Kitchen: -70 to -75
End of Hall in basement: -70
Linksys WRT54GL stock antennas
Ch. 6
G Mode Only
Main Floor Living Room: -50 to -55
Basement Living Room: -60 to -65
Basement Kitchen: -65
End of Hall in basement: -60
Linksys WRT54GC with 1 5dBi antenna attached to the external mount
Ch. 1
G Mode Only
Main Floor Living Room: -65
Basement Living Room: -75
Basement Kitchen: -80 to -85 (at 1 point signal dropped)
End of Hall in basement: -70
As you can see, the winner is the WRT54GL, even being 6+ years old it bests TP-Link's top retail model. Also note that the 8dBi antennas (also made by TP-Link) on the TL-WR1043ND actually make things a little worse. There is such a thing as "too much antenna". I experienced the same on my short-wave radio. The antenna I used was too strong and actually attracted too much noise along with the signal. Just something to be aware of: there is a fairly fine line.
To be honest the WRT54GC faired well, apart from dropping signals. However, this through 3 floors is still not bad for a router 1/4 the physical size for the WRT54GL and a single 5dBi antenna!
Hope this is somewhat useful, if not, enjoy the rest of your day ;-)
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This is a comparison of 3 different routers:
TP-Link TL-WR1043ND v1.7
- 400MHz CPU, 32MB RAM, 8MB ROM
- 1 year old technology, $70 new
Linksys WRT54GL v1.1
- 200MHz CPU, 16MB RAM, 4MB ROM
- 6+ years old technology, $60 new (still available in stores)
Linksys WRT54GC v1.0
- 4MB RAM, 1MB ROM
- about 2 years old, picked it up for $6.00 used
Router configurations and results are as follows:
TP-Link TL-WR1043ND with stock (3) 3dBi antennas
Ch. 11
N & G Mode
Main Floor Living Room: -50
Basement Living Room: -65 to -70
Basement Kitchen: -70
End of Hall in basement: -65 to -70
TP-Link TL-WR1043ND with (3) 8dBi antennas with 1 meter cables
(antennas fully extended apart from each other)
Ch. 11
N & G Mode
Main Floor Living Room: -55
Basement Living Room: -75
Basement Kitchen: -70 to -75
End of Hall in basement: -70
Linksys WRT54GL stock antennas
Ch. 6
G Mode Only
Main Floor Living Room: -50 to -55
Basement Living Room: -60 to -65
Basement Kitchen: -65
End of Hall in basement: -60
Linksys WRT54GC with 1 5dBi antenna attached to the external mount
Ch. 1
G Mode Only
Main Floor Living Room: -65
Basement Living Room: -75
Basement Kitchen: -80 to -85 (at 1 point signal dropped)
End of Hall in basement: -70
As you can see, the winner is the WRT54GL, even being 6+ years old it bests TP-Link's top retail model. Also note that the 8dBi antennas (also made by TP-Link) on the TL-WR1043ND actually make things a little worse. There is such a thing as "too much antenna". I experienced the same on my short-wave radio. The antenna I used was too strong and actually attracted too much noise along with the signal. Just something to be aware of: there is a fairly fine line.
To be honest the WRT54GC faired well, apart from dropping signals. However, this through 3 floors is still not bad for a router 1/4 the physical size for the WRT54GL and a single 5dBi antenna!
Hope this is somewhat useful, if not, enjoy the rest of your day ;-)
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