WiFi router is the center of a home network that provides a constant internet connection for computers and other wireless devices. But this connection can slow down drastically in a big home, as the signal bounces around walls, floors, furniture, and other obstructions.
A standard router is sufficient for most apartments and other small two-bedroom homes to provide consistent Internet access via a wireless network. For larger homes with multiple floors and walls, you need a large capacity long-range routers or mesh network to provide consistently wireless access.
Here in this section, I am listing long-range routers and best mesh networks for your large home. These based on my research on the router technology, hardware, ratings.
Our Top 3 Long-Range Wi-Fi Routers
(Best for 2,000- to 5,000-square-foot homes)
| Router | Antennas | Speed | Ports | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linksys AC2200 | 4 | 2.2 Gbps | 5 Ethernet, 1 USB | Amazon Price |
| ASUS AC3100 | 4 | 3.1 Gbps | 4 Ethernet | Amzon Price |
| NETGEAR Nighthawk AX8 | 4 Internal | 6 Gbps | 5 Ethernet, 2 USB | Amazon Price |
Long-range routers feature more powerful antennas and more capable hardware that can push wireless signals further away from the router location.
Most of the routers listed above cover standard townhomes or individual homes without additional access points or extensions or any other hardware to provide a good WiFi signal around the house.
I recommend long-range WiFi routers over mesh network for your homes for two simple reasons
- Only one piece of the network device to worry about
- It is straightforward to set up a wireless router
Best WiFi Routers for Long Range:
Some routers are far better at covering long distances than others, and that’s important when putting a network in a large home or business. Below are my top three selections for long-range routers. These systems are reliable, robust, and suitable for larger homes that demand improved coverage capabilities.
Linksys AC2200 Tri-Band Router:
Highlights:
- Budget-friendly long-range router, Check prices at Amazon
- Up to 2.2 Gbps transfer speeds, with one 2.4 GHz and Dual 5 GHz network bands
- Four external antennas to cover a wide range
- MU-MIMO technology provides the same high-speed WiFi to multiple devices
- Provides Internet to 20+ devices and 2000 sq.ft WiFi Coverage
Budget-minded buyers looking for excellent network coverage should look at the Linksys AC2200 for long-range WiFi overage. This router is one of the cheapest products that still operates at a level making it worth recommending.
The router is fast and supports data transfers up to 2.2 Gbps combining all three bands. Supercharged MU-MIMO WiFi router supports multiple users simultaneously streaming data around the network.
This Linksys router comes equipped with four antennas that can each be adjusted independently.
It has five Ethernet ports and one USB 3.0 port to connect other devices.
Long-range routers feature more powerful antennas and more capable hardware that can push wireless signals out farther from the router location.
Most of the routers listed above cover standard townhome or an individual home without additional access points or extenders or any other piece of hardware to provide proper WiFi signals around the house.
ASUS AC3100: WiFi Range covers 5000 sq.ft
Highlights:
- Equipped with four antennas to cover a larger area
- 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz network bands, 5 GigaHertz at up to 2100 Mbps, 66% faster 2. 4 GigaHertz at up to 1000 Mbps
- Covers up to 5000 sq.ft area
- 8 x Gigabit LAN connectivity for up to eight Ethernet compatible devices.
- MU-MIMO technology to support high-speed Internet for multiple devices simultaneously.
- Use Adaptive QoS to priority your network usage to gaming or browsing
This router model from ASUS is an impressive piece of equipment for online gamers looking for an edge. The system is built from the ground up to help players enjoy their favorite online games with less lag and a smoother performance experience overall.
This 5000 sq.ft range router comes with Adaptive QoS technology that helps route traffic from video games with the highest priority. That means that games will run smoothly even when the network is full of video streaming and other high-bandwidth tasks.
This ASUS model offers a dual-band setup with 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands to meet all the traffic needs. The wide-network design can transfer vast amounts of data and shouldn’t have trouble maximizing most home networks available today so multiple users can all enjoy a reliable internet connection.
The router comes equipped with four tall antennas to help achieve a wider network distribution. Swap these antennas for a taller and even more powerful one to make robust network coverage in your house.
The router also comes with eight ethernet ports on the back, providing plenty of space for wired network devices as well. This makes it a powerful tool for LAN parties and other gaming activities.
The only issue users report is potential firmware complications. A few users had issues with a firmware update hurting 2.4 GHz network performance, and these problems are easy to resolve b yourself.
Overall, the ASUS AC3100 router is an excellent long-range WiFi device that offers gamers a long-distance network connection for low-latency performance and gaming fun.
NETGEAR Nighthawk AX8: Router for extra large home
Highlights:
- Ultra-fast speeds, 6 Gbps transfer capacity – It takes less than a minute to download a 25GB Blueray movie
- Unique wing antenna design, Four hidden Antenna design
- Dual 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks
- 5X 1Gbps Ethernet ports, 2X USB 3.0 ports
For users looking for the highest transfer speeds and the smoothest video streaming experience, or the most effective large-file transfers at home, the NETGEAR Nighthawk AX8 is my top pick option.
This router will transfer up to 6Gbps of data throughout its network and designed with a dual-band network setup with 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz network bands. It features four antennas optimally positioned within unique wings that make it look like a space ship from Star Wars.
The router reaches over long distances and is a reliable network device for extra-large homes.
This router also features built-in parental controls, giving parents the ability to filter and control what their children’s devices can access to a certain extent.
This product built to withstand home internet connections that are up to 2 Gbps incapacity, which is higher than what most homeowners get today.
It’s the ideal tool for streaming high-definition video files between devices locally. Customers that have their media servers can enjoy high-definition streams around the home using this powerful router.
This long-range router is the most potent option reviewed here, but it’s also one of the most costly. Only users with a demand for high-data transfer rates for multiple users at once should consider this product.
For basic users, the NETGEAR Nighthawk AX8 is likely more power than what’s needed by a long shot.
It can be challenging to achieve adequate network coverage across a large home, but the three routers above give the best long-range coverage for medium to over-sized homes. It is up to you to choose one from this list based on the budget and other options, all three capable of providing the best internet experience.
Is it Possible to access the WiFi signal from a router 1000 feet away?
While some manufacturers have stated maximum ranges as far as 1,000 feet for their long-range routers, that’s not a reasonable expectation of even the more powerful home routers. Also, when used outdoors, most 2.4 GHz network routers will only reach around 300 feet, and 5 GHz reaches around 150 feet. When indoors, users shouldn’t expect more than about 150 feet from a standard router, or maybe 200 feet of distance in a more open floorplan or while using a more powerful device.
Why are we not seeing advertised speed and range on the router box?
Many homeowners are frustrated to find that their router doesn’t offer advertised speed or range of the WiFi signal. In the case of wireless routers, extenders, power adapters, and other wireless products, specifications are marketing tricks to sell the product.
In a real-life scenario, you can achieve only 1/3rd of advertised router speed and range with 50 feet radius of your long-range router, and further away from the router deteriorates the signal strength drastically.
Steps to Improve your current router coverage:
The first step to improving network range and coverage is to try and locate the router centrally in the home. A router located at one end of a house will offer inadequate coverage at the other end every time.
Routers struggle to offer full home coverage because of interference throughout the home. Microwave ovens, fish tanks, metal surfaces, drywalls, and most other objects in the home obstruct the WiFi signal and weaken it. Keep your router away from the obstructions as much as possible.
WiFi signal Interference is a significant problem in densely populated communities with multiple routers from nearby homes overlapping on each other. Choose a wireless channel with zero or less overlapping to achieve a better range and speed.
A router reboot can solve fundamental problems with Internet connectivity, ranging from no Internet connectivity to slow wireless connections, and should be one of your first measures to resolve issues in a home.