Are you fed up with your old router? Thinking of moving to a new 2-story house? You can greatly simplify your life with a high-quality long-range router no matter what your reason is. This is especially true during this time of the global pandemic. However, selecting the best router for 2 story house is not an easy task. Why is that?
The best long-range routers aren’t all expensive. In addition, there is a wide selection available. Are you confused? No worries. Because we understand the frustration of searching for a new wireless router as well as wifi routers. In addition to comparison charts, real-time user reviews, things to consider, and FAQs, we have made the best list for you. Saving you time is important. Follow this article for more updates.
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How To Choose The Best Router For 2 Story House
Size of House (sq. Feet)
Consider your house’s size and layout when selecting a router. Your home can only be reached by a router up to a certain distance, so you will be disappointed if it exceeds its range. Is your home 2500 square feet, 3000 square feet, or 4000 square feet? What’s the best router for your size house?
Mesh systems are great for larger networks since you can always add more points when you need them. It is also possible to have your home’s layout disrupt the radio signal from a router, so keep this in mind.
There will be a different best router for a 2000 square foot house than a 4000 square foot house.
Range & Bands (2.4 GHz vs. 5 GHz)
It is also important to consider the number of bands your router has as well as the range of its wireless signal. 2.4GHz is by far the most popular channel, and can, at times, be the most congested.
There is a larger range on the 2.4GHz channel than the 5GHz channel, but the 2.4GHz channel is less expensive. Still, it is a good idea to have both to be able to make sure that devices that are far from the base get good coverage as well as to optimize what devices get what range.
The antennas
Antennas might seem ancient or obsolete to you. You’d be wrong. The router sends and receives signals with the help of radio frequencies, and your antennas are the ones that can direct the signal to the devices that you wish to use.
You need a certain number of antennas depending on the size of your network and where the router is located. Especially if you have devices spread throughout the building, you might need antennas shooting the signal in multiple directions. Signals can be focused with antennas in a specific direction.
Features related to QoS and MU-MIMO
Your network’s internet usage will determine whether QoS and MU-MIMO are necessary. By using the QoS feature, it is ensured that the devices that should receive the uninterrupted signal can receive it uninterruptedly.
MU-MIMO technology allows up to four users and devices to stream simultaneously with the same amount of power. Check the features that are listed on the router that you are shopping for if either of these is needed.
Best Router For Two Story House
I am fascinated by routers as an IT professional. Each of these products was selected after months of research, good user reviews, and personal experience.
1. TP-Link AC5400 Tri-Band WiFi Gaming Router – Best Router for 2 Storey House
Design
There are 8 antennas on the AC5400, but they are not adjustable. Due to its bulky size, it can’t be used everywhere in the house. Nevertheless, it has a powerful web console with many customizable options.
Performance
Even though we’re at the edge of our 2 stories, 4500 square foot studio, we’ve seen impressive stability and rock-solid connection. With its range-boosting and beam-boosting features, the AC5400 is the best router for double-story houses. It has been tested from all angles. There was low latency and stable gigabit speeds. Because of its extended range, this router is perfect for heavy gaming use.
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In addition to being stable and secure, the AC5400 is also well designed. The router’s premium security ensures your network remains safe at all times. Privacy concerns are therefore nonexistent.
A perfect product does not exist. In light of our testing, let’s take a look at some of its pros and cons.
[i2pc show_title=”true” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]It is impossible to beat the connection speed for a two-story house.With the Tp-link Tether App, setting up is easy
Performs well and is stable.
Ports and connectivity options are plentiful.
A free security feature is built-in.
The ability to share files.
[/i2pros][i2cons]Antennas are removable but not adjustable.
Most people cannot afford the price.
The speed of file sharing is slower than its competitors.
The troubleshooting features are not good.
[/i2cons][/i2pc]
2- Eero Pro Mesh Wi-Fi System
Design
Eero has a really great design. The mesh is the thinnest we have ever seen. Despite the white casing and small size, the points are virtually invisible.
You can wire in devices directly to it using its two Ethernet ports, if necessary. This system is easy to set up as well. Beacons need to be placed throughout your network for good coverage.
Performance
A 5-bedroom house can easily be covered by the Eero system, but if you need more coverage, each additional point extends coverage even further. Having tri-band coverage means it has a 2.4GHz band and two 5GHz bands, allowing you to do more from anywhere in your network.
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In addition, it comes with a beacon that can extend coverage by an additional 1,000 square feet. If you need to extend the coverage, you can add as many beacons as you like. It provides Wi-Fi that’s perfect for entertaining, whether you’re streaming or playing games, and allows you to do so from anywhere in your house.
[i2pc show_title=”true” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Network meshUpdates automatically every month
Easy and quick setup
Easily covers a five-bedroom house
When needed, can extend the network
[/i2pros][i2cons]There are only two Ethernet ports
[/i2cons][/i2pc]
3- Google Nest Mesh WiFi Router – Mesh Router for 2 Story House
Design
Since it is designed with no external antennas, the Google Wi-Fi System is easier to conceal. In addition, it is smaller physically than a traditional router. As you add points, it makes it easy to hide as many as possible, which is really helpful if you need to add them later.
Wi-Fi is provided by three individual points on the system. Each of these points eliminates dead spots on your network. If you need to extend your coverage, even more, you can purchase additional points. This makes this system ideal for large spaces or awkward spaces.
It has been reported that the signal is difficult to reach multiple floors, but with multiple access points, this can be eliminated.
Performance
If all 3 points are configured properly, you can actually get coverage up to 4,500 square feet with the Google Wi-Fi system. Each point can cover up to 1,500 square feet without dead spots. Multiple stories will be impossible without the right configuration.
There are two Gigabit Ethernet ports in each of the three points, so each has a LAN port and a Wi-Fi point. When you add more Google routers, the system will provide you with a stronger signal from point to point.
[i2pc show_title=”true” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Provides coverage for up to 4500 square feet2 Gigabit Ethernet ports are available at each point
Adding points is easy
Complements decor
User-friendly
[/i2pros][i2cons]There can be problems with the access points between floors sometimes
[/i2cons][/i2pc]
4- Motorola MR2600 WiFi Smart Router – Budget-Friendly Best Router For 2 Story House
Design
The AC2600 router will give you a USB3.0 port, Smart QoS support, a firewall, parental controls, and more even though it is less expensive than other routers designed for 4K streaming. With four Gigabit LAN ports, you are able to connect all of the devices you need, which is always a nice feature in a router.
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Even if you wanted to, you could not stand up to the MR2600. You can also adjust the external antennas on this router. In addition to 2.4GHz and 5GHz performance, the antennas provide concurrent performance. To get the best results, we recommend that you have patience when setting up this router.
Performance
When another device hops onto your network and tries to steal bandwidth from your devices that you don’t want to be interrupted, the MR2600 router has QoS to keep your devices running well. A person in the next room streaming a movie shouldn’t cause you to buffer during a game.
Any streaming network should have Wave 2 MU-MIMO technology, which is what the MR2600 has. Beamforming implicitly and explicitly this process as well. You’ll have lightning-quick speed and awesome range with beamforming because it boosts the signal in the direction the antennas are pointing. As long as it’s centrally located, the range should work across several floors.
[i2pc show_title=”true” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Quality of service for a steady connectionMulti-user MIMO technology
Coverage on both bands
There are four 1-Gigabit Ethernet ports
Fast speeds
[/i2pros][i2cons]The router isn’t very fast
[/i2cons][/i2pc]
5- NETGEAR Orbi Tri-band Whole Home Mesh WiFi System – Best Router For Old House With Thick Walls
Design
Despite its bulky appearance, the Orbi Tri-band is aesthetically pleasing. The dimensions of each satellite are 6.4 x 3.1 x 8 inches. This satellite also features smart LEDs that display its status. A blue LED indicates a good connection. A yellow LED indicates a poor connection. As soon as the connection disappears, the LED changes to magenta.
Performance
The NETGEAR Orbi Tri-band router we tested performed like a beast in terms of performance. This router has gone through some type of battle testing, and it has passed.
This router has an impressive range. Even when we were parked at our 4000 sq ft studio, it gave us strong signals with the beamforming technology. Our studio is divided into two levels, and we tested the stability and connection speed from every angle. The result is positive in every aspect. Distance, however, decreases the speed of the connection.
The router is the best router if you have thick walls in your old two-story house.
[i2pc show_title=”true” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Long-range connection with a strong, stable signal.MIMO and beamforming technology at the cutting edge.
An app makes it easy to set up.
Throughput and connection speeds are fast.
[/i2pros][i2cons]The size is big, and it won’t fit everywhere.
A mobile app is an expensive and low-control option.
The USB options are unsatisfactory.
[/i2cons][/i2pc]
6- NETGEAR Nighthawk 8-Stream AX8 Wifi 6 Router – Best Router For 2 story House 2500 sq ft
Design
AX8 looks like a spaceship due to its sleek and sharp design. The body is coated in rubber. You can place it anywhere in your house due to its design.
Performance
The routers we have tested in our studio number in the hundreds. Nighthawk 8-Stream AX8 Wifi 6 is comparable to Nighthawk 8-Stream AX8 Wifi 6. Nighthawk 8-Stream AX8 Wifi 6 is characterized by its blazing-fast speed.
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All of our tests on the Nighthawk 8-Stream were positive. Its range, however, prohibits us from using it in our 4,000-square-foot studio. Long-distance connections are slower. Still, 2500 square feet is enough for us. We connected at least 40 devices during our testing. Every device experienced super-fast speeds.
The router was also used to create our own cloud server, and the transfer speed was as fast as the wifi. The router also had other advanced features that were decent.
[i2pc show_title=”true” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Fast and stable connection speed.Configuration is straightforward.
Professionals need this security feature.
Design unique to you.
[/i2pros][i2cons]Dual-band routers are too expensive.
Problems with the heat.
To use advanced features, you need AX clients.
[/i2cons][/i2pc]
7- Motorola MG7700 Modem Router Combo
Design
Motorola MG7700 also has a tower design, just like GRYPHON AC3000 Mesh. In addition to the grey color, it also has two vents. The separate Modem and Router units will take up a lot of space, so placing this vertically on the countertop will save you a lot of space. The front of the device features an LED notification panel that displays the device’s status.
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Four Gigabit Ethernet ports are on the back of this modem router combo. All streaming devices or gaming consoles can be connected to these Ethernet ports to provide a uniform network connection.
Performance
The MG7700 is not the most performance-precise modem router combination, but it is adequate for the average everyday user. For a two-story house on this site, you will get a coverage area of 1,500 square feet, which would be insufficient. With this dual-band router, you will have access to a combined speed of 1000 Mbps, which is more than enough for most users.
This modem router combo comes with a Broadcom cable modem chipset that will protect your network from denial-of-service attacks.
[i2pc show_title=”true” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]A wireless internet speed of 650 Mbps and a 1000 Mbps Ethernet internet speedChipset for Broadcom cable modems
Less space is consumed’
Comparable to separate modem and router units
A guest network dedicated to guests
[/i2pros][i2cons]Compared to other devices on our list, the coverage area is less and fixed.
There are no updates for the Motorola MG7700.
[/i2cons][/i2pc]
What Is The Best Place To Place A Best Router For 2 Story House
You’ll notice a huge difference in your wireless network’s performance depending on where your wireless router is located in your two-story house.
When determining the best location for your wireless router, make sure you follow these tips.
1. Ensure Your Wireless Router Is Centrally Located
In order for your wifi signal to travel to all parts of your home as quickly as possible, the router should be located in the center of your home.
Your connectivity will be better when there is less distance to cover. Dead spots will be easier to identify and eliminate.
2. Do not place it near obstacles or metal objects
The signal is weakened when certain building materials (metals, glass, water, etc.) are blocking it.
We wouldn’t recommend placing your router in your kitchen. Place it as far from the kitchen as possible. If possible, avoid placing your router near aquariums.
3. Don’t trust your walls
You will experience a loss of signal strength between the router and the client if there are a lot of walls between them, so the more walls you have, the weaker the signal.
Unlike traveling through multiple walls, your router’s signal can travel through floors and ceilings.
4. Do Not Use Microwaves
When someone uses the microwave, your internet slows down or drop? Dual bands are supported by your router – 2.4GHz and 5GHz.
The 2.4GHz band is used by many household objects, which can cause connectivity fluctuations when a kitchen appliance is operating. You should situate your router as far from the kitchen as possible to prevent interference.
5. Keep it high
Radio waves traveling downward and spreading from the source are emitted by routers.
Because of this, you should mount your router at a higher height – on a wall or ceiling (if your home has more than one floor) so you’ll have good connectivity even if you have multiple floors.
6. Check your antennas
Antennas can boost your signal depending on their orientation. Your signal will travel up better with a horizontally positioned antenna, while a vertically positioned antenna will travel laterally farther.
You can point both antennas up and sideways if you have two antennas. If you do not have any, you should place your router where it was built to be. If your router is supposed to stand upright, do not flip it.
7. Don’t interact with people
You mentioned aquariums, but you must have forgotten that humans are mainly water – so putting your router in an area with lots of people could degrade your internet connection.
Best Router For 2 Story House: Buying Guide
1. Router range:
Routers are most commonly selected based on their range. Most especially, for houses with multiple floors. We don’t want slow connectivity.
Thus, you should pay attention to the range of a router before buying it. The router you choose should have a range of at least 800 to 1000 square feet more than your house size. Having extra range will help you get a connection outside your house since most routers don’t deliver what they advertise. Check out our article about the best router for a 1000-1500 square ft house if you have another house.
Make sure the router you choose has range boosting and beamforming capabilities. Your two-story home will benefit from these features so you can get a strong, stable signal in every corner.
2. Security features built-in
One feature most people overlook when choosing a wifi router is security.
The importance of cybersecurity has never been greater. Privacy violations and identity theft are common practices today. As a result, having security features built into your router can assist you to prevent these threats in some cases.
Additionally, you can save hundreds of dollars on VPN and antivirus subscriptions if your router is secure.
3. The number of bands
In terms of a stable connection, the number of bands on a router is crucial.
Dual-band routers are most common today. The 2.4 GHz band is capable of handling heavy traffic and can transmit waves over greater distances. Additionally, devices nearby can get a strong signal on the 5 GHz band.
For everyday use, dual-band routers are adequate. However, if you are a heavy user or a professional gamer, you should consider a tri-band router.
4. Amount of antennas
Two-story houses require a lot of antennas.
Wi-Fi routers have antennas most people consider to be gimmick features. However, they actually play an important part in Wi-Fi. They are responsible for transmitting wifi signals. Simply place one or two antennas in the direction where you want a good signal.
Hence, before purchasing a router, make sure that it has enough antennas and that the antennas are movable.
5. MIMO and QoS features
In order to have an uninterrupted wifi network, you need to utilize modern technology like MU-MIMO and QoS. With MU-MIMO, multiple devices can stream data simultaneously. Quality of Service (QoS) helps provide strong uninterrupted signals to certain devices.
We’ll look at some of the questions we get most frequently about routers for two-story houses now.
FAQ’s about Best Router For 2 Story House
You will be able to understand the situation better after reading this section.
1- How should I place the wi-fi router on my second floor?
An ideal position place best router for 2 story house would be either near the ceiling on the first floor or near the floor on the second floor, which would provide coverage both upstairs and downstairs. Open-air is the best medium for radio signals. (DO NOT CHANGE)
2. Where shouldn’t you place your wireless router?
Wifi signals are hindered by thick walls and obstructions. Avoid placing your router near them. Avoid placing your router near microwaves and other electronic devices. Wi-Fi signals are disrupted by these devices. Objects made of metal can also disrupt signals.
3. What is the best router for 2 story house?
Your home’s size and usage determine how much storage you will need. However, all of the routers mentioned in this article are among the best in their categories. You should choose the router that best suits your needs.
4. How do you get two floors connected to WiFi?
Our guide will show you how to set up your router. Consider a router with beamforming and a range booster.
5. Should the wifi router be upstairs or downstairs?
The strength of a WiFi signal depends on the location. If you have a home office or working area upstairs, place it in a central position on the first floor. However, it is recommended that you put it near your ceiling downstairs for overall performance.
6. What is the best way to boost my WIFI signal from thick walls?
Thick walls should be avoided. Otherwise, you can buy a router with a range extender or a wireless extender.
7. Are better routers more powerful?
Sometimes, not always. Your usage determines the answer. A high-end router will have its own set of features. It is, therefore, possible that a more expensive router has a smaller range.
It’s always recommended to buy a router with a greater range than your home.
8. How big should my WiFi router be?
Routers of any size are equally effective. Bulky routers are not necessarily the best. They can be quite effective in some cases. Look at the range, the bands, and performance levels.
Conclusion:
The best routers for a two-story building are listed below. Each of these products has undergone intensive testing in our studio. Additionally, these products are all available on Amazon with a lot of positive reviews.
Keep in touch with us to learn more about cool products like these.
