Best way of extending wifi to backyard?

Maybe use a powerline wifi adapter. Not the best solution, but it's plug and play with great affordability

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I don't think that's true?

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FCC increases 5GHz spectrum 2014

of course it took a couple years before hardware began to appear to take advantage of this.

my 5GHz outperforms my 2.4 greatly now with the new Asus 86U router I just bought that fully embracses the changes.

eta unfortunately shitty products like my Ring spotlight only support 2.4 so these continue to limp along.

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Currently have a Archer C5 router that is located in the front of the house. Does great in rooms near the front...but in the back of the house the signal begins to fade (but still can get a connection).

The backyard, however, rarely gets a connection...especially if the back door is shut.

Looking for the best way to extend my wifi to the backyard. Moving the router is not an option as the only hookup is located in the front room. Don't want to drop $300 for a mesh system cause I feel it would be overkill for a 1300 sq ft. home.

I would just get an extender and plug it into the rear of the house but I hear it just makes the signal crap.

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Depending on your modem, you may be able to use MOCA. I just realized that the cable/voice modem provided by xfinity has MOCA capabilities, so I ordered a MOCA router. Its coming in today.

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powerline wifi adapter

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Would it be best just to ditch my Archer C5 for something with better range? I don't mind spending $80-100 for a new router but would hate to spend that much on an "extender" when I can just get a brand new router.

Could be that the 2.4Ghz router you were using before was just that crappy. Fact is, 5Ghz does not propagate as good as 2.4Ghz does through walls and other objects. The speeds will be quite a bit better with 5Ghz, but the higher you get in frequency the less propagation you have....example, 900Mhz propagates better than 2.4Ghz, 2.4Ghz propagates better than 5Ghz, etc.

I have no doubts that the newer 5Ghz routers may have newer technology like beam forming built in. This definitely helps with the propagation of the signal as well compared to older equipment.

OP, you can pick up a cheap Netgear router from Amazon for around $20, turn the router function off and set it up as an AP. Run a cat5 cable from your current router to the back of your house where your signal is weak, and plug it into your new AP. Should be an easy fix. I wouldn't rely on a wireless repeater, hard wire if at all possible.

A wireless bridge also works. If you have an older Linksys wrtg router laying around you can even flash the firmware and turn that router into a wireless bridge.

That's what I did.

It has more power yes due to the spec changes, but that frequency has more problems at penetration period, which the OP has said he is dealing with.

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just repeating what people i assume that are smarter than me said and expressing my real world experience.

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The only thing that everyone knowledgeable about wifi with real world experience would say is that there is no universal answer to anything.

Even the slightest change, whose origins aren’t always apparent, can have profound differences in range and strength. So you can’t make a definite recommendation to fix any problems.

Based on what the OP has to say, it sounds he is in a difficult signal situation. What works for you may not work for him. Even if the ROUTER can push the signal through the interference doesn’t mean the cell phone/tablet etc can in order to communicate back


OP:

Your best bet (not knowing your router’s ability to attach an external antenna) is to get on the other side of whatever is blocking the signal on the walls.

MoCA or Ethernet the router to outside, and attach another router capable of working in a bridge mode. Ideal results will be if it’s a twin to the indoor router.