Is the router expensive or the signal is poor? Three parameters determine your home internet speed

After switching to gigabit broadband, the router is still an old model, and the network speed still cannot be improved; after buying a "flagship" router, the signal in the bedroom is still only two bars - this kind of problem occurs in almost every household, and the root cause is that the core logic of router purchase is not understood.

WiFi protocol version: the most overlooked core parameter

The WiFi version supported by the router determines the theoretical maximum speed:

Protocol standard	Nickname	2.4G maximum rate	5G maximum rate	6G (unique to WiFi 6E/7)
802.11ac	WiFi 5	600Mbps	3467Mbps	—
802.11ax	WiFi 6	1148Mbps	4804Mbps	—
802.11ax (6GHz)	WiFi 6E	Same as above	Same as above	9608Mbps
802.11be	WiFi 7	Higher	Higher	46120Mbps

Actual usage suggestions:

Gigabit broadband for ordinary households: WiFi 6 is sufficient and the most cost-effective
Multi-device high-density home (10+ devices online at the same time): WiFi 6 has OFDMA technology, which significantly improves congestion compared to WiFi 5
Fever/professional scenario: WiFi 6E / WiFi 7 can experience the biggest difference

Frequency band: 2.4G vs 5G vs 6G

Frequency band	Wall penetration capability	Rate limit	Usage scenarios
2.4GHz	Strong (longer wavelength)	Low (≤600Mbps)	Low-speed equipment, long distance, through multiple walls
5GHz	Medium (high impact of obstacles)	High (up to 4804Mbps)	Main equipment, close range and high speed
6GHz	Weak (maximum attenuation by obstacles)	Highest	Next to the router or in the same room

Dual band vs triple band:

Dual-band: 2.4G + 5G, suitable for ordinary families
Tri-band: 2.4G + 5G + 5G (or 5G + 6G), the second 5G is dedicated to the Mesh backhaul link, the overall speed is significantly better when multiple routers are networked

The truth about coverage area

The "coverage 200㎡" marked by the manufacturer was measured under ideal conditions, so a 30% discount is normal.

Main factors affecting signals:

Wall material: Reinforced concrete walls have the greatest attenuation (up to 20–30dB), followed by brick walls, and gypsum boards have the least impact.
Frequency band selection: After the 5G signal passes through a concrete wall, the actual rate may drop from 800Mbps to 200Mbps
Number and layout of antennas: More antennas does not mean wide coverage. The key is the spatial layout of the antennas.
Transmit power: Domestic regulations limit 2.4G to a maximum of 20dBm, 5G to a maximum of 23dBm, and there is not much difference between different routers.

Practical Advice:

Two-bedroom apartment within 90㎡: a single router is usually enough (choose a central location)
120㎡ or more or multiple layers: Mesh networking is recommended, 2-3 sets of routers
If there is a load-bearing wall in your home that divides the space into two halves: you must add a satellite router so that the signal cannot be bypassed.

Mesh networking vs. signal amplifier: Don’t choose the wrong one

Signal Booster (WiFi Relay):

Principle: Receive existing signals, re-amplify and transmit
Problem: The network speed is lost by about 50% (receiving and sending on the same channel), and the delay increases; the actual speed of the device connected to the repeater is much lower than the main router

Mesh Router:

Principle: Multiple devices share the same SSID, and the device automatically switches to the nearest node when moving around the house
Backhaul link: A good Mesh system uses independent frequency bands for "inter-node communication" without affecting the terminal rate
Suitable scenarios: 120㎡+ large apartments, multi-storey, irregular apartments

Actual meaning of router specification parameters

What does "AX3000" and "AX6000" mean:

This is the sum of the highest rates across all bands and does not represent single device speeds
AX3000 = 2.4G up to 574Mbps + 5G up to 2402Mbps ≈ 3000Mbps (actual single device cannot reach this number)

Gigabit port:

The WAN port must be Gigabit to be able to run full Gigabit broadband
If you have wired needs at home (NAS, desktop), the LAN port should also be Gigabit. Some high-end routers are equipped with 2.5G ports.

Processor and Memory:

The number and frequency of CPU cores affect the stability of multiple devices concurrently
Memory starting from 256MB, more than 512MB is more stable for use on multiple devices

Shopping list

Scenario	Recommended configuration
Single room and living room, 1–3 people	WiFi 6 dual-band, 2T2R
Two bedrooms, 4–6 people, multiple devices	WiFi 6 dual-band, with MU-MIMO, 1G LAN port
Three bedrooms 100㎡+, many smart homes	WiFi 6 Mesh set (2 units)
Large apartment 150㎡+ or duplex	WiFi 6E Mesh set (3 units)
Enthusiast/High Density Devices	WiFi 7 Flagship

*The technical parameters in this article are based on the IEEE 802.11 series standards and Wi-Fi Alliance certification specifications, and are not specific to specific brands and models. *