Two identical routers

I have an Asus DSL-N55U router about 2 years old and I have bought an identical router about 2 years old on eBay.

Just been testing the spare router from eBay tonight and the 5Ghz signal seems a bit weaker. My Tv downstairs with my original router gets 3 bars but with the spare router only gets 2 bars. Also looking at the routers signal strength in the network list the TV ranges from 1 to 2 bars on the Asus network list on my original it is a solid 2 bars.

Amazing results from two identical routers.

Acrylic Wi-Fi on Windows is quite good for monitoring Wifi signal strength. The basic version is free.

Yes I have just installed that on my downstairs Desktop which also has the free version of Inssider on it. Time to do a bit of comparison.

Well, have run a BBC iPlayer HD stream over 5G for 45 minutes, no drop outs or buffering so it looks like the signal strength of the spare eBay router is acceptable.

Did you place the eBay router in literally exactly the same location, orientation etc as your original one?

NOT on top, alongside, near etc!

At 5 GHz, it is absolutely critical that those aspects are identical, if you want truly compatible comparisons.

The wavelength at 5 GHz is 60 mm, so quite small differences in location etc can have quite an effect.

For 2.4 GHz, 125 mm, so those aspects are slightly less critical.

Yes in exactly the same position. It streams HD over 5G without problem so that is good enough for me.

Not everything is identical, there is always something different, should not make that much of a difference. This is why I use lan more than Wi-fi, sure i need to use Wi-fi for my tablet , phone and chrome casts, but everything else is connected via lan. this computer which is upstairs is connected via a home plug to a Switch and then that is connected to my router.

In reply to a post by zyborg47:

Not everything is identical, there is always something different, should not make that much of a difference. This is why I use lan more than Wi-fi, sure i need to use Wi-fi for my tablet , phone and chrome casts, but everything else is connected via lan. this computer which is upstairs is connected via a home plug to a Switch and then that is connected to my router.

Google actually sell an Ethernet adapter for Chromecasts (it's supplied as standard with the Chromecast Ultra)

Edited by Davey_H (Sun 17-Sep-17 12:26:36)

In reply to a post by zyborg47:

Not everything is identical, there is always something different, should not make that much of a difference. This is why I use lan more than Wi-fi, sure i need to use Wi-fi for my tablet , phone and chrome casts, but everything else is connected via lan. this computer which is upstairs is connected via a home plug to a Switch and then that is connected to my router.

I have solved the wifi power difference by buying 3 of these. The power output of both devices is now identical when measured with Wifi analyser and Inssider.