Originally Posted by
aktor
5 GHz doesn't have as much penetration as 2.4, so I'd imagine going from the basement to your top floor would end up being worse.
I don't have a suggestion for a router, but I do have a question - is your router's antenna pointed up? Try pointing it sideways, on some (well, most), the signal radiates out and not forward from the tip.
If you have the budget, the FortiAP access points are simply amazing, but they're more aimed at offices and in an ideal environment they interface with a FortiGate firewall. They can work standalone, though. But man, those things pack a punch.
Having said all that, keep in mind that even if you receive amazing signal on the top floor, your device still has to send signal back to the AP downstairs. That's usually where the problems come in. Ideally, you'd want your main AP downstairs radiating upwards, and a secondary AP on the top floor radiating sideways.