I went ahead and ordered
this since it was on sale and since I know someone who has been using it without issues. I didn't buy an ac extender because again, my router only goes up to n.
I use Powerline Ethernet with success in my house. Something like the d-link dhp-p339av-powerline-av-500.
Basically runs the signal through the copper wiring in the house (outlet to outlet) with a wired connect to the router and computer on each end.
Probably cheaper than a massive long CAT-5.
It's something I've encountered when researching how to fix this, and something I'll consider if the range extender/possible cable don't work out.
Apologies if this was mentioned - how far away from the router are you and what materials are the walls made of?
I'd say about 75-100 feet. I think the walls are made of stucco, but I'm not exactly an engineer (and am not very well schooled in practical stuff like this, lol). I get about 3 bars on my phone, though, and it's nothing special (Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo). I was able to use my phone all whilst wanting to bang my head against the wall when I was having major drops for TFA on Sunday.
Going wired is the best option. About ten years ago I had a similar situation, and trying to play WoW with that shit connection sucked so I told my roommate id pay an extra 20 a month to run a 100 ft Ethernet cable.
My roommates seem amenable to running a cable, but it's going to be a logistical pain in the ass to wire up without any walking hazards or other obstructions along the way. Hopefully I'll be able to figure it out, though. Any suggestions for how I should secure down the cable if this does end up getting figured out? Is there a sort of tape or clip that you used 10 years ago?