This is especially useful in large homes with multiple storeys or homes with thick walls or walls made of stone or brick. Put simply, it connects wirelessly to your main wifi source and amplifies the signal to reach corners of your home your wifi router can’t reach by itself. Wifi extenders FAQ What is a wifi extender?Ī wifi extender is a small device similar to a wifi router, which acts as a booster for your home’s wifi signal. Of course, even if the gadget is connected by cable to the Wi-Fi extender, the wireless journey from router to extender will impact the speed. Some caveats to start with: the speeds enjoyed by a laptop, say, that is wired to the router itself will exceed the speeds you’ll get wirelessly from the same router. A mesh also works well because the individual nodes talk to each other, rather than always back to the original router. These do a similar job but you can add multiple nodes (as the extra locations are often called) across your home. You could also look into a mesh Wi-Fi system. But they only work on one circuit, if you have more than one circuit in your home, then this system won’t work across both. Some extenders are powerline adapters – these are clever devices which plug into your mains system at the router and elsewhere, transmitting the signal through the power lines. The extender receives the signal from the router and broadcasts it again. How annoying.Ī Wi-Fi booster or extender increases the wireless range of your current router, and means you can enjoy internet connectivity in the furthest reaches of your home. Often, though, that software is second-rate compared to stand-alone apps for analyzing your Wi-Fi.You know how it is: you’ve just invested in a new router, perhaps a new internet service provider, and while the promised connection speeds have materialised, they just don’t quite stretch to the study or the bedroom. App AssistanceĬhances are that any extender you buy comes with its own software for optimizing its position and performance. If you experience this issue, try using a different network name for the extended segment. But it also means that there can be problems in the areas covered by both the router and the extender where their signals overlap. Using the same log-in credentials allows you to roam between the router and extender without re-logging in and connect with networked printers and storage drives. When setting up the extender you’ll have to decide whether to keep the same network name and encryption passcode or use a different one. The prime culprits here are microwave ovens, cordless phones, refrigerators or even baby monitors. Another big disruptor of Wi-Fi extenders are stray radio-frequency signals from things that interfere with the Wi-Fi signals. When picking your extender’s location, avoid objects that will either reflect the signal (like mirrors or large pieces of metal) or absorb it (walls, closets or masonry supports). In fact, it often works best in multi-story situations if the router and extender are roughly above or below each other. Solve this by moving the extender closer to the router than you might if both devices were on the same floor. However, when setting up an extender for a floor above or below the router (such as for a basement or attic), you’ll need to take account of the extra height and all the wood, steel and plaster in your floors and ceilings - building materials that can absorb part of the Wi-Fi signal. If you have a ranch house or a single-floor apartment, you should be home-free. Upstairs, downstairs: Better signal in multistory homes Netgear's Nighthawk EX7000 is among our top choices for Wi-Fi extenders.
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