Perhaps, you are struggling with weak signals and dead zones in certain parts of your home or office, right? And you are pondering the question: does that require a Wi-Fi extender? Let us work this down on how do WiFi extenders work in real and if they are the right choice for you.
Wi-Fi extenders are designed to strengthen the signal at places where the existing wireless network is weak. There are also some limitations that you must be aware of. They seem to work best when they can position themselves in a spot within the reach of a suitable Wi-Fi signal, and they’re a good temporary fix for smaller areas. But are they always effective? Let’s dive in.
What Are Wi-Fi Extenders and How Do They Work?
A Wi-Fi extender is also known as a Wi-Fi range extender. This operates based on the principle of collecting your router signal and then retransmitting it across other parts of your home or office. Therefore, it helps eliminate weak signal areas improving coverage in rooms previously out of reach.
However, you need to place your extender in the right position. The farther your extender is from your router, the slower your speed would be because a weak signal would not be able to be rebroadcast by your extender. Ideally, you would put the extender halfway between your router and the area you want to boost. With this, it can be ensured that the extender receives a strong signal to amplify.
Tips for Optimizing Your Wi-Fi Extender Performance
- Place the extender in a middle place between your router and the weak signal area.
- The signal weakening tends to be highly facilitated by walls and also some metallic objects, so it is going to decrease in effectiveness for extending good signal strength.
- Test the strength of the signal in different spots before you make any final decision on placing it.
WiFi Boosters vs. WiFi Extenders – What’s Better?
Wi-Fi boosters and extenders both can extend the range of your network, but work differently. A Wi-Fi extender will boost the signal but then retransmit it, whereas a Wi-Fi booster will strengthen the signal as it’s being sourced.
If the coverage area is relatively small, a Wi-Fi extender will suffice. However, if a strong signal strength is also required within the same general coverage area or more than one device will be connected, then you might require a Wi-Fi booster. Each has its pros and cons, so consider making a choice based on what you specifically need. Do you need to save a video in a more convenient way? Go to How can I download YouTube videos on a mac.
Wi-Fi Extenders for Xfinity and Spectrum
If you subscribe to Xfinity or Spectrum, there are several compatible with these services; however, compatibility will have to be confirmed at the time of purchase so their performance is known.
Common Problems of Wi-Fi Range Extenders
While extenders can be very effective at times, they do also have downsides to them. They usually reduce your bandwidth; as you’re redistributing the signal, it can cut the available speed in half or even worse depending on how many devices you have hooked up.
Interference is yet another issue. Placing the extender in a room with too many walls or electrical devices close to it can cause interference that might affect the signal. This could result in inconsistent performances or slower speeds in a portion of your home. For those who game, keeping the computer at peak performance is important. Consult Average GPU Temp While Playing Game.
Alternatives to Wi-Fi Extenders
If your home is big or you need the Wi-Fi to be strong in multiple rooms, you might want a mesh network instead. Mesh systems use multiple access points called nodes to create a seamless Wi-Fi network throughout your whole home. Unlike extenders, which rebroadcast a signal, mesh systems provide continuous coverage without dropping speed. Make sure to secure your network by reading our recommendations How Can You Protect Your Home Computer.
Top Brands for Wi-Fi Extenders and Mesh Networks
Some of the very best Wi-Fi extenders and mesh systems are by brands such as Netgear, TP-Link, and Cisco. So if you want to improve your overall Wi-Fi coverage, consider these. While configuring your network, also read about Windows Snipping Tool Shortcut for instant screen captures.
Conclusion
Do Wi-Fi extenders work in reality? In some cases, they do, but only in very particular situations where you want to amplify coverage in smaller areas. If you are having issues with a big house or require better speeds for smooth gaming or HD streaming, you’ll want to consider a mesh network or Wi-Fi booster. Either way, it is fairly easy to enhance your WiFi with the proper gear and just a little planning. Go to the main page of this website to find more solutions to your tech problems.