This gives you a lot of flexibility during installation since the only limiting factor is the length of the power cable. Plug-in WiFi range extenders: Most WiFi range extenders sold today are designed to be plugged directly into a wall outlet. Plug-in WiFi range extenders are extremely convenient to install as long as you have an available outlet in a suitable location.
The good news is that most WiFi range extenders — both desktop and plug-in — that are sold today take just a few minutes to install and another few minutes to configure. Almost all of the best WiFi extenders available are equipped with an LED status indicator that clearly informs you when you find the perfect place for your extender. From there, you simply need to connect the extender to your existing WiFi network and pick a password for the new network. WiFi range extenders are tremendously useful devices that can instantly extend the reach of a weak WiFi network and eliminate places of signal weakness.
Separate network: WiFi range extenders create a separate network, which means that your devices must switch from your main network to the extended network as you move around your house.
Some devices can transition between WiFi networks relatively smoothly, while others take a long time. Broadcasting one more WiFi network can also create issues with signal interference, especially in the 2. Limited bandwidth: Because of how WiFi range extenders operate, they effectively reduce the available bandwidth in half for any device connected to them.
If network performance is critically important to you, it might be a good idea to research other solutions, such as mesh networks. Another device to configure: When you buy a WiFi range extender to increase the reach of your existing network, you need to configure it separately from your router.
From time to time, you should also check if there is an update available for your extender to keep it secure and in the best possible working condition.
If these limitations of WiFi range extenders are not dealbreakers for you, go ahead and move on to the next chapter of this article to learn how to use NetSpot to plan your WiFi extender purchase. To select the best WiFi range extender, you should check your current WiFi coverage to see where the weak spots are. In theory, you could take your smartphone or laptop and simply base your analysis on the WiFi strength indicator icon, but a professional wireless site surveillance app such as NetSpot will give you much more accurate results.
NetSpot comes with two survey modes: Discover and Survey. The former mode is great if you want to get a quick overview of all WiFi networks in your area, but the latter mode is what you need for a comprehensive WiFi survey. The polished, modern user interface removes all complexity from wireless network surveilling, allowing you to generate detailed signal heatmaps with a few clicks. It all starts with a map of your local area.
NetSpot will then analyze the gathered data and present you with results. The extender has four gigabit Ethernet ports for high-speed wired connections. D-Link has designed their product to be very easy to set up, and the use of Multiple Antenna Technology provides superior wireless coverage compared to standard home routers. Featuring Cross Band Technology for maximum use of both bands at the same time for high-speed connection as well as Beamforming Technology for directional transmission of the WiFi signal to the connected devices, the Linksys RE WiFi range extender has what it takes to cover up to 10, square feet with a strong WiFi signal.
The extender relies on a set of multiple-input and multiple-output technologies for wireless communication, known as MU-MIMO, to communicate with multiple devices simultaneously, allowing the entire family or office to enjoy high-bitrate multimedia content without buffering. Delivering speeds up to 2. Featuring three adjustable antennas that let you dial the extender for optimal coverage, the TP-Link AC can cover up to 10, square feet, helping you eliminate dead zones and expand your WiFi network to places where it would otherwise be inaccessible.
The TP-Link AC WiFi range extender has won numerous awards for its modern design and remarkable performance — both delivered at an affordable price.
This powerful WiFi extender from Linksys stands out with its four Gigabit Ethernet ports that ensure high-speed connectivity for wired devices.
The extender utilizes Cross-Band technology to broadcast a single WiFi network simultaneously on both the 2. The Linksys RE also boasts the ability to connect directly to a stereo system or audio speaker and stream music to it from a smart device or computer. Its two antennas are removable, so you can replace them with larger ones should you ever need even better performance. A WiFi extender is like an intercom for people who want to talk to each other from separate rooms.
The result: you can carry your laptop or tablet anywhere in your home and enjoy a high-quality internet connection. Rather, this number is a sum of potential speeds. When you add all three together, however, you could theoretically claim to have a 34 mph relay team.
That is what that AC number is: the combined potential speed of all the bands on your extender. It is important to look at the variables that would actually make a difference in your user experience. Do you have dial-up internet? Dial-up internet is measured in kilobits per second and is much slower. Although you wouldn't need a 1Gbps extender for a dial-up connection, you would want one if you had fiber optic service.
Speed is crucial for providing the best internet experience; you just can't expect to increase your internet speed beyond what your ISP is offering. A band is the range of frequencies that your WiFi extender uses. All WiFi extenders work on a 2. Some also work on a 5GHz band, which makes them dual-band WiFi extenders. Others have two 5GHz bands and one 2. Having multiple bands can help increase performance. It then dedicates a different band from the extender to your device, offering maximum WiFi performance for your particular system.
This can be useful for the high demands of gaming. It is not the most practical way, though — you couldn't go very far with your phone if it was connected to a line in the wall. However, some devices, such as a gaming system, are ideal for an Ethernet connection. Although there are physical limitations — for example, a smaller plug-in device can't have as many Ethernet ports as a larger device — the size of a WiFi extender mainly comes down to user preference.
If you run into trouble, it's more often a home network problem than a device problem. You will also start seeing desktop models that offer more Ethernet ports and dual-band networks. It ultimately forced me to reset the device. Software woes aside, the hardware seems good with this range extender and it has a dual external antenna setup. Since it's not quite the newest model from D-Link, there's a good chance you can find it on sale somewhere.
Netgear EX : It's a dated-looking device and it wasn't a strong performer in my tests. The 2. But the 5GHz band was surprisingly weak, often dropping into single digits with only a single wall separating my PC or connected device from the range extender. I wasn't a fan of the web interface, either -- it seemed more interested in getting me to register for the warranty and opt into marketing emails than in actually offering me any sort of control over the connection.
There's an app you can use instead, but it's only available on Android devices. By default, the device automatically steers you between the 2. The device supports automatic firmware upgrades, which is great, but you can't use the Linksys Wi-Fi app to tweak settings -- instead, you'll have to log in via the web portal. On top of all that, the RE seemed to be the least stable of all the extenders I tested, with more than one dropped connection during my tests.
Most plug-in range extenders only offer basic features at best, but the TP-Link RE also includes a signal strength tester and a High-Speed Mode in the app. Aside from my speed tests, I made sure to stream video in my bedroom on each extender's network and I made several video calls on each network, too.
I also spent time playing with each extender's settings. You shouldn't expect much, but most will at least make it easy to change the extension network's name or password.
Some include app controls with extra features, too. Again, the features make for slim pickings, but you can check signal strength or turn on High-Speed Mode, which dedicates the 2. That mode actually wasn't as fast as sharing the 5GHz band like normal when I tested it out, because those incoming 2.
Setting a range extender up is about as painless as it gets. Most, including all ten that I've tested here at home, support Wi-Fi Protected Setup, or WPS, which is a universal protocol that wireless networking devices can use to connect with each other.
Just plug the range extender in and wait a minute for it to boot up, press the WPS button and then press the WPS button on your router within two minutes. It's also worth making sure that your range extender includes at least one Ethernet port. If you can connect your wired device like a smart TV directly to it, then you'll enjoy speeds that are as fast as possible.
A mesh router with its own, dedicated range extenders will do an even better job of spreading a speedy Wi-Fi signal throughout your home and you can get one for less than you might think.
One last note: If you're living in a larger home, or if you need speeds faster than Mbps at range, then it's probably worth it to go ahead and upgrade to a mesh router that comes with its own range-extending satellite devices. You've got more options than ever these days, and just about all of them would likely outperform a standalone router paired with a plug-in range extender like the ones tested here. For instance, I had a three-piece TP-Link Deco M5 mesh router on hand during my tests, so I set it up and ran some speed tests alongside the four range extenders I initially tested.
My average speeds stayed well above Mbps throughout my entire house, even in the back. Better still, I didn't need to jump back and forth between my main network and separate extension networks. Everything was consolidated to a single, unified network and the mesh automatically routed my connection through an extender whenever it made sense.
If you can afford it, my recommendation is to invest in a system that does both, as tri-band design paired with Wi-Fi 6 makes for one of the most powerful combos you can get in a mesh router.
We're also seeing a new crop of mesh routers that support Wi-Fi 6E , which adds in exclusive access to the newly opened , ultra-wide 6GHz band. I've got plenty of information on systems like those in my full mesh router rundown , so be sure to give that a look, too. That said, if all you need is for your current router to maintain a steady signal one or two rooms farther into your home, then a simple range extender will probably do just fine -- especially if you buy the right one.
Got questions? Look me up on Twitter rycrist or send a message straight to my inbox by clicking the little envelope icon on my CNET profile page. In the meantime, I'll post answers to any commonly asked questions below. Equipped with a 33ft cable, both ends can be pulled at the same time, small size, easy to carry. When it comes to searching a optimal wifi range extender, the universal wifi range extenders is definitely your first choice. With no doubts, this wifi range extender passed the test and had very satisfied buyers eager to share their experience.
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