Wireless connectivity has certainly improved over the years — but that’s not to say it’s always perfect. Even some of the best Wi-Fi setups have their flaws. However, if you’re resistant to an old-school, yet slightly more reliable, wired setup, there are options to improve your Wi-Fi when your provider fails to give you reliable service. One solution is picking up a Wi-Fi range extender.
This is especially useful for people with bigger homes that have a plethora of dead zones or far too many devices for one standalone Wi-Fi router to handle. If you do opt to purchase a Wi-Fi range extender, you’re likely to find that you had good Wi-Fi all along, but maybe it just needed a bit of a boost.
Of course, this will also save you a ton of money down the road, as you won’t require another Wi-Fi router or a “speedier” plan from your provider. We compiled a list of some of the best Wi-Fi range extenders for your home to get you help from the dead zones.
What are the best Wifi extenders?
After thoroughly comparing, and based on our BGR award metrics and scoring system, our pick is the TP-Link AC2600 Wifi Range Extender. The reason is that not only does it offer stellar performance and range, but the AC2600 has four adjustable antennas so you can fine tune where you want that Wi-Fi coverage to be. An upgraded pick would be the UniFi 802.11AC Indoor/Outdoor Wi-Fi Access Point with Plug & Play Mesh Technology at $99.
What is a Best Buy wifi extender people like?
People do tend to search Best Buy when it comes to computer and electronic products. Some of the favorites on there include the Linksys – AC750 Boost Range Extender, which has 4,875 reviews, and the NETGEAR Nighthawk X4 AC220 Dual-Band Wi-Fi Range Extender, which has 2,548 reviews. The wifi extender Best Buy has a sale on right now is the Nighthawk.
Most Powerful Wi-Fi Range Extender: TP-Link AC2600 Wifi Range Extender
Pros: MU-MIMO Wave 2 technology lets it talk to multiple devices at once, 2600Mbps of performance
Cons: Some customers have found it doesn’t last as long as others
The TP-Link AC1900 Wifi Range Extender is one of the most powerful Wi-Fi Range extenders on the market. This versatile booster works with any type of router (2.4GHz 800Mbps / 5GHz 1733Mbps) and can deliver an unrivaled 2600Mbps of performance. It features four adjustable antennae that you can provide uninterrupted coverage throughout your home, in addition to a Gigabit Ethernet port to give your network an ultra-high-speed connection. It can be used by almost any device you need it to, in your home, office, or job.
This is great for your mobile phone, Amazon Alexa-enabled devices, gaming consoles, and even a retail POS. The device even features a smart light indicator that gives you a better idea of where to place your extender for optimal connectivity. That ensures uninterrupted Wi-Fi service without making any major concessions to your pre-existing setup. This is easy to set up and can talk to two devices at once.
Best Wi-Fi Range Extenders for Small Homes: Rockspace AC750 WiFi Repeater
Pros: Covers 1,292 sq. ft., extends network easily
Cons: No indicator light other than a bad or good signal
If you’re someone who uses a multitude of smart devices contingent on high-speed internet at once, the Rockspace AC750 WiFi Repeater is a spectacular option. This item is particularly great for apartments or mid-sized homes, as it provides speeds of 300Mbps for 2.4GHz and 867Mbps for 5GHz and up to 1167 Mbps of combined dual-band speed that can cover up to 1292 sq. ft. at once. The intuitive extender will automatically adjust to a higher-quality band for better performance when necessary, making it a great option for streamers, gamers, and content consumers, in general.
It’s also pretty versatile, as it has a two-in-one connection mode. This will extend the network by pressing the WPS button for eight seconds. It is compatible with 99% of routers. There is a multi-secure connection, good for small businesses too. It can be hard to realize if it’s actually doing anything, thanks to the light indicators.
Best Wi-Fi Range Extenders for Value: NETGEAR Wifi Range Extender EX3700
Pros: Connects up to 15 devices, good cost
Cons: HD streaming is lacking
For those looking to go a little cheaper — yet still ultra-effective — the NETGEAR Wifi Range Extender EX3700 can cover up to 1,000 square feet at a super reasonable price. It can also connect up to 15 different devices. It works for your laptop, smartphone, gaming console, camera, speaker system, and more. Featuring an impressive 750Mbps performance using dual-band combined with patented FastLane technology, this extender is powerful enough to deliver flawless WiFi performance throughout your home.
It also comes with a wired ethernet port. So you can either plug your router, computer, gaming system, etc into the 10/100M port for maximum speed and uninterrupted connectivity. Factoring in price, power, and speed, this is a great bang-for-your-buck purchase, period. The cost efficiency of this allows it to make sense for so many. It may not be the best if you’re doing a lot of HD streaming.
Best for coverage: Uppoon WiFi Extender Signal Booster
Pros: Five application modes, lag-free connections
Cons: Not easy to switch networks on
Give your home 360° of coverage when you have the Uppoon WiFi Extender Signal Booster. This fixes dead zones and can cover up to 5,000 sq. ft. You can connect up to 35 devices to it. It can pass through walls, so those won’t cause interruptions. Lag-free connections will occur throughout your home. The WPS needs only a single tap to become set up.
There are five different application modes, so you can choose repeater, bridge, client, access point, or router mode. This provides speeds of 300Mbps for 2.4GHz and 867Mbps for 5GHz. You’ll enjoy secure network access. It also has wide compatibility. Make sure you have your network set up.
Best for outlets: Linksys RE7000 AC1900 Gigabit Range Extender
Pros: More compact than others, wireless MAC filtering
Cons: Have to reprogram some devices for connecting
The Linksys RE7000 AC1900 Gigabit Range Extender performs well and won’t be intrusive. We mean that because it will only take up on outlet, not too. Some of the best Wi-Fi range extenders have antennae that take over the other outlet you have, making it useless. This possesses cross band and beamforming technologies to optimize connections.
This boasts speeds up to 1900Mbps. It can be set up with the simple push of a button. This works with all routers and multi-user MIMO routers. It features wireless MAC filtering. You’ll be able to get better performances out of your smart TV, gaming console, Blu-ray player, and so much more.
Do WiFi extenders boosters really work?
These can definitely boost your WiFi but there are circumstances that you need to be aware of. The speed of your Internet is a huge factor, as the faster Internet can be boosted more easily. How much WiFi you use is also a big factor, as it can be harder for more devices to share a signal.
How far away you are from the router and or extender will also change the effectiveness. Also, where you live matters, as secluded areas with lots of trees can find it harder to pick up signals.
What is the difference between a WiFi extender and a WiFi booster?
A WiFi extender is a device that you place between your router and any dead spots in your home. That way, your dead spots are more limited. A WiFi extender falls under the WiFi booster umbrella, as a WiFi booster refers to a device that helps broaden your WiFi signal area.
Do WiFi extenders make WiFi faster?
WiFi extenders, in a sense, can make your WiFi faster. They eliminate dead spots in your home and help broaden your WiFi signal. So, by getting rid of the dead spots, your devices can start to work more efficiently and quicker. But they don’t add overall speed to your network connection.
How can I boost my WiFi signal in my home?
If you live in a place that has a lot of dead spots, a WiFi booster device is a smart choice. An extender or booster will be added to your regular WiFi signal in order to get rid of dead zones.
How can I increase my WiFi speed at home?
If you’re looking to get as much out of the current WiFi connections that you have, a WiFi extender and booster can help. You can also upgrade your current Internet package if you’re looking for more speed.
Does a WiFi extender slow down Internet speed?
No. On the contrary, it helps to speed up the WiFi to eliminate dead zones and make your devices faster.
Can I use 2 WiFi extenders?
Yes. This is even encouraged if you live in a large place with many dead spots.
Can a router be used as a WiFi extender?
You can configure an old router to be used as an extender. You can modify it so that it grabs the strong WiFi signal and redistributes it to harder-to-reach areas.
How can I boost my WiFi range extender?
Make sure you put it in the right place to get rid of the dead spots.
Which is better repeater or extender?
A WiFi repeater connects to your network wirelessly and then uses that network signal and sends it out again. A WiFi extender connects directly to your router in order to create a new WiFi network. That way, you can connect to the new WiFi network for a boosted signal. Repeaters aren’t great for areas where the original signal is weak.
How can I boost my WiFi signal for free?
Moving your router to a better area is an easy way. You should also make sure the antenna is pointing in the right direction. Adjusting your router settings to better accommodate what you need is another one.
What is the maximum range of WiFi?
The traditional 2.4GHz band will reach up to 150 feet indoors and 300 feet outdoors. 5GHz actually reaches a shorter amount of distance.
How do I extend my WiFi signal to another building 400 feet away?
You will need a lot of help, such as an antenna, a WiFi booster, a bridge, a mesh WiFi system, and more. It can be done, but you’ll have to set everything up properly in order to have that happen.
Can WiFi go through walls?
Yes, but it will struggle to go through metal and brick.
What is a mesh WiFi extender?
Mesh Wifi is meant for your entire home as it is nodes that are placed in each room to help boost the coverage of your home. The Wifi extender is placed between the dead spots and your router to extend the WiFi area.
Should WiFi extender have same SSID?
Yes, this way your device that connects to Wi-Fi can seamlessly roam from one access point to another. Otherwise you would have to manually disconnect from the weak network and manually connect to the strong network.
How can I fix a weak WiFi signal?
Placing a WiFi extender will help fix a weak signal. A WiFi repeater won’t be as successful if the signal is weak and you’re not using ethernet to connect them.
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