Buying guide for Best Wi-Fi extenders
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If you’re noticing slow internet speeds or experiencing shoddy connections, there could be many reasons for it. You may need to upgrade your internet plan to something that offers faster internet speeds. However, if you’re sure you have an adequate internet plan but still experience slow speeds or unreliable connections, the problem may lie with your wireless router. It may be unable to send a strong wireless signal throughout your home.
One solution is to buy a router that offers broader coverage. But an easier way to solve this problem is to get a Wi-Fi extender.
A Wi-Fi extender won’t speed up your internet, but it’s essentially an extension of your wireless router. It’ll provide a stronger signal to the devices in your home and let them establish reliable connections so you experience less buffering and lagging when gaming, streaming 4K content and uploading or downloading media.
A Wi-Fi extender looks like a small router and is easy to set up. All you need to do is connect it to a power outlet and run a setup process where you configure it to receive a signal from your wireless router. After that, it’s ready to go, and you can connect your devices directly to the new access point. The best place to put one is in a central location where it will receive a strong signal from a router and provide broad extended coverage.
Our top pick, the Netgear Orbi Outdoor Tri-Band Mesh Satellite Wi-Fi Extender, offers broad coverage, supports fast internet speeds and has an accompanying smartphone app where you can configure settings.
Best Wi-Fi extenders
This Wi-Fi extender is our top pick for a few key reasons, but primarily because it’s the best choice for coverage in large areas. It extends Wi-Fi coverage by up to 2,500 square feet, and Tri-Band mech technology provides blazing-fast internet speeds.
It offers wall-to-wall and floor-to-floor coverage, and it has an IP66 protection rating, making it highly weather-resistant with a temperature range of -20 to 50 degrees. Plus, the Orbi app makes it easy to set up, tweak settings, set up parental controls and check internet speed.
If you only need to slightly boost the Wi-Fi signal in your home to get a more reliable connection, this Wi-Fi extender is an excellent choice. It’s one of the more affordable options on our list, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t get the job done. It can boost coverage by up to 74% and offers five modes, each optimized for specific usage.
For example, one mode allows it to operate as an access point; another lets you use it as a secondary router. It has a Wi-Fi Protected button, an Ethernet port, a security encryption module and LEDs that indicate its status.
Those looking for a mid-tier Wi-Fi extender to speed up 4K streaming or gaming will be impressed with this unit. It has a quad-antenna design for broad coverage, and Mu-Mimo Wave 2 technology allows for equal communication to connected devices. It has a gigabit Ethernet port for a fast wired connection, and Beamforming technology provides a stronger connection to all connected devices.
LED indicators light up red when the signal is weak and blue when it’s strong, and the TP-Link Tether app makes it easy to manage settings, grant guest privileges and monitor firmware updates.
The Google Nest Wi-Fi extender provides broad coverage in small and medium-sized spaces. It offers equal connection speeds to devices in separate rooms. For example, if you’re streaming 4K content in one room, you won’t experience buffering or lagging if you start a FaceTime call from a device in a different room.
Built-in parental controls, an advanced security chip to prevent cyber attacks and two Ethernet ports for reliable, wired connections round out the list of offerings. Plus, you can create a guest network for password sharing, and it automatically updates itself to stay in optimal condition.
Wi-Fi 6 is all the rage these days, and we can’t blame anyone who wants it in their home, as Wi-Fi 6 technology is considerably faster than Wi-Fi 5. This Wi-Fi extender supports Wi-Fi 6 speeds and offers dual-band streaming with up to 2,000 square feet of coverage.
The push button makes it easy to hook it up to a router or connect devices to your network. It’s compatible with any router, and Beamforming technology establishes and maintains strong connections with wireless devices. Plus, you can manage settings and check internet speeds on the Linksys smartphone app.
This Wi-Fi extender is terrific for small and medium-sized homes and supports Wi-Fi 6 internet speeds. It has high-gain antennas that effectively eliminate dead spots, and Wi-Fi speeds can reach up to 1.5 gigabits per second on the 5-gigahertz channel and up to 300 megabits per second on the 2.4-gigahertz channel.
The auto-detect feature lets compatible devices connect to the strongest channel based on signal strength and speed. Also, it’s compatible with most other routers and range extenders, allowing you to create a mesh system for a secure network setup, and it has a high-performance tri-core processor.
One of the more affordable Wi-Fi extenders on our list, this D-Link unit is a fine choice for most users. It offers dual-band connectivity and features a high-speed gigabit Ethernet port to get a wired connection to a device such as a streaming device, computer or gaming console.
A feature not found on many other Wi-Fi extenders is the D-Link’s smart signal indicator, which lets you know the best place to set it up for optimal signal strength and coverage. It has an integrated wizard for quick setup, and you can download the smartphone app to adjust settings and monitor internet speed and usage.
What to consider before buying a Wi-Fi extender
Coverage
The point of a Wi-Fi extender is to get broader internet coverage. As such, you’ll want to make sure it effectively covers the area where you’ve been having trouble establishing a stable connection.
For a small or medium-sized home, you can get by with a Wi-Fi extender that offers up to 2,500 square feet of coverage. An extender that offers anything more than that is suitable for larger homes as well as outdoor use.
Dual-band connectivity
The best Wi-Fi extenders emit two wireless signals on different channels: a 2.4-gigahertz channel and a 5-gigahertz channel. The 5-gigahertz channel offers the fastest internet speeds and most reliable connections, but the signal strength isn’t always the strongest. More extensive are 2.4-channel signals, so an extender with dual-band connectivity gives you the flexibility to connect your wireless devices to either channel and can be based on which one provides the better connection.
Internet speed
Wi-Fi 6 is the latest wireless internet technology and provides the fastest speeds. Wi-Fi extenders synced with routers supporting Wi-Fi 6 provide the fastest speeds, but it’s important to be aware that not all devices support Wi-Fi 6 connections.
Setup and configuration
It may seem a bit daunting to integrate a Wi-Fi extender into an existing local area network, but luckily, most Wi-Fi extenders are easy to install. The best ones require you to plug them into a wall and download the appropriate app to your phone, where you can sync it to your wireless router. These apps often allow you to configure various settings, including privacy, security and guest sharing. Also, some have Wi-Fi Protected Setup buttons that make it easy to connect your wireless devices to the new access point.
Status indicator
If you’re unsure where your Wi-Fi extender will be most effective, it’s best to get one with a status indicator that lets you know how strong the connection is to your base router. Some will flash green or blue when the connection is strong and red when the signal is weak. That way, you’ll know where to place your Wi-Fi extender for the best results.
FAQ
Q. How much does a Wi-Fi extender cost?
A. The price of a Wi-Fi extender depends on its features. For example, extenders that support Wi-Fi 6 and offer extensive coverage are typically more expensive and can cost anywhere from $100 to $250. However, a standard extender for casual users can be much cheaper, costing between $30 and $100.
Q. How can I check my internet speed?
A. Most Wi-Fi extenders let you monitor your internet speed and usage through a smartphone app. However, if you get an extender without this feature, you can find free internet speed tests through a simple Google search.
Q. Is it necessary to get a Wi-Fi extender that’s the same brand as my wireless router?
A. No. However, in some cases, setup and configuration can be more manageable and accessible if your router and extender are made by the same company.
