If you are reading this, you probably have Wi-Fi range, speed and coverage problems. Don’t panic! You can improve this with an extender at a minimal cost. Read on to learn all about this topic – you are sure to find the best Wi-Fi extender for you!
A bad Wi-Fi connection can totally ruin your computer experience. What can cause connection disruptions? Usually, it’s because of a weak router, but there are other reasons. Your house may be too big, or you may be trying to stretch your Wi-Fi signal too far. There are lots of ways to resolve this issue without needing to lay network cable around your house. Some people go for whole-home systems or power line adapters. This idea is very good, if money isn’t an object for you. However, if you want to save yourself a bit of money, the extender is what you need. Quick, easy and cheap – and reaches even the most isolated areas.
How do Wi-Fi extenders work?
Wi-Fi extenders bank on your existing Wi-Fi connection, providing a more powerful signal to those more distant places. They don’t improve the overall speed, nor will they substitute wired connections; but if all you need is the Internet in the basement, this is what you need.
It is usually easy to work with most Wi-Fi extenders. The setup is pretty straightforward – all you need to do is plug in the extender, then press the WPS button. Then you press the same button on your router, and they will connect. At least they should.
If it is a dual-band extender, you will need to perform this twice, but it remains a fast and straightforward process. Many extenders will also indicate using a light signal if the extender is too close, too far away, or at the exact right distance from your router. You can also use a web browser to configure your extender. In this case, all you need to have is your Wi-Fi name and password to set your extender up.
There are many extender brands to choose from – D-Link DAP-1320, Netgear EX3800, Netgear Nighthawk, Linksys RE6500 and more.
Here’s what else to do before getting an extender – buy a remote network or phone cable and attach it to a central point in your house, then run it along to your phone wall socket. This network guarantees better Wi-Fi connectivity in a larger number of areas within your home. You won’t have Internet access in your garden, but it will be an improvement.
What should you look for in a Wi-Fi extender?
It depends on the type you need – A, B, N, G and so on. The standards are always changing. Now there are AC, AD, and AX. Nowadays there are also two radio frequency bands you can choose from – the newer one is 5 GHz, and the older one is 2.4 GHz. Keep in mind that there are different speeds for AC and N standard, between 300 Mbps to over 1,900 Mbps!
