We are heavily relying on the internet these days. Kids are taking online classes and getting their schoolwork done. And adults are working from home and need the internet to keep the workflow smooth and efficient. Amidst this critical scenario, a lagging internet is a nightmare!
As for the rest of us, website buffering is quite frustrating. If you notice a slow connection in various areas of your home, it is a Wi-Fi problem. In that scenario, you may think of getting a router booster or a repeater. Well, here is good news. Take the speed of your lagging internet up a notch with a tiny device known as a Wi-Fi extender. Here’s all you need to know about it.
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Why Do You Need a Wi-Fi Extender?
You can connect a Wi-Fi extender with your router, through a wired or a wireless connection. It helps in extending your internet signals to every part of the house. Even those, which are dead zones because of the heavy furniture, walls, and other obstructions.
An extender is a separate device that connects with your Wi-Fi router to ensure stronger signal strength and coverage. It is also known as a Wi-Fi range extender.
How Does a Wi-Fi Extender Function?
When your internet-connected device makes a connection with the router, the extender grabs the available signal and re-broadcasts it. It does so on a different channel while acting as an intermediary to relay the internet signal. This ensures a wider range of Wi-Fi signals across the household.
The biggest challenge to make the extender work optimally is finding the right location for it. The placement is tricky because it needs to be close to the router to grab the signals.
But it also needs to be far enough to be able to rebroadcast the signals to the area of the house where you need stronger signal strength. You need your home’s Wi-Fi to be equally strong and accessible from all areas of the house.
Difference between a Wi-Fi Extender, Repeater and Booster
The market has several different devices to offer to enhance the range and signal strength of your wireless network. You will come across devices marketed as Wi-Fi boosters and Wi-Fi repeaters. In essence, all three aforementioned devices are the same because they perform the same function.
Their function is to strengthen and enhance the range of your Wi-Fi signal. However, there are a few differences. Let’s discuss them.
Wi-Fi Extender
As mentioned already, an extender grabs the existing Wi-Fi signal and re-airs it on a different channel. the chances of interference are lower because this device can connect to your router via an Ethernet cord or a coaxial cable.
An extender has been reviewed as a solid solution to having strong wireless signals in all parts of your home.
Wi-Fi Booster
Booster is just another name for a repeater or an extender. It functions in the same way. In a broader sense, a nest Wi-Fi system or a mesh system also falls in the category of range extenders or boosters.
These systems consist of multiple small routers and create a solid and reliable network of wireless signals around the house. They might be pricey solutions but they give results.
Wi-Fi Repeater
The function is the same as that of an extender. It is a fact that the extenders perform better than the repeaters. All repeaters have some speed loss. Especially single band repeaters. Because they have to receive and retransmit data packets using the same channel.
Are Wi-Fi Extenders Successful?
We have already mentioned that the effectiveness of a Wi-Fi extender heavily depends on its placement. It also depends on how reliable is your internet connection.
If you have subscribed to Cox Internet Starter or a similar plan by a reliable internet provider, chances are that you will enjoy solid signals. Even some popular ISPs suggest using extenders as a quick and easy solution to broaden your signal range.
Internet users have repeatedly shown their trust in Wi-extenders. They consider them a worthy solution to ensure a more reliable network. And it has also helped them change the scenery when work from home becomes tedious and monotonous.
Reasons to Have a Wi-Fi Extender
Have you been experiencing weak signals and dead zones in various parts of your home? Wondering if an extender can help? Consider the following three reasons to invest in a Wi-Fi extender.
You Experience a Lagging Internet on the Second Floor
You tried to pick an inconspicuous, perfect location to install your Wi-Fi router. And just like many people decide, you choose it to be the family room on the ground floor.
However, anyone who goes upstairs discovers that the walls and the distance between the Wi-Fi router and the device upstairs are too much. The result? Lagging internet speed and dead zones!
When you are thinking about enhancing coverage, think vertically! Install an extender upstairs in a room that is closest or directly above where the Wi-Fi router is placed downstairs. This way strong signals will be bounced easily and better coverage will be achieved for the users upstairs.
Multiple Users – Slow Loading Times
Have you been noticing that as the number of internet users increases in your home, your internet connection diminishes? For instance, during a party or get together, as more people log into your home network, the signals seem to fade away.
A Wi-Fi extender can help you here! It will allow you to access the internet network from anywhere in the home. It will also ensure solid and reliable signal strength and active browsing.
One thing you should make sure is to invest in the latest iteration of Wi-Fi extender technology. This will give you optimal results.
Using dual-band extenders are way better in performance as compared to the single-band, older extenders. Also, the latter is known to drop speeds as the signal travels a massive distance. Wi-Fi blast range extender is becoming immensely popular for its great performance.
The Signals Don’t Reach Outside
We always love to step outside to enjoy the fresh air whenever the weather is good. Spending time outdoors is fun especially in summers. We would even catch up on work and watch a show while sitting outdoors.
With a reliable internet provider that doesn’t bind you with a data cap, you should be able to move indoors and outdoors. You should be able to enjoy uninterrupted connectivity upon moving away from your router. But if the signals don’t reach, you will have to fix this issue.
One sign of signals not reaching is that your connection will disconnect and will require a password repeatedly. For instance, if your provider is Cox, it will require the Cox Wi-Fi password the moment you step on your deck, back porch, or lawn. Or anywhere away from the router.
The solution is to install a Wi-Fi extender close to the outdoor spot where you want to spend time. Try to keep the signals unobstructed. And you will be able to sip your coffee in your back yard while surfing the internet.
