How to Use Wi-Fi Extenders to Improve Your Home Network – Part I Leave a comment

 

We’ve all experienced a Wi-Fi dead spot in some part of our home. While in other rooms a moderate to full signal is available, the Wi-Fi simply doesn’t seem to exist in these places. If troubleshooting efforts fail to improve your Wi-Fi connection, then it’s time to invest in a Wi-Fi extender to boost your home network performance.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss what Wi-Fi extenders are, the types available and how they work to improve the range of your Wi-Fi signal.

What is a Wi-Fi Extender?

A Wi-Fi extender (also known as a range extender and Wi-Fi repeater) is a device used to fix Wi-Fi dead spots. They improve the range of the wireless signal throughout your home by remedying connection problems.

How does it Work?

Wi-Fi routers mainly have two frequency ranges. The 802.11b and 802.11g routers use the spectrum of 2.4 GHz and the latest 802.11ac routers use the 5 GHz band. The 802.11n routers use both spectrums to transmit signals. A Wi-Fi signal can travel a certain distance without obstruction. In modern buildings, there are a lot of obstructions to weaken your wireless signal. If you aren’t sure what hampers the reach of your wireless network, then read about it here.

When you place a Wi-Fi extender in your home, it connects with the router wirelessly and captures the router signal to rebroadcast it into a stronger signal. As a result, it transmits the stronger signals from its location to the areas of your home where the Wi-Fi signal is weak or not reachable.

Simply put, Wi-Fi extenders expand the physical range of the Wireless LAN and amplify the existing signal.

What are the Types of Wi-Fi Extenders?

There are two types of range extenders available.

• Repeaters: These devices have antennas for receiving Wi-Fi signals and rebroadcasting them. They have their own broadcasting capacity by which they extend the home network signal when placed within range of the wireless router. 

• Wireless Bridges: These are devices that connect multiple wired computers and provide them access to an existing Wi-Fi network without actually extending the range of the signal.

In the next blog, we’ll discuss how to set up or place Wi-Fi extenders and how to choose the right Wi-Fi extenders for your home. We’ll also cover the best buy under $65 if you’re on a limited budget.