The Best Wireless Range Extenders for 2021

[donaldrsimonn]

With so many of us working from home due to the coronavirus, many US homes have more apps than ever careening across their Wi-Fi networks. And some of these require not only a good amount of bandwidth, but a steady amount of bandwidth. When they don't get it, that chat you're having with your boss on your company's voice over IP (VoIP) phone system suddenly sounds like one of you is underwater. The same goes for many consumer-grade apps, especially video streaming services, like Netflix, and certainly the latest games.


Most folks figure they need to upgrade their Wi-Fi in that situation, so they either buy a new wireless router or upgrade their Internet service or both. Well, hang on before you do that, because for well under $100 in most cases you have another option. Chances are, a range extender will get the job done. Aptly named, range extenders pick up your router's Wi-Fi signal, amplify it, and rebroadcast the boosted signal.

[carnachpace]

What makes them attractive is that they are easy to install and they don't cost too much so when paired with a budget-priced router, you can build a tandem system that gets as-good or possible better coverage than what you'd get from a single high-priced router. Range extenders come in various shapes, sizes, and speeds, but they have their limitations; they are typically half as fast as your primary router, and they create a separate extended network that makes seamless roaming difficult.

[jordanemu]

Depending on the size and layout of your home, a mid-to-high-end router may provide all the Wi-Fi coverage you'll need, but for homes built with dense materials like brick, concrete, plaster, and metal, some level of signal degradation is almost a certainty. Likewise, homes with multiple floors and many walls are more susceptible to signal loss than a one-story home with an open floor plan. In some cases you can relocate your router to a central location to deliver a stronger signal to those areas that were previously out of reach (dead zones). In most homes, however, the router's location is tied to the room where the internet enters the house, which means relocating the router will likely require running Ethernet cable to the desired area. Range extenders provide a relatively easy way to deliver Wi-Fi without having to run cables.

[foyerscraper]

When choosing a range extender it's important to choose one that matches your router's specs. For example, if you have a dual-band AC1900 router, get a dual-band AC1900 extender (or better). If your router supports Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) data streaming, which provides enhanced performance by sending data to compatible clients simultaneously rather than sequentially, look for an extender that supports this technology if you want to extend your MU-MIMO network.

[donaldrsimonn]

There are two types of range extenders; desktop and plug-in. Most desktop extenders look just like a typical wireless router and are typically equipped with external adjustable antennas, multiple LAN ports for connecting to devices like TVs and gaming consoles, and USB ports for attaching to peripherals such as storage drives and printers. Plug-in extenders are much smaller than their desktop counterparts and are inserted right into a wall outlet. Some models have external antennas, while others use internal antennas to present an unobtrusive profile. Due to their size, plug-in extenders usually only have a single LAN port and lack USB connectivity, making them less versatile but more affordable than desktop extenders. If you can't afford to sacrifice a wall outlet, look for a plug-in model that offers a pass-through outlet.

[carnachpace]

While fairly easy to configure, range extenders have their limitations. They often use a separate network SSID that you have to log into as you move through the house, and Wi-Fi speeds are typically half of what you get from your main router. Most dual-band extenders use both radio bands to transmit data to and from the router, which means devices connecting to the extender are competing for bandwidth with the router. To help alleviate network congestion, some manufacturers let you dedicate a band for router-to-extender communications. Netgear's Fastlane technology and Amped Wireless's BoostBand technology are good examples.

[jonsmaradona]

If messing around with your router settings seems too daunting, and you have a few dollars spare, invest in a Wi-Fi extender or repeater. These devices plug into a spare wall socket, connect to the wireless internet getting beamed out by your router, and then extend it further. Check this link right here now ==>> push 200 wifi booster