#### Contents 1. [How do Wi-Fi extenders work?](#how-do-wifi-extenders-work-2) 2. [Do I need a Wi-Fi extender?](#do-i-need-a-wifi-extender-2) 3. [What to look for in a Wi-Fi extender](#what-to-look-for-in-a-wifi-extender-2) - [Wi-Fi standard](#wifi-standard-3) - [Range](#range-3) - [Features](#features-3) - [Connectivity](#connectivity-3) - [Design](#design-3) - [Price](#price-3) 4. [Where is the best place to put a Wi-Fi extender?](#where-is-the-best-place-to-put-a-wifi-extender-2) ## How do Wi-Fi extenders work? ![Someone plugging a Wi-Fi extender into a mains outlet against an orange wall.](https://cdn.productreview.com.au/resize/article-image/aa3a112d-419c-50ed-a4a9-1c25e0f0583a?width=826) A Wi-Fi extender (also called a Wi-Fi booster, Wi-Fi repeater or a wireless range extender) rebroadcasts and amplifies the existing Wi-Fi signal from your wireless router, acting as a bridge to improve the Wi-Fi coverage area. It rebroadcasts this signal on a different wireless channel to the one that your wireless router uses. However, Wi-Fi extenders will only extend the strength of the Wi-Fi signal at the point at which they’re placed. This means that if you place an extender at the edge of a Wi-Fi network, it will only boost that signal strength - that might just be one bar. That’s why placement of a Wi-Fi extender is important. ## Do I need a Wi-Fi extender? While Wi-Fi extenders can be useful in certain situations, they’re not always the be-all and end-all solution to slow internet speeds. They’re great as a spot fix when you have a specific dead zone that you want to provide coverage to, but won’t be that useful if you want to boost the signal around the whole periphery of your original network. The range of your network signal isn’t the only thing that could be causing slow internet. Before shopping for a Wi-Fi extender, you should check the placement of your router as well as your router itself - if you’ve been using the same one for the last 4 or 5 years, you might need a new one. Although more expensive, in some cases, a [mesh router system](https://www.productreview.com.au/c/wi-fi-extenders?1e308072-648f-470f-991b-c076a81fbd14%5B0%5D=297d8e93-336b-40d9-a873-2a701c05f659) that uses multiple devices to get strong signals to all corners of your house is the most suitable option. This can deliver a consistently high network speed to different parts of your home. Inexpensive way to expand your Wi-Fi network (compared to upgrading your internet plan or investing in a mesh router system). Don’t take up much room. Can substantially increase your network’s range, even allowing you to get coverage in a backyard if positioned in the right place. Many extenders broadcast on a new Wi-Fi network, which means you’ll need to connect to a different network in one part of your house and a different network in another part. While it can increase the network range, it will have less bandwidth than the router; this means slower speeds. ## What to look for in a Wi-Fi extender ### Wi-Fi standard You should get a range extender that supports the Wi-Fi standard of your router: this is usually written somewhere on the device. The latest standard is 802.11ax (also known as Wi-Fi 6); if you have a relatively new router, then it should have this standard. Earlier standards include 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5), 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11a, and 802.11b. ### Range The amount of area a Wi-Fi extender can cover (generally measured in square feet or square metres) is important in figuring out whether it will be able to boost your original network signal to the area you want it to. An advertised range for Wi-Fi signal booster can differ from real-world use; reading user reviews can help you figure out whether an extender actually delivers when it comes to great speeds at the marketed range. ### Features Internet boosters can have features that make them easier to use and control. - **Signal strength indicators:** These, along with companion mobile apps, can recommend ideal placement points for your extender as you move around your home holding your smartphone. Sometimes these come in the form of lights on the device itself to indicate the strength of the signal in the position it’s in. - **Mobile app:** A companion mobile app can sometimes offer a selection of advanced features. For example, you might be able to choose exactly who can connect, or schedule your connection to shut off at certain times (if, say, you want to make sure children aren’t online in the middle of the night). - **Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS):** This allows you to link the device to your router with a push of a button, making it simpler to set up. - **High Speed Mode:** This lets you to combine the bandwidth of both dual band channels so that you can get faster internet speeds. ### Connectivity If you want to plug in wired devices to your range extender, then you should know what kind of ports it has, and how many. For example, a Gigabit Ethernet port can help you connect wired devices such as gaming consoles or smart TVs. Some people prefer that their extenders have a USB port as well. ### Design Some internet extenders plug directly into a mains socket, while others have a larger desktop design that you’ll need to find some surface space for. For both types of extenders, check whether the dimensions of the device are suitable for where you want to place them. The bulkiness of some extenders that plug directly into a mains socket means that they block adjacent outlets, so make sure that this won’t be an issue for you before you buy. ### Price Wi-fi extenders can cost anywhere from $25 to as much as $400 or $500, but most decent models start at $120. ## Where is the best place to put a Wi-Fi extender? Placement of a Wi-Fi extender can be tricky, as placing it too far from your router will mean it’ll just rebroadcast a weak signal, but placing it too close to your router can render your extender almost useless. A good place to put a Wi-Fi range extender is about halfway between your router and the devices that aren’t receiving the signal strength that you want. The placement should still be where the extender gets full signal, or as many bars as possible. { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.productreview.com.au/c/wi-fi-extenders" }, "headline": "Best Wi-Fi Extenders", "description": "Read our buying guide to find a wi-fi extender that lets you stream, game, and browse to your heart's content.", "image": "https://cdn.productreview.com.au/resize/article-image/aa3a112d-419c-50ed-a4a9-1c25e0f0583a", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Clara Von Dinklage" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "ProductReview.com.au", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://cdn.productreview.com.au/assets/public/og_logo_1a8a64.png" } }, "datePublished": "2022-08-04", "dateModified": "2022-08-04" }

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