When you have too many wireless devices trying to access a router at the same time, your internet speed can suffer. This is especially true if the router isn’t capable of handling all that traffic. To solve this problem, you could use a WiFi extender to boost your signal and get better coverage throughout your home. If your home has a wired network with several computers and other devices connected to it, you might want to get an Ethernet cable as well as a new wireless router so that everyone stays connected. However, if you just want to extend your Wi-Fi signal and don’t need wired access in every room, a wireless range extender may be the answer. Keep reading to learn more about how they work, which one is best for your needs, and how to set one up correctly so that it doesn’t slow down your Internet speed!
Does a WiFi Extender Slow Down Internet Speed?
Yes, a WiFi extender can slow down your Internet speed. When you extend the range of your WiFi network by using an extender, you are essentially creating two networks—one that is closer to the router and one that is further away. The closer network will have a stronger signal and will be faster than the one that is further away. So, if you have a lot of devices connected to your network and they are all far from the router, you may see a significant slowdown in speeds.
Why You Might Need A Wifi Extender
- There are too many devices on your home network.
- You live in a large home and need to extend your WiFi signal throughout the house.
- You want to connect an older device to your wireless network that doesn’t have an Ethernet port for connecting directly to a router or modem.
- You want to connect to your home network when you’re away from home and have a WiFi hotspot.
- You need to boost the signal from a router that can’t adequately cover the area it needs to.
- You want more privacy by using an extender instead of connecting a device directly to your main router.
What Makes A Good Wifi Extender?
Ease Of Installation
If you’re like most people, you probably don’t have a lot of experience installing routers and WiFi extenders. While it’s not rocket science, it can be challenging to get everything set up correctly. If you don’t know what you’re doing, it may be easier to just return the product and get something else! To make installation easier, look for a WiFi range extender that comes with step-by-step instructions and has a setup wizard that makes it easy to enter your network settings. Also, keep in mind that many routers come with their own WiFi extender already installed. If this is the case, you might not need to buy another one!
Ease Of Use
WiFi range extenders are designed for convenience – they should be easy to use so that anyone can set them up quickly and start enjoying faster internet speeds right away. For example, some products come with a remote control so that you don’t have to get up and walk over to the extender itself. Also look for features like WiFi scheduling, which allows you to turn the extender on and off at certain times of day – this can help you save energy when it’s not needed. And if you plan to use your WiFi extender with a wired network, make sure it has plenty of Ethernet ports so that everyone stays connected.
Range
When shopping for a WiFi range extender, the range is one of the most important things to consider. If you have a large home or office, consider getting a dual-band product with 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies – this will give you more options for extending your signal, as well as faster speeds and more bandwidth overall. However, if your home is smaller, it might be fine with just one band at 2.4 GHz or less – in this case, it’s likely that this way you can use the internet at night without it interfering with your neighbors.
Smart Features
The best WiFi range extenders are smart devices that can be controlled through an app or a web-based interface. This makes it easy to change any settings, including the network name, password, and security type. You will also be able to see which devices are connected to the extender so that you can prioritize some over others if necessary. A smart WiFi range extender will also let you know when it needs a firmware update and will walk you through the process so that everything works smoothly!
Which Wireless Extender Is Best For You?
- AC1200 Wi-Fi Range Extender
- TP-Link AC1750 Wi-Fi Range Extender
- Netgear AC1200 WiFi Range Extender
- NETGEAR N300 Wi-Fi Range Extender
How To Set Up A Wifi Extender?
- First, you’ll want to make sure your new extender is compatible with your existing router. If they’re both from the same manufacturer, you shouldn’t have any problems. However, if they aren’t made by the same company, you may need to upgrade the firmware on one or both of them to ensure compatibility.
- Next, plug in your extender. Place it in an area of your home that has a good connection with your router but where WiFi signals are weak or nonexistent. You should place it as close as possible to where you have the best signal but still far enough away from it so that it isn’t connected directly to the router (you don’t want two routers competing for bandwidth).
- Once plugged in, turn on your extender and wait for a few minutes while it sets up its own wireless network and gets online. This will let you know if there are any issues with its connection to the Internet. If it can’t connect, you may have to reset your router or call your ISP.
- Once you’re sure your extender is connected to the Internet, power off your router and continue using your extender as a standalone access point. You can then connect all of the devices in your home that uses WiFi, including laptops, smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs.
- To set up security on your new WiFi network with an extender, you’ll want to make sure that both it and the main router are on the same network (you can find this information by logging into your router). Then, simply follow the instructions for setting up a new WiFi network on whatever devices you’re connecting (most smartphones and computers will walk you through this step-by-step).
Should You Get A Wireless Range Extender Or An Ethernet Cord?
If you need to connect more than one computer to the Internet.
If you have a desktop computer, but no WiFi router in your home, a wireless range extender is the best way to connect it to your existing router. With a wireless range extender, you can plug in your desktop computer anywhere in your house and have access to the Internet. If you already have a router and just need an Ethernet cable for one of your computers, an Ethernet cord will do the trick.
If you want to get rid of wires running through your house.
If you’re tired of all the cables running through your home and tripping over them when moving around, buying an Ethernet cord won’t solve that problem since it’s just another wire! A wireless range extender takes care of that problem by taking care of those wires for good! Best of all, with a wireless range extender, you can place it anywhere that gets good reception without worrying about tripping over any wires.
If you want to use your old router with a new wireless range extender.
If you already have a WiFi router, but it’s not performing up to par, you can use a wireless range extender to boost its signal and get better coverage throughout your home. You don’t need to buy a new router when you already have one that works! Just make sure that the router is compatible with the wireless range extender that you choose. If it isn’t, you may run into problems or even brick your router if you try using them together!
Bottom Line
If you have a large home with thick walls and low WiFi signal strength, or if there are too many wireless devices trying to access your router at once, a WiFi extender can boost your signal and make your network work better. There are two types of WiFi extenders: wireless and wired. A WiFi extender is an easy way to get better coverage and doesn’t require you to replace your router. When shopping for a WiFi extender, make sure to get one that is good for your needs and has a high signal strength.
