WiFi Signal Booster
Today, technology and staying online have become critical for work and entertainment. Therefore, connection problems, such as excessive buffering, wireless dead zones, and breaking WiFi signals, are a huge no-no. But, what can you do if the internet connection in your home or office is sluggish? How can you improve its performance? An easy way to do this is by investing in WiFi signal boosters.
If you want decent signal reception, a WiFi signal booster comes in handy. Here’s what you should know about its pros, cons, setup, and other functionalities.
What Is A WiFi Signal Booster?
A WiFi signal booster or a WiFi extender is a device that expands the coverage range of your router. It uses the existing signals and boosts them to travel to distant areas in a building. Depending on the device, you can almost double the reach of your existing signal.
Apart from a WiFi signal booster, some other terms used for the same device are WiFi extender and WiFi repeater. Different manufacturers refer to their devices with different names since there’s no clear difference between these terms.
How To Set Up A WiFi Signal Booster?
Setting up a WiFi signal booster is a piece of cake since it only takes a few minutes. Depending on the device, you might just have to plug it into a power outlet nearest to your router and connect to your WiFi system. Some devices also automatically detect your WiFi system.
All boosters come with easy-to-follow instructions that will have the device set up in no time. However, you have to make sure you’re buying a WiFi signal booster that’s suitable for your network, home’s size, and the number of users.
WiFi signal boosters are available in two types: compact and desk models. You have to plug the compact boosters directly into the socket while the desk models sit on your TV console or any table.
Why Should You Get A WiFi Signal Booster?
WiFi extenders have many benefits, and here are some reasons you need one for your home or office.
Covering Dead Zones
A dead zone refers to the area that doesn’t get the WiFi signal. We all have a certain corner or room in the house where the signals disappear. The area is likely out of the router’s reach, or there’s an architectural feature that’s keeping the signal from reaching out.
Fortunately, a WiFi signal booster helps spread the signal’s reach to these areas, too.
Slow WiFi
Maybe you get the fastest internet speed when you’re sitting right next to the router. But you can’t be perched here for the whole day, can you?
If there are several parts in the house or office where the internet gets noticeably slower, a WiFi signal booster can help.
It will give your internet connection a performance boost, making it work uniformly everywhere.
Larger Spaces
If you have a large space, such as a big house or an office, you might not want to spend money on two or three routers to cover the whole area.
Instead, you can invest in a WiFi signal booster to extend the WiFi range to all corners of the building.
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Pros and Cons of WiFi Signal Boosters
Like any other piece of technology, WiFi signal boosters also have some cons. Let’s compare them with the pros of these devices.
Pros
- Cover dead zones
- Surpass architectural barriers or interferences from microwaves and other appliances to increase the network’s range
- Provide similar speed to rooms distant from the router
Cons
- Increased wireless interference if there are other networks on the channel
- Reduced wireless throughput
Best WiFi Signal Boosters
If you’re looking for the best WiFi signal boosters for your home or workplace, here are some options to check out.
TP-Link RE650 AC2600 WiFi Range Extender
The TP-Link WiFi extender is one of the best devices for larger homes and office spaces. It delivers phenomenal speed even 75 feet away from the router.
Moreover, the booster is easy to install and supports dual-band wireless AC. If it’s your first time installing a booster, you won’t have any trouble with this device since it has a smart indicator light that ensures optimal placement.
Pros
- It has a phone and tablet-compatible app
- Dual-band
- It has four external antennas
Cons
- Covers the adjacent outlets when plugged into the wall
It’s priced at $96, and you can monitor it using the Tether app from the company.
D-Link DAP-1720 WiFi AC1750 Range Extender
Priced at $79, the D-Link WiFi extender is a bang for the buck, considering it supports dual bands, 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz simultaneously, to ensure an uninterrupted internet connection.
Plus, it has a Gigabit port where you can connect devices, like smart TVs, gaming consoles, and Blu-ray players. The installation is pretty simple as the smart indicator tells you the optimal position for the device.
After that, all you have to do is click the WPS button and sync the device with your router.
Pros
- Suitable for two-story homes
- It has a mobile app for easy setup
- Speedy gigabit port for external devices
Cons
- Performance could be better
- Blocks nearby outlets
Netgear AX1800 4-Stream Mesh Extender
The Netgear WiFi booster, priced at $99, is a suitable pick for larger areas and multiple users. It covers 1,500 square feet and supports up to twenty devices, including laptops, smartphones, cameras, and others.
Since it has smart rRoaming, the device uses your network’s existing SSID name. This way, you can move around your home with your device without getting disconnected.
Offering universal compatibility, the Netgear WiFi extender works with any gateway, cable modem, or wireless router.
Pros
- It has universal compatibility
- It comes with in-built security
- Allows up to 20 wifi devices to connect
Cons
- It’s large, has to be placed on a table or desk
- It does not have any USB ports
Conclusion
Before you purchase a WiFi booster, you should determine whether you need one and how a range extender can help improve the internet speed. Hopefully the WiFi signal boosters we discussed will help you to decide!