By Caitlin McCormack 2018-10-25 09:00:00 UTC If you’re trying to stream a show or update your social feeds, and you’re a ways away from your, you might find the connection slow or spoty. A WiFi extender, or range extender, can help to pick up your router's WiFi signal, amplify it, and rebroadcast the boosted signal. Not only are they easy to install, they can help provide Wi-Fi coverage in otherwise tricky spaces — such as homes with multiple floors or those made of brick, concrete, plaster, and metal. Whether you’re looking for a no-frills, basic plug-in WiFi extender or a full-fledged desktop extender to really boost your signal, we’ve got the seven best WiFi extender options to fit your needs. The is an excellent choice for those who want a real workhorse of a Wi-Fi extender, without necessarily breaking the bank. It clocks in at an affordable price point, and features full-blown, dual-band options with ample, hardwired Ethernet ports for a wealth of management options. Thanks to its AC1900 link rate, it provides up to a staggering 14,000 additional square feet of wireless coverage, with speeds of up to 1,300Mbps on the 5.0GHz frequency and up to 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz frequency.
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Oct 25, 2018 - For those who want the best speeds available with an array of. Spaces — such as homes with multiple floors or those made of brick, concrete,.
It can be set up horizontally, or mounted vertically on a wall for added installation convenience, and the LED indicators on top let you see easily see the extender’s status. Setup takes just minutes, and controls are easily accessed via an online console where users can customize security, user access, and Wi-Fi protected setup. Although this model offers ample options for configurations, parents will be disappointed that there is no dedicated parental controls page. Testing has shown this Wi-Fi extender to provide some of the fastest speeds available, which makes it an excellent choice for those who don’t want to settle when it comes to their wireless access. Combined with the array of management options, there isn’t a better unit out there right now.
Amazon user writes: “I bought this to replace an old Linksys RE6500 (discontinued, replaced by RE6700?). My router is in the next building, right next door, but the Linksys connection was weak and intermittent. This one is a revelation! So much faster and more reliable! On the downside, the setup/user interface is a bit wonky. If you're even a little technically inclined, though, you'll figure it out.
Overall, I'm just happy to see how well it works with the router located in the building next door.”. The is another solid choice for those looking for fast speeds, although it comes in at a somewhat higher price point than our top pick. It features a desktop design that almost looks like a router, and uses four adjustable and removable antennas to help provide up to 15,000 square feet of Wi-Fi coverage.
One thing that sets this Wi-Fi extender apart, is that is was designed specifically with the multi-device home in mind, and uses groundbreaking multi-user multiple input, multiple output (MU-MIMO) technology to help serve data to multiple devices at once. This allows for up to three times faster connections on all of your devices, compared with a traditional Wi-Fi extender — perfect for homes with a crowded network. While getting the MU-MIMO settings configured can take some time, it’s well worth the effort.
One thing to note about this Wi-Fi extender is that set up on a Mac is much more difficult than on a PC — something to keep in mind if you only operate on Apple products. Setup is completed via the web-based management console, which displays various network settings and details. Amazon user writes: “This wif repeater works very well. To cover a 2 acre property, I have the Athena-Ex connected to the Nighthawk AC2300 router. I have not experienced any lags or slow internet connections. The wifi range greatly expands throughout the whole property.
And yes there are many devices (smart TV's. Laptops, smartphones, etc.) connected to this repeater. A bit pricey, but in my opinion well worth it!”. For those who are looking for a Wi-Fi extender option that won’t hurt their bank account, is an excellent choice. Not only is it easy to install and affordable, but it provides up to 8,000 square feet of extended range coverage.
Since it is compatible with any router or access point, you can continue using it to expand and strengthen your network, even as it grows over time. There are three adjustable antennas on the top of this unit to help you get just the right setup, and the 2-year warranty and 24/7 technical support helps ensure even those without any technical knowledge won’t have difficulty setting this up. Speaking of setup, this extender uses the TP-Link Tether app on your mobile device for convenient setup and monitoring at home or on the go.
The AC1750 Wi-Fi coverage means you can enjoy fast speeds for online gaming and 4K video streaming. There’s also a Gigabit Ethernet port on the side of the unit if you want high-speed wireless connectivity with your favorite wired devices, or to create additional Wi-Fi hotspots. Amazon user writes: “I work from home and when it's nice outside I like to work outdoors when I can. This little extender really does the trick to help keep my laptop connected and enjoying a decent speed, even when outside. Very happy with this!”. The is another unit that features a plug-and-play design. Thanks to its smart roaming feature, it automatically switches your connection between your router and extender for seamless connection as you move about your home.
It connects to your home’s existing gateway, router, or ISP provided gateway to create a single network. Dual band coverage lets users swap between 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies.
Its design is quite large, without the option of a pass-through outlet, which may be off putting to some users. That said, it supports both beamforming and multi-user multiple input, multiple output (MU-MIMO), which is worth the trade-off on the design. One thing that sets this Wi-Fi extender apart from other models is that it doesn’t use external antennas, but rather an internal antenna array along with multiple high-power amplifiers to help boost your Wi-Fi signal. LED indicator lights on the unit make it easy to see if you have an excellent, good, or poor connection. It uses a web-based control page to monitor and customize settings, such as enable/disable each band, rename the SSID, change Wi-Fi passwords, limit speeds for each band, and create access schedules.
Amazon user writes: “Absolutely perfect for the design. Simple setup and some nice bells and whistles such as the ability to adjust output power in case you don’t need to broadcast to the next neighborhood.”. If you’re looking for a plug-in Wi-Fi extender that offers decent performance and still allows you to access your outlet, the r is a solid choice. While it doesn’t perform as well as some might like when it comes to 5GHz range performance, it handles 2.4GHz no problem.
It provides good throughput up to 25 feet, and the pass-through outlet is ideal for areas where outlet space is at a premium, but you still need better Wi-Fi coverage. There are two adjustable antennas positioned on either side of the extender, and an LED indicator light on the front of the unit. There is a single Gigabit LAN port, as well as an audio output, which may not be enough for all home’s needs. Those who aren’t super tech savvy will appreciate the easy-to-use management interface, and the plug-and-play installation. This unit uses crossband technology to provide reduced dropped data packets and faster media transfer speeds, while its beamforming technology ensures optimal network performance and uninterrupted streaming. Amazon user writes: “This product worked perfectly. I used the web access setup and had zero problems.
I purchased this to give my wife better WiFi coverage. And it worked perfectly.”. The might not be pretty to look at, but it more than makes up for it with its performance, and ample management options. Testing shows it to be highly reliable on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, with user-friendly setup. The fact that it also offers multi-user multiple input, multiple output (MU-MIMO) is another great feature.
There are four antennas on this unit, with two internal and two external. The external ones are quite unsightly, but can be angled or removed if desired.
It provides up to 12,000 square feet of additional Wi-Fi coverage, and despite its bulky size it does not block the second outlet while plugged in. The Gigabit LAN port on the bottom allows users to hardwire directly into the unit.
What really sets this Wi-Fi extender apart is the number of management options available through the web-based management console. Users can easily view their Home and Extended network details, and can customize settings for both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio bands individually. Options include access scheduling, user access, guest networking, and wireless coverage, as well as advanced settings that allow for the adjustment of Beacon Interval and Fragment Threshold levels.
Amazon user writes: “This is the second Wi-Fi extender I have purchased. I went the cheap route to start with and was very disappointing with the first one I got. After experiencing something so low quality, I truly appreciate what the Amped Wireless High Power AC2600 has to offer. The first device I bought did not let you connect to a router with a hidden ssid, support mac filters, tell you signal strengths or support dual band 5ghz. But this Amped Wireless device does! I might not have appreciated it as much as I do without the cheaper previous buy, but I am really happy. The boost feature seems to work pretty well too since I get a good 2ghz signal upstairs but not a good 5ghz signal.
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I can connect 5ghz to the extender which is using 2ghz to my router. Don't go cheap, if you are a nerd like me this is a way better option.”. For those looking for more than just a Wi-Fi extender, delivers. It also acts as a media server and an access point, offering additional value to the end user. While testing shows it performs very well in terms of 5GHz performance, its 2.4GHz performance is somewhat lagging.
It uses AC1200 technology for increased speed, range, and reliability, and is backward compatible with older wireless systems. There is a power status indicator and an internet status indicator on the front of the device, so you can easily see if your connection is ready to go. On the back of the unit are four gigabit Ethernet ports, a Reset button, a Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) button, a Power button, and a USB port. While having a USB port is convenient for file sharing, it's only a USB 2.0, rather than the faster USB 3.0. Setup is a breeze and takes just minutes with the mobile app, or by using the WPS button. It offers a choice of WEP, WPA, WPA2, or WPS secure encryption.
There’s even MAC address filtering, and guest-zone features. Amazon user writes: “I use this to get signal to all corners of my house. My three story home has a hard time getting good coverage for Wifi. This extends the signal of my wireless 802.11N signal to my basement. Just as advertised my speed is about 50% of max speed but I'm not downloading large files when on the extender. It works just fine streaming to my phone or TV over the extender.”.