How to Pick the Right Wireless Range Extender

by Rahul Chaudhary Technical Author

If you are facing a signal issue only in some of the areas in your house, then the router can be blamed and you need a supporting hand. This is where WiFi extenders offer help. They retransmit the WiFi signals from the access point or router to provide strong WiFi signals to weak areas that are the dead zones where the WiFi range doesn’t reach properly.

But how do you find the right WiFi range extender for your home? We’ve curated some important points to help you know that. Let’s take a look.

Frequency – There are two types: single 2.4GHz and dual band 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Mostly, expensive WiFi extender models support both the frequencies. While the lower frequency provides better coverage, the higher frequency provides better speed. If your range extender supports both bands, then you can benefit from the two. So, choose as per your needs.

Standards Compatibility – Compatibility makes sure there is a better integration between the range extender and the router. These are as follows: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac or IEEE 802.11 b/g/n or IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n compliant. It links with the age of your router and its frequency. So, the smart thing to do is check the standards that your router supports. If in doubt, you can go with any 802.11 a/b/n/ac router which is quite universal.

Profile – There are so many things to look on this end which go in line with your preferences. So, look at whether WiFi extender is Desktop or Plug based; whether there are only internal antennas or external ones too; whether the antennas are one or more. Your room’s space and your requirement let you decide whether you want something to be placed or plugged-in.

Security – Modern range extenders support the latest WPA2-PSK security protocol which offers the maximum level of security to home users. However, always be mindful to check the specifications before to ensure safety.

Manufacturer - Mostly, the range extender must be from the same manufacturer as your router. This ensures compatibility. Besides, check whether the router works on 2.4GHz or 5GHz or both and the range extender also supports the same. Likewise, the range extender which is IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n complaint will work great if the router offers the same feature.

Cost – Price is subjective. So, it depends on your specific budget to choose the device that suits your pocket. One thing that is true is that, in technology the pricier thing generally contains more features.

Ports – Another important point is the availability of Ethernet port for wired connection. Usually, desktop extenders can feature up to five Ethernet ports and plug-in devices can feature one or two Ethernet ports. So, you can connect your WiFi devices depending on the ports you get.

Performance – Not only the range but the performance of WiFi extenders is a very important point to consider while picking up a wireless range extender for your home. The bandwidth offered by the device provides information to know the data speeds. However, remember that the router it is paired with can limit the performance. So, make sure that your router offers maximum throughput and bandwidth.

The Bottom Line

With so many WiFi range extenders on the market, this is important that you invest your money in the right device. Since these devices can cost heavy, you cannot take any chance. The specifications, profile, features, compatibility, and security are all points to be considered with sharp eyes while buying a good WiFi extender for your home. For netgear users, a wifi repeater is, therefore, an essential part of any netgear extender setup environment. 

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Created on Jan 13th 2020 15:29. Viewed 397 times.

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