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.Įarlier standards include 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5), 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11a, and 802.11b.

You should get a range extender that supports the Wi-Fi standard of your router: this is usually written somewhere on the device. What to look for in a Wi-Fi extender Wi-Fi standard While it can increase the network range, it will have less bandwidth than the router this means slower speeds. This can deliver a consistently high network speed to different parts of your home. 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.Īlthough more expensive, in some cases, a mesh router system that uses multiple devices to get strong signals to all corners of your house is the most suitable option. The range of your network signal isn’t the only thing that could be causing slow internet. 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. 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.

That’s why placement of a Wi-Fi extender is important. 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. However, Wi-Fi extenders will only extend the strength of the Wi-Fi signal at the point at which they’re placed. It rebroadcasts this signal on a different wireless channel to the one that your wireless router uses. Where is the best place to put a Wi-Fi extender?Ī 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.

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