WiFi extenders and internet boosters shouldn't be placed directly in the dead zone you're trying to cover instead, plug in your choice of best WiFi extender on the edge of your router's coverage nearest the dead zone. Where is the best place to put a WiFi extender in your house? That means you'll be able to get internet where you couldn't before, but it'll be at slower speeds. The only catch? Extenders often slow the signal a bit, since it's going through another device before it gets to you.

When WiFi extenders take your original router's signal and repeating it, this also makes the signal stronger, so you can pick it up from farther away. That's why they're also sometimes called WiFi repeaters or boosters-truth be told, the industry doesn't differentiate between them too much since they all have the same byproduct: they improve your WiFi coverage.

Mesh routers usually come in two or three components rather than a single router, and you connect them in different locations throughout the house. Because of this, routers that come with mesh technology are the best because, together, they deliver a strong and fast signal over a much larger coverage area than a typical router can do on its own.Wi-Fi extenders work by wirelessly connecting to your router and repeating the signal. The major disadvantage of extenders is that they usually have their own SSID, so you need to change Wi-Fi networks when going from one end of the house to the other.Īnother alternative: Upgrade to a mesh network. You'll generally need to plug them in close enough to your router that they receive a solid, reliable signal, but are close enough to your home's 'dead zone' to fill in the gap. These are small, affordable devices that amplify the Wi-Fi signal and therefore extend the coverage area in your home.

If you have an especially large house and your router isn't yet obsolete, you might want to add one or more Wi-Fi extenders. But if your router is limited to obsolete 802.11n or 802.11g standards, for example, you might want to look for an 802.11ac or Wi-Fi 6 router. Not only can a new router be expensive, but it's a lot of work to set up a new router and have your various devices join the network. Replacing your router is always something of a last resort.

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