Are you experiencing slow internet speeds? It could be that your WiFi signal is not reaching all parts of your house. These areas are known as dead spots. These areas can disrupt VoIP calls or video conferences, slow down work and cause Netflix buffering. Solutions that minimize wireless problems and ensure strong WiFi connections are top-rated. It is tempting to drill holes in your house to run an Ethernet cable.
A WiFi extender can be a great way to expand the range of your network without much effort. But the main question is, do the best WiFi boosters for home? WiFi extenders are often discouraged and have been criticized in IT circles. This is partly because a WiFi extender is not a panacea for all WiFi problems. Sometimes a cable is better than a WiFi extender.
What is an Internet Booster?
The best WiFi boosters for home increase your signal strength. WiFi booster connects with your router and your computer and relays information. The WiFi booster’s function will differ depending on which model you have.
To use extenders, you pair the extender first with your router so that it knows where to connect. This will increase your WiFi coverage and eliminate dead spots. There are many names for it. It is also known as WiFi booster, WiFi extender, or WiFi Repeater.
Pros and Cons of WiFi Extenders
WiFi boosters have one main benefit: they improve signal strength throughout your home. These are pros and cons depending on the type of WiFi booster. This device provides additional WiFi signal coverage to your home and effectively eliminates WiFi dead areas to boost Internet speeds.
It is affordable, easy to set up, and can be used with any regular/traditional router. Some of its cons are that it creates another network to bridge the gap, and eliminate dead spots, and bandwidth could be halved due to the rebroadcast signal.
It requires you to switch your device over to the new network manually. There are compatibility issues with certain routers, so it may not be the best option for large homes and homes with multiple floors.
How Do Best WiFi Boosters For Home Work?
With that being said, let’s see how the best WiFi boosters for homework. Moreover, there are two different kinds of WiFi boosters which include:
Single-band WiFi Booster
A single-band WiFi booster will transmit and receive Internet signals in the same band as a WiFi booster. It ensures uninterrupted connectivity. These are the simplest type of wireless extenders. They can be used in either the 2.4 GHz or 5.0 band.
To communicate with clients or routers, they must use the same WiFi channel and frequency. One plus is the fact that single-band WiFi boosters are generally very affordable. It may be the right option for you if you are looking for an inexpensive extender.
However, ensure that the extender matches your router’s specifications. Speed loss is the main disadvantage of single-unit WiFi boosters. Nevertheless, the Internet signals coverage will increase in areas beyond the usual coverage, but the speed may be too slow. The boosters can cover dead areas in your home, but the latent rate is a continuous struggle.
Dual-Band Boosters
Dual-band WiFi repeaters, like dual-band routers, support both 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz WiFi frequencies. These repeaters support two bands so that clients can use one band for backhaul traffic and one for client traffic. This way, the performance limits you will face with single-band repeaters will be reduced.
Dual-band boosters, however, can overcome the usual speed losses due to their advanced processors. They can also be used to address compatibility issues. Some devices only support one band, such as a budget smartphone connecting to the 2.4Ghz band. Dual-band networks eliminate any problems that could arise from devices choosing one brand over the other.
Why You Should Buy A WiFi Booster?
There are several reasons due to why you should get your hands on a WiFi booster. But some of those include:
Improve In Network Range
For easy access and coverage throughout the entire home, most people prefer to keep the WiFi router close to the main entrance. Sometimes, however, it is the reverse. Slow Internet will always be a problem for someone working upstairs.
Imagine you have a 3-story building and your WiFi router’s location is on floor 1. Although the signal is strong on the second floor, it doesn’t reach the third. The WiFi router placed in the living room gives you the coverage advantage. A wireless extender can be placed on the second floor to share your connection with that extra boost.
Less Loss of Speed
The high speed of the Internet is not possible when multiple devices are connected to a router. Because many receiving units are connected to a router, you will often experience poor Internet connectivity. However, the sending unit is still standing alone.
This can lead to extra expense and additional effort. Does that mean you need to rely on slow Internet connections? It doesn’t. Installing a smart WiFi range extender will increase the performance of your Internet unit, allowing you to enjoy faster speeds.
Best WiFi Boosters for home
Now that all the main aspects are covered about the wifi booster, some of the best wifi boosters for home that you can get in the market include:
Product Image | Title | Brand | Buy |
---|---|---|---|
NETGEAR WiFi Mesh Range Extender | NETGEAR | Check Price | |
Rockspace Wireless Signal Booster | Rockspace | Check Price | |
TP-Link AX1500 WiFi Extender | TP-Link | Check Price |
TP-Link RE505X
TP-Link RE505X WiFi range extender is among the most affordable. It supports WiFi 6, which allows for faster speeds for current-gen devices using the latest WiFi radios. The two-prong plug is located on the back of the extender so that it doesn’t block access to the second outlet in a two–outlet receptacle.
The RE505X, powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, is a dual-band extender for AX1500 that can reach theoretical speeds up to 300Mbps in the 2.4GHz band. Additionally, 1,200Mbps in the 5GHz band. The RE505X can be used to extend the range on any router brand.
But if your goal is to create a mesh network, you will need to pair it up with a compatible TP-Link OneMesh router. The RE505X can be controlled with either the TP-Link Mobile app or a web console.
However, the web console will allow you to access more advanced settings such as blacklist and whitelist settings, power scheduling, and access control.
Rock Space AC1200 Wi-Fi Range Extender
- Data Transfer Rate: 1200 Megabits Per Second
- Speed: 1200 Mbps
The Rock Space AC1200 Wi-Fi extender is quite typical in appearance. But it’s also black rather than the usual white or light grey. The Rock Space AC1200 Wi-Fi Range Extender can boost the internet signals so that your home can be filled with wireless data.
It is small and compact. This unit features two external antennas that flip up, an Ethernet port (10/100Mbps) beneath, a WPS button, and the usual status lights for power, signal, WPS, and power. The Rock Space AC1200 does not have a passthrough for mains electricity, so it will take up all of the space you place.
This extender is built around the Realtek RTL8197FS Wi-Fi chip and can theoretically move 300Mbps in 2.4GHz mode and as high as 867 in 5GHz. It has an AC1200 rating. Rock Space extender can boost Wi-Fi 5 networks at both 2.4GHz and 5GHz. However, you cannot combine them into one unified network.
It’s capable of covering 1,292 square feet in all directions. Dual-band signals offer the best of both to maximize your range. Although the 5 GHz channel has a faster bandwidth, solid objects can block it. It can penetrate walls of drywall just fine. However, bricks, stone, and other heavy constructions will prevent them from reaching them.
Netgear Nighthawk X6S EX8000 Tri-band WiFi Booster
- Data Transfer Rate: 1733 Megabits Per Second
- Speed: 3000 mbps
The Nighthawk X6S EX8000 Tri-band WiFi Booster is powered by Tri-Band WiFi, which means it has three distinct WiFi bands for you to use. This allows you to connect more devices to your network and improve performance.
The booster also supports MU-MIMO technology, which helps devices communicate with each other more efficiently. This is especially important for gaming and streaming video. The Nighthawk X6S EX8000 Tri-band WiFi Booster also has a built-in firewall to keep your network safe. The firewall can protect your devices from hackers and malware.
It also has parental controls to help you manage what your kids can see and do online. The Nighthawk X6S EX8000 Tri-band WiFi Booster is easy to set up. Just plug it into an outlet and connect it to your modem. The booster will automatically find the best WiFi signal and start boosting it.
Its two 5GHz bands can reach speeds of up to 3167Mbps during the day and 1000Mpbs at night. The 2.4GHz band can reach speeds of up to 1000Mbps during the day and up to 400Mpbs at night.
The Nighthawk X6S EX8000 Tri-band WiFi Booster also has a download booster that will help speed up your downloads when you connect a storage device directly to it. It’s perfect for people who do most of their downloads on their mobile devices instead of with a computer.
Conclusion
Everything you need to know about the best Wifi boosters for home is mentioned above, which can help you get your hands on the best device on the market. Moreover, the Wifi extenders mentioned in the guide are some of the top-notch performing options you can also consider for your house.
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