What Do I Need To Know About Wi-Fi Extenders?

If your internet signal weakens when you move further away from your router, you may need this system to maintain a strong signal in your home.

If you're having trouble connecting in various parts of your house, you may have a wireless internet problem. And we all know that internet issues are not appropriate at this moment. The good news is that a small gadget known as a Wi-Fi extender will improve your poor connectivity to optimal levels.

What is a Wi-Fi Extender?

A Wi-Fi extender attaches to your router (via wireless or wired connection) to help expand your internet signal into rooms that are Wi-Fi dead zones due to walls, furniture, or general spacing. It's a stand-alone system that sits between your wireless router and the places where you'd like better Wi-Fi coverage.

How do Wi-Fi extenders work?

If your internet-connected computer and router have established a link, the Wi-Fi extender (also known as a Wi-Fi range extender) grabs the original signal and re-broadcasts it on a different channel than its current location, serving as a middleman to relay the connection. This will allow you to receive a wider range of wireless signals in your home.

Finding the ideal spot for your Wi-Fi extender is the most difficult task. It must be near enough to your router to pick up the signal, but far enough away to re-broadcast it to the room or place where you need more powerful home Wi-Fi.

Looking for an internet plans that
offer 24x7 assured speeds?

Connect now to get the best of broadband plans and get additional offers on:

Know More

What’s the difference between a Wi-Fi extender, Wi-Fi repeater and Wi-Fi booster?

You can also come across products sold as a "Wi-Fi repeater" or "Wi-Fi booster." They all serve the same purpose: to improve and extend the range of your wireless signal. They do, however, operate in slightly different ways.

1. Wi-Fi extender –

   This gadget operates by capturing and rebroadcasting an existing wireless signal on a separate channel. There's less risk of interference because it can link to your modem and router via coaxial cable or Ethernet cord. This means you'll have a good Wi-Fi signal in your house.

2. Wi-Fi repeater –

   These first-generation extenders function in the same way, grabbing and rebroadcasting the existing signal. However, since it links wirelessly to your router on the same frequency as your router, you'll only get half of the usable bandwidth, resulting in higher latency.

3. Wi-Fi boosters -

   Both Wi-Fi extenders and Wi-Fi repeaters are referred to as Wi-Fi boosters.

In case you are experiencing lag on your home wi-fi network, you can upgrade to ACT Fibernet to get faster speeds. View all broadband plans here.

Read tips and tricks to increase your wifi speed here