The purpose of a Wi-Fi signal booster or extender is to increase the coverage area of a Wi-Fi network by boosting existing signals. Wi-Fi extenders enable all wireless devices within the extended coverage area in order to connect to the internet or other wireless networks. It involves pulling in poor Wi-Fi signals from a transmitter in order to create a unique solution. The transmission is then amplified before being broadcast to more places where necessary. With a Wi-Fi signal booster, you can extend the range of your current Wi-Fi network to many floors and walls in a building, to every corner of your house, even to your yard, office or home.
Since you’re reading this, you probably have noticed that there are certain rooms or areas in your office or home where Wi-Fi is scarce. Wi-Fi boosters will boost coverage so that larger areas can be covered. Therefore, you will benefit from faster internet speeds as well as other advantages described below.
On a side note, if you are facing slow internet issues and do not want to use a Wi-Fi extender, consider switching your ISP. Do not worry about the affordability as there are many providers out there that are inexpensive but the reliability is top-notch. For instance, there is Wave. The speeds are pretty awesome and there is no contract hassle. Also, you can also customize your plan according to your demands and needs.
How do Wi-Fi boosters work?
It is first necessary to understand how a Wi-Fi booster works in order to purchase the most suitable one for your needs at home or in your business. Boosters begin working once they establish a connection between your router or access point and a wireless device, such as a laptop computer or smartphone with Wi-Fi enabled. In order to make the most of your cell phone’s web connection without consuming a lot of your allotted data package, you should turn on the access point or router. When the router is on, the data is instantly transmitted. A Wi-Fi booster can assist if it cannot reach your device in some corners, such as a tablet.
With the Wi-Fi feature enabled, the booster captures the transmission and returns it or pushes it to your cell phone. Wireless sends information to the booster before it reaches the router. Routers receive information from the web servers and relay it to them. After this process is completed, it starts all over again.
Your router and the Wi-Fi booster you select, as well as its standard, determine how fast the process will be. Wireless N (802.11n) is the most common standard used in most Wi-Fi reception boosters. The maximum bandwidth is 300 Mbps. Its speed and range are excellent, and its coverage is very interference-resistant.
A Wi-Fi booster can support both 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands with other wireless standards. 802.11ac is one of the newest generation standards. A bandwidth of 450 Mbps is available for the 2.4 GHz band, along with a bandwidth of 1300 Mbps for the 5 GHz band. It is true that interference can reduce the bandwidth of 802.11ac and the 802.11n standards. In the meantime, the internet provider might limit the speed, therefore averting the standards from reaching their full potential.
Where Should Wi-Fi Boosters Be Placed?
Depending on the product, a reception booster may need to be plugged into a wall outlet, placed on a flat surface, or mounted on a wall. Plugged into walls, such as in an office or home, Wi-Fi boosters seamlessly blend in with their surroundings. Despite their unobtrusive design, they can be placed practically anywhere near an outlet, including kitchens and hallways. Wi-Fi boosters with flat surfaces are limited to placement near a wall outlet because they need a flat surface. A wall-mounted Wi-Fi booster has the same benefits as both a flat surface and a plugged-in booster; they are easy to mount on a wall and they can be placed just about anywhere you want.
Pro Tip: Wi-Fi boosters are easy to install. The power supply should be connected to a location where the Wi-Fi network is already present. Log into the Wi-Fi booster on your laptop and enter your login credentials, including your Wi-Fi password. After connecting, the booster will increase its range.
Ethernet Ports
It is a good idea to check how many Ethernet ports a Wi-Fi booster has if you are buying one. A few come with one, while others have five. One of the major purposes of a Wi-Fi booster is to provide wireless coverage beyond that of a typical router. Multiple Ethernet ports come in handy when you are using stationary devices such as gaming consoles that are beyond the range of your router. For the most reliable throughput rate of data, you can connect the devices to the booster. It may be difficult to get transmission with stationary devices if the Wi-Fi booster has only a few ports.
Booster Range Increase
Wireless range is determined by the range increase of a Wi-Fi booster. A Wi-Fi booster can help bridge the gap if, for example, the living room and the kitchen are 300 feet apart but the wireless coverage is only 150 feet. Whenever a Wi-Fi booster does not completely cover a distance, a “dead zone” is created where no wireless devices are able to connect.
For this reason, knowing the range of the Wi-Fi booster you wish to purchase is important. Some increase range by 300 feet or more, while others increase the range by thousands. Some have a range increase of no more than 100 feet.
Antennas
With its antennas, the Wi-Fi booster can rebroadcast the reception from your router or your cellular device. There are two antennas in nearly every Wi-Fi booster. The first transmits the signal, while the second broadcasts it. Often, however, a Wi-Fi booster has three antennas, allowing one to capture wireless transmissions, while the other two to broadcast the reception that has been captured. This allows the range to be extended. External or internal antennas can be used on the booster. It should also be noted that antennas also aid in counterbalancing interferences, which also boosts performance.
Conclusion
Understanding why you need a Wi-Fi extender can be hard, but we hope this article helped you in that regard. If you have any queries about the installation process, please drop down your questions in the comments section below. We will get back to you soon.
