As our world becomes more connected, a reliable WiFi signal has become less of a convenience and more of a necessity. From work commitments to entertainment and communicating with loved ones, a solid and steady wireless connection is crucial for our daily lives. But anyone who relies on WiFi regularly is probably familiar with the frustration of dead zones – those pesky areas where the i wireless signal seemingly evaporates into thin air. They can be frustrating and seemingly impossible to fix, but fortunately, there's a solution.

In this blog, we'll be diving deep into WiFi extenders. We'll talk about what they are, how they can help, and the key factors to consider if you're considering adding a WiFi extender to boost your home network.

 

What is a WiFi Extender?

The farther your router is from your devices, the harder it is for the WiFi signal to reach them effectively, leading to  a sluggish and unreliable connection. This is because WiFi signals use radio waves to transmit data between devices and the router, typically over radio bandle like 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz. While routers can broadcast them well, these signals  decrease in strength as they travel and encounter obstacles such as walls, appliances, and furniture. WiFi extenders, also known as wireless range extenders or simply extenders, are a  popular solution to improve your home’s wireless network. These devices are designed to amplify your existing WiFi signal and extend its reach to  areas of your home that previously had weak connections. Think of them as signal boosters that help to effectively eliminate dead zones and enhance your overall WiFi coverage.

 

How Do WiFi Extenders Work?

WiFi extenders work by connecting wirelessly to your existing WiFi network and then rebroadcasting the signal to those hard-to-reach spots throughout your home. In simpler terms: extenders act like a second router.

Introducing a WiFi extender into your home network acts like an intermediary bridge between your router and your devices. When strategically placed, these devices can catch the existing WiFi signal, amplify it, and then rebroadcast it further, effectively expanding the WiFi coverage in your home and eliminating dead zones.

 

Do WiFi Extenders Really Work?

WiFi extenders can be a game-changer for many households struggling with spotty WiFi coverage, but it's important to note that they aren't always a perfect solution. Generally, WiFi extenders are effective in expanding the signal range of your router and eliminating dead zones, but their effectiveness can vary based on several factors. The extender's quality and its placement - avoiding obstacles like large furniture, appliances, and other barriers - greatly impact performance. Additionally, homes with thick floors or multiple stories, such as two-story layouts, often face challenges providing strong WiFi signals in upstairs rooms. While they may significantly enhance the signal throughout your home, they might not work for everyone.

 

Do WiFi Extenders Increase Speed?

One common misconception about WiFi extenders is that they boost the overall speed of your Internet connection, which is not entirely true. While extenders significantly improve the signal strength and expand its coverage, they do not directly increase the maximum speed delivered by your Internet service provider (ISP). The maximum internet speed remains unchanged. However, with a more reliable signal, improved performance in the extended areas can lead to faster, more dependable connectivity and, a more enjoyable Internet experience.

 

Does a WiFi Extender Reduce Speed?

Depending on how your extender functions, it's possible you may experience  some overall reductions in signal speed. Extenders that frequently communicate with the router wirelessly often cause signal loss and slow downs because they interact with your devices on the same band as they interact with the router. Powerline-based extenders, on the other hand, use the existing electrical cables  in your home to create a direct link with your router, to avoid interference and maintain faster, more reliable WiFi coverage throughout your home.

Choosing the right extender, then, depends on your priorities. Powerline-based options preserve maximum speed, while wireless extenders provide flexibility, and while both can boost your signal and improve coverage, powerline-based extenders tend to suffer less from slowdowns caused by network congestion.

 

What's the Difference Between a WiFi Extender, Repeater, and Booster?

If you've been exploring WiFi extenders, you might have also encountered a couple of other names that are designed to improve your home internet coverage: WiFi repeaters and WiFi boosters.

So, what's the difference?

In essence, these three devices may refer to the same thing. Depending on how a device is marketed by the manufacturer, there may be little difference among any of these three. However, there are a few generally agreed-upon distinctions that can help you differentiate them  and decide which one might be best for your home network.

WiFi Repeaters

WiFi repeaters typically refer to devices that wirelessly connect to the host router to extend WiFi signals. As mentioned earlier, these devices can hurt your speed and signal since they communicate on the same frequency band as both your devices and the router. While they are functional, WiFi repeaters are generally considered older technology compared to powerline-based options, making them a  ess effective option between the two.

WiFi Extenders

WiFi extenders, on the other hand, are often distinguished as being the "better" option compared to repeaters. While they can also refer to the wireless option, extenders typically refer to devices that may use powerline technology to deliver stronger, more reliable WiFi coverage with improved performance.

WiFi Boosters

The term "WiFi boosters" is simply a generic reference for both WiFi extenders and WiFi repeaters. Depending on how the device's is marketed by retailers, a "booster" could be more like an extender or a repeater, which can make choosing the right device confusing for consumers.

 

Are There Other Options Too?

Another option that can help boost your WiFi signal is a mesh WiFi system. These systems are similar to extenders in that they use secondary devices to boost WiFi signals but differ in how they do this. Mesh  networks utilize strategically placed nodes throughout your home to create a "mesh" or net that works alongside the original signal and other nodes to blanket your entire home with strong wireless signal. The mesh router system is generally considered superior to extenders, but it may be more expensive and more complicated to set up than simply plugging in an extender. To learn more about the benefits of mesh networks and whether mesh networks are right for you, check out this informative article.

 

Get Better WiFi Coverage with Shentel

WiFi extenders can be a valuable tool for enhancing your home network by boosting signal strength and improving connectivity in hard-to-reach areas. By understanding how they work, your options, and optimizing their placement in your home, you can create a more seamless and reliable Internet experience.

Remember, while WiFi extenders are a practical solution for many situations, it's important to recognize that extenders aren't a one-size-fits-all solution and may only be able to address some of your home network's unique challenges. For more complex cases, you may need to consult your ISP for help, and that's why partnering with Shentel comes in handy! We offer affordable, high-speed Internet service, as well as TV package bundles and home phone services.

At Shentel, we make staying connected a breeze. With over 100 years of telecommunications experience and a dedicated team of experts, we are committed to providing top-notch Internet support whenever you need it. If you encounter any Internet connection troubles, don't hesitate to contact Shentel today and experience the unparalleled support you need to get connected better than ever.