

You need to find somewhere that's close enough to the router to grab a strong signal to rebroadcast, but far enough away to extend the network's range to where it's needed. Placement Is Everything: Both wireless routers and Wi-Fi extenders use radio waves to share data back and forth with your internet connection.

If you have an older wireless-N router, then a matching extender will do the job just fine. But that's a problem only if your router is offering better speeds. The older 802.11n standard is slower and often is limited to one band, which will create a bottleneck in your Wi-Fi coverage, slowing down all of your browsing and streaming. If your wireless router uses the current 802.11ac standard, you’ll want to be sure your extender does, too.
Best wireless repeater for home network how to#
How to choose the best Wi-Fi extender for you If you have multiple rooms with spotty coverage, or a far end of the house that your router can't reach, or want to extend your coverage out to the backyard or garage, then a mesh kit is the better choice. However, if you have large portions of your home or property that don't get adequate Wi-Fi, you may need to step up to one of the best mesh Wi-Fi systems, which use multiple devices to create a larger shared network. Wi-Fi extenders are great for knocking out a specific dead spot, for giving you a little more signal with a little more range, enough to reach that far room or give your Wi-Fi a little oomph to make it to the next floor. A Wi-Fi extender is the perfect solution if you've got one room or one section of the house where your internet always seems to cut out. If most of your house is adequately served by the Wi-Fi router you already own, you may not need to buy a new one. With so many options for upgrading your home network, like getting a new router or a mesh router, or adding a Wi-Fi extender or powerline extender, how do you know which is the best option for you?
Best wireless repeater for home network full#
Read our full D-Link DAP-1720 Wi-Fi AC1750 Range Extender review. That verticality makes it one of the best Wi-Fi extenders available for getting signal to every floor of a multistory home, making it the perfect choice for anyone who finds their Wi-Fi signal dropping out when they go up or down stairs. Handy features like a built-in Ethernet port that can handle Gigabit speeds, and a physical on/off switch make it a capable tool for extending the reach of your router, but it serves up patchy performance and is so large that it risks blocking adjacent AC outlets.ĭespite some irregular performance, the D-Link DAP-1720 does particularly well when pushing signal to a floor above or below. D-Link's DAP-1720 is easy to set up, provides a convenient mobile app for managing device settings and can help fill a home with Wi-Fi.
