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What's the difference between WiFi Extender and WiFi Repeater

STOP making this common mistake and triple your WiFi speed

By Liron SegevPublished 4 years ago 2 min read
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If you are currently working or studying from home you know the frustration of having a weak WiFi. Your zoom sessions buffer, your YouTube doesn't load, websites are slow; all adding to the already stressful lockdown situation.

A quick Google search on how to boost your WiFi speed results in advice such as purchasing a WiFi Extender followed by WiFi Repeater.

What makes it more confusing is that companies seem to use these terms interchangably so are these the same thing or different?

What's the difference between WiFi Extender and WiFi Repeater ?

Both of these devices have the same aim: enhance your WiFi where there is none. However, they both go about it differently.

WiFi Extender: In order for a WiFi Extender to be effective, it should connect to your main router via a wired LAN connection. An Extender that has a hard-wire connection becomes a powerful access point which allows it to broadcast your WiFi signal without losing speed.

Typically a WiFi Extender creates a new WiFi Network which will have a EXT in the new WiFi name for eg. Study_EXT. You will need to connect your devices to that new WiFi whenever you are relying on the Extender.

WiFi Repeater: a WiFi Repeater isn’t typically connected via a LAN cable. It picks up your existing WiFi signal and re-broadcasts that signal. However, a WiFi repeater needs to receive a strong WiFi signal in order to repeat it. Therefore, the further it is away from your router the Repeater is, the weaker the signal is that it is trying to transmit which results in poo WiFi and Internet speed.

Not all WiFi Repeaters are the same – some are built better than others. Good repeaters will have two or more antennas and have the tech to both listen and transmit at the same time.

More confusion ...

Adding to the confusion is the fact that newer Extenders, the one that SHOULD be plugged in via LAN cable, will also work as Repeaters. In other words, you don’t HAVE to pug the LAN cable in for it to work. Therefore, when you set it up, you simply follow the prompts, choose the WiFi option and wonder why your WiFi speed isn’t what it’s supposed to be.

By doing this, what you have done is purchased an Extender and instead of taking advantage of its full power, you have downgraded it to become a Repeater.

Choose between Extender and a Repeater

If you are able to hard-wire the Extender than that is ideal for the best performance. If you are not, then purchase the cheaper Repeater option. However, don’t place it right at the edge of your Wifi network for any decent speed.

You can actually "see" your WiFi Signal so you know where to place your router and Extender for optimal performance. And if all this doens't help, and your WiFi is still slow and sluggish, here are 7 signs its time to upgrade your router.

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About the Creator

Liron Segev

Tech Blogger, YouTuber, Podcast - I make tech simple so EVERYONE can understand it and NOT just the geeks!

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