Just plug the signal booster in, press the WPS button, and then press the WPS button on your router within two minutes. Network speeds were inconsistent though -- and much slower in daytime hours, with a bigger dropoff than I saw with TP-Link. Most were underwhelming, which isn't too shocking when you're talking about a hunk of plastic that costs $30 or $40. The Netgear Nighthawk X4 AC2200 WiFi Range Extender (EX7300) installs in minutes, is one of the fastest plug-in range extenders we've tested, and supports MU-MIMO data streaming. 1 x Wireless Wifi Extender Repeater (US Plug). I placed them in the hall, halfway between the spots where I test in the hallway bathroom and the master bedroom, and close to the edge of where I'm able to get a strong signal from the router. Still, if the fastest possible throughput is what you're after, perhaps because you're running business applications across your network or because you're in the market for a gaming router or especially a Wi-Fi 6 router, then be sure to test the connection between your endpoints to ensure you're getting the maximum traffic speeds you can. I also spent time playing with each extender's settings. Wifi range extender became the most demanding device nowadays. Pairing a plug-in range extender with your home network is as easy as pressing the WPS button. Specifications: Type: Mesh extender | Size (HxWxDmm): 161 x 84 x … That mode actually wasn't as fast as sharing the 5GHz band like normal when I tested it out, because those incoming 2.4GHz speeds are limited, but it still might be a useful option in some setups. One last note: If you're living in a large-sized home, or if you need speeds faster than 100Mbps at range, then it's probably worth it to go ahead and upgrade to a mesh router that comes with its own range-extending satellite devices. All of that makes it a great choice for anyone looking to boost the signal to a back room that sits a bit too far beyond the router's reach. The connection wasn't quite as steady as what I saw when I tested a similar three-piece Eero setup last year, but my average speeds stayed well above 100Mbps throughout my entire house, even in the back. Best WiFi Range Extender Overall: TaoTronics Mesh WiFi Router Extender. However, in September, 2020, Amazon announced its Eero 6 and Eero Pro 6 wireless mesh networking systems. Luckily, a good Wi-Fi range extender can help. In the end, each one was able to maintain my connection in that back bathroom without dropping me, but only TP-Link and D-Link were able to sustain upload and download speeds that were fast enough for full internet usage. When choosing a range extender it's important to choose one that matches your router's specs. Depending on the size and layout of your home, a mid-to-high-end router may provide all the Wi-Fi coverage you'll need, but for homes built with dense materials like brick, concrete, plaster, and metal, some level of signal degradation is almost a certainty. The easy to plug-n-play router and extender offers better access and can even give safe encryption. NETGEAR Wifi Mesh Range Extender EX7500 - Coverage up to 2000 sq.ft. NETGEAR WiFi Range Extender EX5000 – Coverage up to 1500 Sq.Ft. The Ethernet port allows easy function while helping Wi-Fi get a better reach. I was able to stream HD video, browse the web and make video calls on the extender's network without any issue. Make that 50Mbps if you want to stream in 4K. and 40 devices with AC2200 Tri-Band Wireless Signal Booster/Repeater (up to 2200Mbps), plus … WPS button-based setup lets you skip all of that, which is nice -- but still, with most outlets offering it for about $50, this is one you can safely skip. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag. Most folks figure they need to upgrade their Wi-Fi in that situation, so they either buy a new wireless router or upgrade their Internet service or both. I didn't see much variance between test rounds, either, even between daytime testing and evening testing. *Deals are selected by our partner, TechBargains. Extenders can also offer advanced router-like features such as guest networking, access scheduling, and media server capabilities. Everyone wants to extend the range of internet connectivity and amplify the signal for better performance, and better speed. Setup was just as simple as what I experienced with TP-Link, too. Better still, I didn't have multiple networks and extension networks to jump between. Each node serves as a hop point for other nodes in the system, which helps the nodes farthest from the router to deliver a strong Wi-Fi signal as they talk to other nodes and don't rely on one-to-one communications with the router. If you're still working or attending school from home due to the ongoing pandemic, you're probably pushing your home's Wi-Fi network to the maximum. Chances are, a range extender will get the job done. Its a good handy range extender for dead zones. Until the middle of 2020, a single router and range extender combination would generally run you $50 to $100 less than a mesh networking system and sometimes much more than that. Due to their size, plug-in extenders usually only have a single LAN port and lack USB connectivity, making them less versatile but more affordable than desktop extenders. PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering Labs-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. Most, including all four that I tested, support Wi-Fi Protected Setup, or WPS, which is a universal protocol that wireless networking devices can use to connect with each other. The TP-Link AC1900 Wi-Fi Range Extender (RE580D) brings solid Wi-Fi and wired connectivity to areas of your home that your router can't reach. Like lots of folks, I'm working from home these days, so I tested each range extender out on my home network, a 300Mbps AT&T fiber connection. A 13-year veteran of PC Magazine's Labs (most recently as Director of Operations), John was responsible for the recruitment, training and management of the Labs technical staff, as well as evaluating and maintaining the integrity of the Labs testing machines and procedures. In each room, I ran multiple speed tests and logged the results. For example, if you have a dual-band AC1900 router, get a dual-band AC1900 extender (or better). In some cases you can relocate your router to a central location to deliver a stronger signal to those areas that were previously out of reach (dead zones). Netgear Nighthawk X4 AC2200 WiFi Range Extender (EX7300), TP-Link AC1750 Wi-Fi Range Extender (RE450), Amped Wireless Athena-EX High Power AC2600 Wi-Fi Range Extender (RE2600M), D-Link Wi-Fi Dual Band Range Extender DAP-1650, Amped Wireless AC1750 Wi-Fi Range Extender (RE1750A), Linksys RE7000 Max-Stream AC1900+ Wi-Fi Range Extender, Netgear Nighthawk X6S Tri-Band WiFi Mesh Extender (EX8000), TP-Link AC1900 Wi-Fi Range Extender (RE580D), Number of Wired LAN Ports (Excluding WAN Port), Best for Homes With Many Different Devices, Netgear EX3700 AC750 Wi-Fi Range Extender, How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad, How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill, How to Find Free Tools to Optimize Your Small Business, How to Get Started With Project Management, Read Netgear Nighthawk X4 AC2200 WiFi Range Extender (EX7300) Review, Read TP-Link AC1750 Wi-Fi Range Extender (RE450) Review, Read Amped Wireless Athena-EX High Power AC2600 Wi-Fi Range Extender (RE2600M) Review, Read D-Link Wi-Fi Dual Band Range Extender DAP-1650 Review, Read Amped Wireless AC1750 Wi-Fi Range Extender (RE1750A) Review, Read Linksys RE7000 Max-Stream AC1900+ Wi-Fi Range Extender Review, Read Netgear Nighthawk X6S Tri-Band WiFi Mesh Extender (EX8000) Review, Read TP-Link AC1900 Wi-Fi Range Extender (RE580D) Review, Read TP-Link AC750 WiFi Range Extender RE220 Review, Amped Wireless High Power AC2600 Wi-Fi Range Extender With MU-MIMO (REC44M). There are plenty of options that are both solid and affordable. TP-Link’s range extender isn’t the cheapest option in this roundup, but with a price that usually hovers around $100, it offers a compelling value for the price. The best Wi-Fi range extender in 2021. The Amped Wireless AC1750 Wi-Fi Range Extender (RE1750A) is a pricey dual-band range model that has lots of I/O ports and management options, and delivers solid 2.4GHz throughput. A two-piece extender like the TP-Link WPA8630 can broaden your network’s range without the downsides of traditional Wi-Fi extenders. Downward complies with 802.11g (54Mbit/s) and 802.11b standard (11Mbit/s). If that back bathroom were, say, a back office, I'd be miserable. Everything was consolidated to a single mesh network. Sure enough, my average speeds plummeted in that back bathroom, the farthest room from the router. It's also worth making sure that your range extender includes at least one Ethernet jack. At $35, the TP-Link RE220 was the least expensive range extender I tested, but that didn't stop it from outperforming everything else I tested at every turn. With so many of us working from home due to the coronavirus, many US homes have more apps than ever careening across their Wi-Fi networks. All four were serviceable, but the TP-Link RE220 was the only one that didn't present any issues with my internet connection. Solid close-proximity throughput performance. But don’t worry. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant. The 2.4GHz band was able to sustain workable speeds between 30 and 40Mbps throughout most of my home, which was strong enough to stream video with minimal buffering, or to hold a quick video call with a slight delay. The overall average across all tests was about 60Mbps, but that's overselling it. And if you've set up your home office too far away from the router, you've likely learned the hard way that dead zones in particular can be a real pain. The D-Link AC1200 Dual Band Gigabit Range Extender DAP-1650 is an affordable four-port range extender that also works as a media server and an access point and offers solid 5GHz performance. My top pick, the TP-Link RE220, makes it really easy to tweak settings via TP-Link's Tether app on an Android or iOS device. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. If you're considering upgrading your network with all new hardware, it's worth looking into a mesh-based Wi-Fi system before you spend money on a traditional router. What makes them attractive is that they are easy to install and they don't cost too much so when paired with a budget-priced router, you can build a tandem system that gets as-good or possible better coverage than what you'd get from a single high-priced router. Aptly named, range extenders pick up your router's Wi-Fi signal, amplify it, and rebroadcast the boosted signal. Wi-Fi systems are designed to blanket your home with wireless coverage and are made up of several networking components, including a main router and a series of satellite modules, or nodes, that you place throughout your home. but it will straightway chop the bandwidth by 50%. The 10 Best Wifi Range Extender 5gs 1,566 reviews scanned The 10 Best Wifi Range Extenders 9,963 reviews scanned Product comparison table # Product Name Popularity Score Quality Score The Linksys RE6350 left a lot to be desired. If your home Wi-Fi network just needs an extra room's worth of range, then there's no need to spend more than $30. In most homes, however, the router's location is tied to the room where the internet enters the house, which means relocating the router will likely require running Ethernet cable to the desired area. NETGEAR WiFi Range Extender - Essentials Edition, 300Mbps, Wall-plug, External Antenna AC1200 AC2200 WiFi Mesh Extender Dual-band WiFi Range Extender, 1.2Gbps, Wall-plug, Internal Antenna Some include app controls with extra features, too. The best add-on mesh Wi-Fi extender is the Netgear Nighthawk X4S Tri-Band Wi-Fi Range Extender. You've got more options than ever these days, including our top overall pick, Google's Nest Wifi, as well as three-piece mesh network setups from Eero, Netgear Orbi and TP-Link that cost $250 or less. The Best Wireless Range Extender Deals This Week* Netgear EX3700 AC750 Wi-Fi Range Extender — … The TP-Link AC1750 Wi-Fi Range Extender (RE450) delivers some of the fastest throughput scores we've seen, and it's a snap to install. The RE220 never once dropped my connection, and its speeds were consistent across multiple days of tests during both daytime and evening hours. Plug-in extenders are much smaller than their desktop counterparts and are inserted right into a wall outlet. Finally, I repeated the whole process during evening hours and averaged everything together. Speeds were strong throughout the rest of the house, as well, which suggests that the TP-Link RE220 offers the best range of the four, too. But most of today's routers and range extenders support WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), which makes pairing the two as simple as pressing a couple of buttons, naming your new extended network, and creating a network password. If you are on another ISP, we have the best Wi-Fi extender for Spectrum, Xfinity Wi-Fi extender top picks, Verizon Fios Wi-Fi extenders, and others reviewed for your choice. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. While fairly easy to configure, range extenders have their limitations. Software woes aside, the hardware seems pretty good with this range extender, and it has a dual external antenna setup. Discuss: The best Wi-Fi range extender in 2021, Best Wi-Fi range extender for almost everybody, Read more about improving your home's Wi-Fi, The 3 fastest VPNs we've tested: NordVPN, ExpressVPN and Surfshark compared, Best free VPNs: 5 reasons why they don't exist. It … Not only are these systems Wi-Fi 6, they also have a Zigbee smart home device hub built into the core router and they're dropping the average cost of a mesh system by between $100 and $200 depending on configuration. CNET editors pick the products and services we write about. That'll ensure that the range extender or mesh point is able to put out the best possible network, and that it'll be able to cover your dead zone. It's fast, it's reliable, it works with just about every router out there, and it's really easy to use. One seller has it listed new on Amazon for about $40, but I wouldn't spend more than $30 on it, given what the superior TP-Link RE220 costs. Very good throughput and range performance in testing. If you're after a Wi-Fi extender that provides best-in-class performance for expanding your wireless network throughout your home, then the Netgear Nighthawk X6S EX8000 Tri-band WiFi Extender …