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Do you hate switching between network names as you move in and out of range? It's annoying, but if you've already got a cutting-edge Wi-Fi 6 router, you're probably reluctant to ditch it in favor of a whole new mesh system. The EAX15 is a good alternative in this situation, extending the Wi-Fi signal to previously underserved locations in your house while letting you roam seamlessly from room to room without worrying about the name of the network you're on. Wi-Fi extenders can vary considerably in features and capabilities. The majority support 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz frequency bands and are known as dual-band devices, but some cheaper options are only single-band and use 2.4-GHz frequency to transmit data. Typically, dual-band extenders provide a faster connection because they have more bandwidth and experience less interference, which makes them a better choice for gaming and video streaming. However, single-band extenders have a farther range that can provide better coverage in spaces with many obstacles, such as walls and furniture. Higher-end tri-band extenders, which feature two 5-GHz bands and one 2.4-GHz band, cost more but give you the best coverage with the least interference. A cheaper alternative to the RE715X, the RE603X (currently sold at Costco) offers similar capabilities, though a lower maximum throughput. It’s a dual-band AX1750 extender that can reach maximum (theoretical) speeds of up to 574Mbps on the 2.4GHz band, and up to 1,201Mbps on the 5GHz band. As with the RE715X, the RE603X will work with any router, including older Wi-Fi 4 and Wi-Fi 5 routers, but you’ll have to pair it with a compatible TP-Link OneMesh router to create a true mesh network that offers seamless roaming with a single SSID. Who It's For If you want a small, discrete Wi-Fi extender that will reliably spread the coverage of your network throughout your home or office, then the Linksys RE7000 Max-Stream AC1900+ Wi-Fi Range Extender is a great affordable choice.
Installation and setup is always a concern so look for one that’s easy to connect to your existing network. And, make sure that it has the ports you need if you’re hoping to connect something that needs a physical connection like an older computer. Still, maybe the fastest possible throughput is what you're after. That could be 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. If so, be sure to test the connection between your endpoints to ensure you're getting the maximum traffic speeds you can. PCMag thoroughly tests all routers and range extenders that come through its doors so you'll have a good idea of what to expect before you buy.
TP-Link AX3000 Mesh WiFi 6 Extender (RE715X)
Like routers, extenders are rated in different classes, such as AC1200 and AC1750, where the number simply indicates the combined maximum speeds they are capable of supporting (measured in megabits per second, or Mbps). They come in a range of different shapes and sizes, from small plug-in units that will largely go unnoticed to bulky, desktop-style units you’ll need to clear some space for. H ow We Tested and Selected Whereas range extenders communicate with the router via the 2.4GHz or 5GHz radio bands, most Wi-Fi system satellites use mesh technology to talk to the router, and to each other. 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. Getting a newer wireless router is a must in that case since the connection itself will only improve with a better device at the heart of your network. Upgrading the router to a newer one that can handle more devices or has Wi-Fi 6 support will also be the better way to go if you have a slow connection.
Moreover, nearly all manufacturers offer web-based setup wizards and illustrated instructions that will help you configure basic wireless settings. Some (but not all) extenders are equipped with LED status indicators that tell you if the extender is too far from the router. Extenders can also offer advanced router-like features such as guest networking, access scheduling, and media server capabilities. The first outlet sat just five feet away from the router on the same floor, the second 25 feet from the router on a floor just below it, and the last in a garage 50 feet from the router separated by two floors and concrete. We used Ookla’s speed test to record the speeds of each extender from the same marked point on each floor. We compared the results to those of the router on its own for a control in addition to others in the pool to rank speed performance. To test for range, we connected the extender to the garage outlet, which is on the outskirts of our network, then walked in a straight line with a measuring wheel until we no longer received a Wi-Fi signal.Sometimes just one or two rooms in your house can't get a reliable Wi-Fi signal, while every other room is blessed with a strong connection. Or perhaps you live in a building with plaster walls and lead paint, known for killing signals even across relatively short distances. That's where the Linksys RE7000 can help. This Wi-Fi range extender achieved impressive results in our close-proximity tests (although performance did drop significantly when we moved further away). In addition to strong same-room performance, the RE7000 also offers extensive network customization options. Who It's For Supporting dual-band Wi-Fi 6 with a top speed of 1800Mbps, this may not be the fastest on the market. But on test, it's proven to meet the needs of most home broadband services, especially in maintaining that solid, consistent Wi-Fi signal throughout your space. This is the best Wi-Fi extender for games consoles, smart-TVs and other devices that work best with wired connections. The Linksys Velop offers a solid argument for a wireless mesh network’s ease of setup. But, its mesh Wi-Fi extender also makes a compelling case if you don’t want go to with nodes and want something that might be a little subtle. Instead of getting a node, you can get this one to connect to and extend your Linksys Velop Intelligent Mesh Wi-Fi router’s reach instead. Wi-Fi extenders, also known as Wi-Fi boosters or repeaters, are largely the same thing under a different name. If you have areas of your home where your current wireless internet cannot reach, they're the perfect piece of kit to boost your existing signal.
If you plan on expanding beyond one extender – maybe you need it for a large business – then consider a mesh extender as you can add additional units that will automatically find the best signal route for you. On that note, consider your budget. Mesh Wi-Fi systems are expensive. But, if you need more than one extender or need to replace the router as well, getting a Mesh Wi-Fi router will be more cost effective in the long run. What's the difference between a WiFi booster and a WiFi extender? It’s hard to beat the Eero’s expansive coverage and user-friendly app. How to Tell if You Need an Extender or Just a New RouterGoogle’s Nest Wi-Fi is an appealing mesh alternative, which forms a complete system instead of secondary networks. Each hub, which Google refers to as points, doubles as a Google Assistant-powered speaker that can stream music or podcasts, control connected devices, and do a lot of other voice-enabled skills. If you’re already living in Google’s smart home ecosystem, you won’t find a better Wi-Fi option. Setup in the Google Home app is remarkably easy; it took us less than 10 minutes from unboxing to surfing on our new network. In other words, if some of your devices are getting a good connection or the internet gets better the closer you are to the router, save some money and add an extender. Maybe you want your network to cover a couple of floors of a house or building, but some rooms are just not getting a signal. An extender is the perfect solution as it will take the existing signal, strengthen it and extend its reach so that you can access it or get a better connection where you couldn’t before. It's worth noting that many Wi-Fi extenders broadcast on a new Wi-Fi network with its own name, so you'll need to connect to a different Wi-Fi signal depending on where you are in your home. As most devices will automatically connect to a trusted signal, this isn't likely to cause too much of an issue. How do I know if I need a range extender or a router? If your router is having trouble delivering a strong Wi-Fi signal to certain areas of your home but you loathe the thought of switching between differently named networks for different parts of your house, the Netgear EAX15 can help. It’s easy to install, and you can use it to create a mesh-like network without buying a whole new mesh system, since it supports single-SSID naming for seamless roaming. It also supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology, and it delivered solid performance on the 5GHz band in our testing. Who It's For
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