Best Wireless Boosters: 8 Best Wi-fi Range Extender reviews and Buying Guide

Last Updated on May 11, 2022

Best wi-fi range extender: The idea of watching a classic while lazing in your garden on a perfect summer afternoon or video chatting with your besties while relaxing by the pool has come across your mind quite a number of times but then reality has struck you. The poor wi-fi signal in these places or any further corner of the house would not allow you to do so. Thus you end up sitting just beneath the place where you have set up your w ifi router while doing anything important or else poor connectivity alert is going to pop up anytime.

There are several ways to deal with this problem. First, you can install another wi-fi along with a connection and end up paying double the amount you are paying now. Secondly, you can extend the wi-fi network connections cable all-around your house and install a whole home wi-fi network.

Both of these options are way too expensive. There is another reliable and cheap option available to you, all thanks to the development in technology, that is to install a wi fi booster that will help in extending the wi fi signals in all those areas where it is comparatively weaker or not available.

What is Wifi Range Extender

A wi-fi extender or a wi-fi booster is a device that helps in extending signals to areas that are not reachable by the wi fi. It simply rebroadcast the signals received by it to further corner of the house.

Therefore, if you place the wi-fi at a central location of the house and place wi-fi extenders at a distance where the wireless network signals are weak, then it is surely going to help. It will ensure that you get strong signals in the further corners as well. But at the same time remember that wi-fi extenders are not going to increase the speed of your wi-fi connection. It is going to send the same signals as received by it.

However, the challenge is to find out this particular spot, which will at such a distance so that it can catch strong signals from the wi-fi and then rebroadcast it to the area where the signals are weak. The best wi-fi extender comes with software that can detect the area up to which signals are strong. Make use of it to find the right place.

This is by far the cheapest way to deal with signals. Almost all wireless range extenders can be set up manually. You need to plug it to a socket and switch on the WPS of both the wi-fi and the extender and it is going to start working immediately. You can also set it up using the net in which case you would need the SSID and password of the wi-fi.

Now that you are acquainted with the functioning and use of wifi booster, you would be able to judge whether it is going to suffice your need or not. If it is thumbs up for you, here goes the list of the 8 best wireless extender reviews that will help you to pick the best one:

Best Wifi Extender 2022 reviews

1.Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 Desktop Wifi Extender (EX7000 – 100NAS)

Netgear’s Nighthawk E7000 is the first choice of all the tech experts. Such professionals are always on the lookout for what new products are available in the market, how does it work, their specifications and they even experiment with all these products to provide us with an honest review. Tech experts from Tom’s guide and other renowned tech sites have confirmed that Netgear’s Nighthawk is the best product available right now with the best coverage and range amongst all other options.

This device was tested by the techies and it showed that it could transfer 413.8mbps data when it was kept 5ft away from the main wi-fi router. When it was placed 50 ft away it could transfer about 38ombps and at 140 ft 285 Mbps. This is the highest throughput achieved by an extender so far. This device comes with three antennas and a 700 milliwatt amplifier inside the black box that sends across the signals using the antennas.

You can also change the existing antennas with one that can rotate to increase the device’s coverage area. This device also has a USB and LAN port with the help of which it can be connected to other gadgets at your home. And this extender work in both ranges 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Once the extender is connected you will have the option to customize all settings.

Pros:

Amongst all the wi-fi range extenders available in the market, this has the best throughput and range.

Cons:

It is pricey. But after seeing its performance you would not complain about the price anymore.

 

2.TP-Link AC1900 Dual Band Wifi Extender (RE500)

Another useful wi-fi booster that is going to extend net connection in an area that has weak signals in TP-Link AC1900 RE500. This device is powered by Wave 2 wi-fi technology which includes TurboQAM and 3 stream technologies thus promise to maintain the same speed as send across by the main wi-fi router. 3 streams imply that both wi-fi range extender of the device will have an extra streaming network to ensure a faster connection.

On the other hand, TurboQAM aids in enhancing the overall power of transferring data. With this device installed you can watch 4k video without buffering and play online games without any disturbance in the previously dead zones.

This device is powered by an intelligent processor that sends across the signals received by it to different processors and thus ensures speed on an existing wi-fi network connection. It comes with MU MIMO technology that lets wi-fi extender connect with more than one device in the same bandwidth and perform with any fault. Moreover, it is equipped with four antennas that promise more coverage and establish a strong connection in the dead zones of your home.

It also has beamforming technology that can read the direction from which the main router is sending across signals and send across its wireless signals in the same direction. It is provided with an ethernet port that can be used for connecting to other compatible gadgets or with the main router directly for a better connection. There are two LED lights that help you determine the right place to set it up. The red and blue light will glow when signals are weak and strong respective. It is a portable device that can be plugged in easily.

Pros:

Excellent wi-fi range extender which is well within your budget.

Cons:

It can take some extra time to set it up, especially if you have no knowledge of how a wireless network works.

3.Linksys AC1200 MAX Wi-Fi Gigabit Range Extender RE6500HG – FFP

Linksys AC1200 MAX RE6500 is also a great wi-fi extender that has received a good rating from customers in online sites. These wi-fi boosters comes with dual bands which means at the same point of time it can transmit 2.4 and 5 GHz frequencies.

Therefore, it can provide an internet connection to multiple gadgets of different frequencies at the same point of time without compromising with the speed of any one of them. Moreover, it is equipped with crossband technology i.e. one of the band receives signals and send it across through the other one. So there are fewer chances of networking interference.

It comes with two adjustable antennas with the help of which it sends across wi-fi signal to all the dead zones in your home. It has the best 1200 Mbps of throughput and equipped AC technology thus ensuring network coverage in the farthest corner of the house/office. Four super-fast Gigabit Ethernet ports are present in the wi-fi range extender that helps in linking the extender to other gadgets for establishing a strong wired connection.

Not only Ethernet ports, but it also comes with an audio input jack that will allow users to connect it with phones or music system and stream music. It is safe to use this extender in small office set up as comes with WPS and 128-bit encryption.

Pros:

Experts have vouched that this wi-fi repeater has a good coverage area. So bid adieu to dead zones.

Cons:

Pricey!! And again you may have to devote some extra hours for setting it up.

 

4.NETGEAR Nighthawk X4 AC2200 WiFi Extender (EX7300)

One of the best wi-fi extenders from NETGEAR, a renowned brand name in this sector is a good option for those who want to connect it with the latest smartphones and gadgets as it is compatible with all these. This is a dual-band extender supporting both 2.4 and 5 GHz to ensure strong network connection promising highest speed of about 1730mbps on the 5GHz band and 450mbps in the 2.4GHz band.

When tested with 5GHz throughput it was seen that when kept near the wireless router it could send across data at a speed of 388Mbps, 170Mbps at 25 ft and 115Mbps at 50 ft distance. With 2.4GHz throughput it could send data at 57.8 Mbps when kept very near, 43.7Mbps at 25 ft and 25 Mbps at 50 ft. This is a singular gadget that we have on our list that promises such a fast network connection. And the best part is it is compatible with almost all wi-fi routers (ac/g/n/b).

In the front panel of the device, there is a LED that changes color from green, to amber to red when the connection is strong, moderate and weak respectively.

This device is equipped with powerful many amplifiers and an internal antenna that aids in increasing the range up to which it can send across signals. The antenna’s beamforming signals that get wider as it radiates out of the extender thus promising better and strong range and coverage to a single gadget.

MU-MIMO aids in connecting multiple gadgets without compromising with the speed of any one of these. It has one gigabit Ethernet port so you can connect any your wired gadget connected to it directly. You also have the option to block sites using it so that the younger ones cannot get access to it.

Moreover, it also comes with low noise amplifiers for better connectivity with smartphones and tablets. It comes with Fastlane technology that allows users to choose one band to receive signals and other to emanate it. However, this technology can be used only when all the users are using either 2the .4GHz band or 5GHz band.

Pros:

It has the greatest throughput and range. So definitely it has better coverage. Easy to install.

Cons:

Definitely expensive, but well worth it.

5.Amped Wireless Helios AC2200 RE2200T

Helios RE2200T is the latest product launched by Amped. Though it is expensive but we assure you that all your problems with regard to weak signals will be gone once you install it. It promises to cover an area of 12,000 square ft. This device is one of the first gadgets to use the Qualcomm Tri Radio platform and thus offering excellent performance. This is a dual band wi-fi repeaters with the best bandwidth of two 866 Mbps on 5GHz band and about 400 Mbps on 2.4GHz band.

The USP of this product is that it has two 5GHz bands, one to receive signals from the main wi-fi and another to rebroadcast it. Since one band would be dedicated to doing a single job, therefore it promises much better performance. This device is compatible with all devices so you need not worry at all while purchasing it. It comes with four gigabit Ethernet ports so that you can connect to your wired gadgets with it directly.

When tested by experts it was seen to support the speed of 163 Mbps on 2.4 GHz band and 605 Mbps on 5GHz band which is definitely better than all the existing wi-fi extenders. As the distance kept on increasing there was a drop in the speed from 101 Mbps to 83 Mbps to 69 Mbps at 10ft, 20ft, and 30ft distance respectively. And the 5 GHz band throughput was 562 Mbps from 10 to 20 ft and then the speed dropped to 435 Mbps at 30 ft.

Therefore, undoubtedly its performance is better than its competitors and the presence of the DirectLink technology will help the user to enjoy the seamless connection. It has 12 powerful amplifiers and 4 external antennas to send and receive signals. It also comes with MU-MIMO that helps the device to remain connected with many gadgets at the same time and provide a constant connection to each one of them.

Pros:

Better coverage. Equipped with the latest technology for a seamless connection.

Cons:

Quite expensive!!

 

6.D-Link AC1200 Wi-Fi Range Extender (DAP-1620)

If you are looking for a wi-fi extender which is less expensive but works well at the same point of time, then D-Link’s DAP 1620 is a good choice that you can consider. It is a small device which you can directly connect with a plug. It also comes with dual-band thus ensuring seamless connectivity, two pull out antennas and one Ethernet port. The two bandwidths need to set up separately by the users which makes the installation procedure a little bit slow.

When tested it showed a throughput of about 300 Mbps at 5 Ft in 5GHz bandwidth. In 2.4 GHz bandwidth, the test results were not very impressive. But we must remember, that it is almost one-third of the price of the best wi-fi booster. It is perfect for those who have a moderate size house.

Pros:

Good performance and within budget.

Cons:

Will not be very effective in a large house.

 

7.Netgear AC750 (EX6100)

No products found.

Another good product from Netgear but it has its limitations as this is within the affordable range. If you are looking for a wi-fi extender that will work well within 100 ft range, then this is one of the best options available and within budget. It is a dual-band wi-fi booster and Netgear claims that it will support 300 Mbps speed on 2.5 GHz and 450 Mbps speed on 5 GHz band. It is a compact device that can be easily set up in a plug directly. It is provided with two 3.75 inch long antennas to receive and send signals over a large area.

On the front of the device LED light is present that indicates until which area the signals are strongest. This will help you to set it up at the optimum distance. And the LED light changes its color when the signals are weak. Another big advantage of using this device is that it has a simple installation process that is going to take the least amount of your valuable time. It can be connected with your router either with WPS or using a laptop or other gadget using the net.

Pros:

Well within budget.

Cons:

Wi-fi coverage area is rather small. Best suited for small homes with dead zone/s.

No products found.

 

8.TP Link AC1200 RE305

This is another good quality wi-fi extender which comes well within your budget. Though it does not have far reaching wi-fi coverage area and is a bit slow in comparison to other expensive wi-fi range extenders, it is good option for those who have limited demands. It is a dual band device with the 2.4 GHz promising speed of 300 Mbps and 5GHz speed of about 870 Mbps. It comes with a fast Ethernet cable as well which will help you to get it connected with wired gadgets.

It can be directly plugged into a socket and has two antennas for covering signals to the peripheral areas. LED lights present on the front of the device alerts you about the strength of the network constantly. The best part is this product comes with two years warranty from the manufacturer along with all kinds of support like the tp link tether app. So you definitely won’t crib after buying it.

Pros:

Works well and within budget.

Cons:

Not suitable for a big house.

Best Wi-Fi Extender 2022: Buyer’s Guide

Now that you have a rough idea about the various options available in the market, their specifications and limitations, there are certain important things that you must check before taking the final call:

Size of your home/office

This is one of the first and most important things that you must consider before buying a wi-fi repeater. If you have a big home and want the wi-fi range extender to cover a large area, you need to invest in the best and pricey options available. This is definitely going to help in eliminating the dead zones. A less expensive one with limited capability does not have the throughput or range to cover a huge area.

Compatibility

Also check whether the router and extender are compatible with each other in all aspects or not. If you end buying the latest extender but half of its hi-tech features are not compatible with your old router, then your problems would not get solved. Therefore, if you have a dual band AC router, go for wi-fi range extender with such specifications.

Wi-Fi Range Extender Types

There are two types of wi-fi range extenders available in the stores: desktop and Plug-In. Plug-In wi-fi range extenders are small in size and have limited specifications. They can be directly plugged into a circuit and switched on. These are suitable for small homes as it has limited features. On the other hand, desktop ones are almost like a router. It has all the features of a router like come with Ethernet port, USB port, antennas, and amplifiers. So they are perfect for a big house where the users have high expectations from the device.

Usage

This is another important and determining factor. Wifi extenders are definitely going to eliminate dead zones in your house. But consider what kind of usage you expect from the extender in such zones. Are you expecting it stream 4k videos without buffering, play online games, video chat and do such things that require strong connection? Then you need to go for the advanced wi-fi extenders that have the capability to meet up such demands.

Conclusion

These were certain general things that you need to consider before buying the best wi fi extender 2022 suited for your needs. We have also handpicked 8 best options available and highlighted their specifications, good and bad points so that you can make the best choice and eliminate all dead zones from your home. Hope this will help you!!

Related Post: We Must Read

• Best Gaming Keyboards 2019
• Best Electric toothbrush 2019
• Best Pressure Washer 2019
• Best Humidifiers reviews 
• Best Dash Camera 2019