When we think of having the fastest and most stable connection possible, we think of the Ethernet network cable. The problems come because we cannot always take that network cable to the place we want. In many homes, we find thick walls or other architectural barriers that make it difficult to install. It should also be noted that many homes, especially old ones, lack the adequate pipes to install them easily. If we add that sometimes, the electrical installation is old, using PLC we would not obtain the expected results. So, we realize that the best alternative is Wi-Fi. In that sense, we realize that the best we can do is buy a Wi-Fi repeater.
One thing you should know is that a Wi-Fi router is designed to be used on the same floor. Also, it should be noted that in the same plant there may be points where we do not have good coverage. If we have one or more upper floors it will be even lower. And if we put the antennas horizontally, we would lose coverage on that floor and we would gain something on the ones above. The cheapest way to solve it is to buy a Wi-Fi repeater. Here we are going to explain what they are, how we should place them and other things to take into account when making your purchase.
What is a repeater and how should we place it
A Wi-Fi repeater can be defined as a device whose purpose is to collect the signal it receives and amplify it, with the aim of expanding the range of the signal, and being able to provide coverage where only the router does not reach. It should also be noted that it can be called a WiFi amplifier.
The job of these devices is to propagate the Wi-Fi signal it receives from a sender, which is usually a Wi-Fi router. Regarding its use, it extends both in open and closed spaces. Thus, it can be used both in the home, office, industrial level in open centers, or open spaces such as gardens.
To fulfill its mission, the WiFi repeater must be within range of the signal emitted by the router in order to receive and amplify it. If the signal reaches a point badly, the ideal would be to place it halfway so that it repeats the signal from there, it is an error if you connect a WiFi repeater :
- Very close to the router, although the signal will repeat it, we will not be able to reach all parts of the house.
- Very close to the router, if the signal reaches the repeater badly, we will get a low speed, although the coverage is excellent in a certain area.
We must connect the WiFi repeater halfway, and check different areas to have the best possible performance. The installation is quite easy, and it is simply to connect the repeater in a socket, to later carry out the synchronization. Sometimes this process is done automatically, although sometimes it may also require some extra configuration or the use of a mobile application.
What should we look for when buying a Wi-Fi repeater
When buying a Wi-Fi repeater, the first thing we have to be clear about is where we are going to place it. In that sense we could classify it into two types:
- Indoor WiFi repeaters : they are the ones we place inside our home, office or other closed spaces. They are also the ones that we usually buy the most, they are also the cheapest.
- Outdoor WiFi repeaters : they are the ones we place outdoors and are more exposed to weather conditions. In addition, they usually have protection against dust and water, such as IP65. One number refers to protection against dust and the other to water, the higher the better.
Another very important aspect that we must pay attention to when buying a Wi-Fi repeater is its Wi-Fi version and Wi-Fi class . Currently Wi-Fi 6, although it is the fastest, has a number of drawbacks. One of them is that it is more expensive, and the other is that the vast majority of current devices do not support this standard, although it can be connected correctly, it will do so in WIFi 4 or WiFi 5 mode, wasting the benefits of the new Wi-Fi standard. 6.
This implies that, if you want to enjoy it, you will have to buy a WiFi 6 adapter for your laptop or PC, in addition to having compatible devices. Therefore, today the best thing is a good Wi-Fi 5 repeater that complies with the 802.11ac standard. In that sense, the higher the class the better, for example, an AC3000 repeater will offer higher performance than an AC1200.
Another point that we must look at is if they have a dedicated trunk link . Thus, the Wi-Fi amplifier, which is simultaneous triple band, will allow us to configure a 5GHz frequency band for exclusive interconnection with the router. This achieves higher speeds and performance. For example, a triple band WiFi repeater is the FRITZ! Repeater 3000 which is one of the best WiFi repeaters you can buy.
One very important thing to look at when buying a Wi-Fi repeater is whether it has Ethernet ports . The minimum recommended is that it be Giagabit Ethernet. This can be a great help to connect a desktop PC without having to buy a Wi-Fi card.
We must also study the possibilities offered by the firmware, such as the possibility of creating a guest network, having a WiFi programmer and more. In addition, a renowned manufacturer provides a greater number of updates for a longer time which makes the device more secure. Another feature that we must take into account is if it has assistance for WiFi roaming or can be directly integrated into a WiFi Mesh system. For example, the D-Link DAP-1620 integrates into D-Link routers to form a WiFi mesh network, the FRITZ! Repeater 3000 model integrates into the AVM FRITZ! Box Mesh network, and top-of-the-range repeaters from NETGEAR have roaming assistance.
Finally, we recommend you visit our section of best Wi-Fi repeaters where you can see the best WiFi repeaters, their technical characteristics, how these equipment are, and even the real performance that they are capable of providing us, finally, we also show you all and each of the firmware configuration options.
