WiFi Repeater and PLC: Features, Differences and Which One to Use

Wi-Fi coverage is usually one of our common day-to-day problems and can get us desperate. It does not reach all the rooms or rooms of the house well, the speed is lost on the way or we simply cannot connect. There are two conventional ways to improve this problem: PLC or Wi-Fi repeaters. The two fulfill the same function and that is to take the Internet to any corner of the house, however far it is. Of course, they have clear differences in terms of installation or operation. The end is the same but the devices are not and there are many differences between Wi-Fi repeater and PLC.

Both Wi-Fi repeaters and PLCs have a similar function: to bring the Internet to areas of the house where it does not reach you correctly. Wi-Fi repeaters improve coverage and in many cases improve speed if the house organization has obstacles that can weaken the signal on its way or if it is too large and the router cannot reach on its own. In those cases you can bet on Wi-Fi repeaters or PLC. Or by Wi-Fi Mesh or mesh , which we will also mention.

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What is a Wi-Fi repeater?

A Wi-Fi repeater is a device that allows you to extend the wireless connection throughout your home to carry the signal to rooms or areas where it does not arrive. Use the wireless connection of the router and expand or bounce it to extend it. It simply takes the Wi-Fi signal that is already in the house, through the router, and extends it so that it covers a wider area and reaches everywhere without losing quality.

Operation is the most basic of all similar devices since it works simply with an extender and there is only one device to install (unlike multi-device PLCs or WiFi Mesh networks) that will pick up the signal when it is being lost and extend it again. For example, if your router is in the living room and does not reach the last room. The repeater would “swallow” the coverage from the hallway and expand it by bouncing it to the rest of the house.

It will depend on what you need to bet on a Wi-Fi repeater or another because there is single band, dual band or triple band and it will depend on your needs that you choose versions of 30 or 40 euros or versions of 200 euros that will almost always be more powerful and will give us better speed, better technology.

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Advantages and disadvantages

One of the main advantages is that there is a wide catalog and that allows you to choose between devices that can be cheaper if your problem is not very large. Another advantage of this system is that you only need one device and that you can connect it wherever you want without worrying about any light outlets. It is a good option in most cases and for everyday use.

The main drawback is that coverage can be lost if the distance they have to travel is very long or that they will not always be sufficient in large houses with several floors or a floor with many rooms. In addition, they depend on the signal from the router and if the signal from the router is bad or weak you will not be able to get it to everywhere with sufficient quality, even with a good repeater.

What is a PLC or Wi-Fi extender?

The PLCs or WiFi extenders do not expand the network of your house so that it reaches all the rooms using the wireless connection but they take advantage of the telephone installation and the wiring. You have to plug them into a socket in the room where you want the Internet to be and they will work as long as they are in the same phase of the electrical panel. Fulfilling this function, you will be able to create the WiFi network to which you want to connect when you do not have a network cable in a specific room or simply if the signal is not reaching that room in question.

To use a PLC you need (at least) two devices that are included when you buy one of these packs: one that captures the signal and another that emits it so you can connect from your mobile, computer … The first is a device that carries the signal to the electrical network and the second is another device from which the WiFi signal will be emitted taking it from the electrical network. It will work through the wiring, from one to the other, and will create a WiFi zone in the room where this second device is plugged in. There may also be a third party if you choose a pack with multiple devices.

Repetidores Wi-Fi DLInk PLC

Installing a Wi-Fi extender or PLC is hassle free so it is an ideal choice for those looking for something effective and easy. Simply connect one of the parts to the router through an Ethernet cable and the second part you will have to take to the socket from the room in which you want to have a connection. Keep in mind that they must be connected in the same phase of the electrical panel in case the house is large or, for some reason, you have it divided. When the connection is created, you can choose whether it is the same network as the router or a new network.

Most PLCs (if not all) have an electrical socket so you don’t have to sacrifice a plug in the room where you are going to install it. That is to say, you will not lose the “hole” of the plug because you can continue using things by plugging them into said device. Most also have an Ethernet port or several so you can connect with cables if you want even if you are away from the router at home, making it very practical and simple. Some “PLC packs” include multiple devices in case you need to create a WiFi zone in several rooms, for example.

Advantages and disadvantages

PLCs are a very interesting option because they not only help you extend wireless coverage but also offer you the possibility to connect with an Ethernet cable. Performance or coverage is usually better so they are ideal if you need it in a very large or multi-story home.

Not all are advantages. Although the coverage and versatility is greater, you have to take into account that this system will depend on the wiring in your house to be able to work and on the installation itself. In addition, you will depend on the plugs and that they work correctly and normally you will have to have at least two devices, in order for you to create this WiFi network. They also usually have a higher price although it will always depend on the option you choose and there are many possibilities to choose from.

Wi-Fi Mesh

Although they are not Wi-Fi repeaters or PLCs as such, mesh network technology or Wi-Fi Mesh has become one of the most recommended and most used by users. The purpose of mesh networks or Wi-Fi Mesh is exactly the same as that of a conventional repeater: they carry the signal and coverage to areas where it does not normally reach due to the distribution of the house or size. It is a node system, a network with a main router, and several satellites or nodes. These nodes that come in “Mesh packs” are distributed throughout the house to ensure that the signal reaches every corner.

The main difference between the WiFI Mesh and the usual repeaters is that the nodes not only receive information from the router, but they are all connected to each other, allowing better coverage and better network management. You, being in an area or room, will not connect to the closest node but to the one that can offer you the best connection at that time. If one node or repeater in your room is down, it automatically connects to another. Mesh networks are smart to always decide which is the best connection at all times and optimize resources because they will always look for the least saturated route at that time.

WiFi Mesh

Which one to buy? Wi-Fi repeater and PLC

When should we use each one? What are the differences between Wi-Fi repeater and PLC. You must take into account a series of criteria when choosing one or the other.

  • Size and location. The size of the house or the floor. If it is too big or you have many rooms or several floors where the signal must reach, it may be more advisable to bet on a PLC or a mesh network or WiFi Mesh because a single repeater may not be enough.
  • The signal. If the signal is weak it is recommended that you bet directly on a PLC using the wiring and the installation because with the repeater you will not get it to arrive correctly.
  • Installation. Wi-Fi repeaters are easy to install and you only need to have one device per home. With mesh networks or WiFi Mesh and with PLCs you will have to have two or more devices.
  • Budget. If you simply want to slightly improve the signal but not spend a lot of money, a Wi-Fi repeater is usually a good option in most cases if you live in an apartment with normal dimensions or if it is simply a slight signal problem.
  • Need and uses. Study what use you are going to give to that device you are going to buy. For example, a PLC will allow you to connect by wireless or cable connection but a Wi-Fi repeater will not let you use an Ethernet connection in a room where there is no port of this type.
  • Installation . Look at the installation of your house, at the plugs. You may be wondering what to choose or buy but you don’t even have the option of the PLC because the electrical installation doesn’t allow it or the plugs are broken or there is simply no plug where you can use it.
  • Security. Normally, security will be the same in both and you will simply have to worry about having the router well configured.

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