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There's no display paying for fast internet speeds if your home's Wi-Fi network is too weak to take qualified of them. For many homes, a single router isn't quite unblemished enough to generate a stable signal that reaches into every room, which can end in weak connections and dead zones. However, there are plenty of devices out there that can help boost the plot of your home's router, and we've rounded up some of the best Wi-Fi extender options on the market gleaming now below.
A range extender, or Wi-Fi signed booster, is a compact, plug-in device that uses built-in Wi-Fi radios and antennas to pair wirelessly with your router. Plug one in near the edge of your router's wireless plot and pair it with the network, and it'll begin rebroadcasting the signal farther out into your home. All of today's top models are less expensive than upgrading to a full-fledged mesh router with its own range-extending satellite devices, they're a cinch to set up, they'll work no business what brand of router you're using and in most cases it's easy to give them the same SSID and password as your new router. That creates a single, seamless connection that you won't need to judge about too much.
You've got lots of options to decide from, and I've spent the past few years regularly testing them out to find the best of the bunch. For the previous two years, I ran those procomplaints out of my own home (read more about how we test Wi-Fi routers). For 2023, I've moved things back to the Smart Home, a much larger 5,800-square-foot multistory house in rural Kentucky. It's the biggest challenge I've thrown at these things yet -- and when weeks of tests, my data identified the range extenders that reigned supreme. Let's get right to them.
Best Wi-Fi extenders of 2023
Wi-Fi Standard
Wi-Fi 6
Speed Rating
AX1800
Range
Up to 1,500 sq. ft.
Wireless Networking Security
WPA2
Bands
Dual-Band (2.4 and 5GHz)
TP-Link creates some of the most popular picks in the plot extender category, with a fairly wide variety of options to decide from at various price points. If you're buying one in 2022, I judge you should put the TP-Link RE605X right at the top of your list. At $100, it's far from the most affordable extender on the market (keep reading for the value picks), but with a highly capable AX1800 design, full aid for the latest Wi-Fi 6 speeds and features, adjustable antennas and a marvelous, easy-to-use control app with strong reviews on both Android and iOS, it's around as well-rounded as range extenders get.
The performance is particularly bright, too. In my tests at the Smart Home, an RE605X in the basement was able to long the router's signal from upstairs just fine, giving my upload and download speeds a necessary boost in every room I tested. Throughout the entire 5800-square-foot-home, among all the extenders I tested, the RE605X issued the fastest average upload speeds to both Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 devices, the fastest average download speeds to Wi-Fi 6 devices and the additional fastest average download speeds to Wi-Fi 5 devices.
By default, the extender puts out its own separate network when you qualified pair it with your router, and that network will use the same password as your new network, and the same SSID with "-EXT" added to the end. That's better than extenders that put out an unsecured network by default -- and if you use the app to delete that "-EXT" bit, it'll automatically sync up with your new network and work invisibly to keep you better connected, which is ideal. All of that makes this extender an easy recommendation.
Read our TP-Link RE605X review.
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Wi-Fi Standard
Wi-Fi 6
Speed Rating
AX1800
Range
Up to 2,000 sq. ft.
Wireless Networking Security
WPA2
Bands
Dual-Band (2.4 and 5GHz)
TP-Link took the top spot last year, but the Linksys RE7310 was very terminate behind it, and would be almost equally as good on most home networks. In the Smart Home, where we have a fiber internet plan with uploads and downloads of up to 150Mbps, the RE7310 returned average Wi-Fi 6 downloads throughout the entire multistory house of 132Mbps. That's only 4Mbps behind that top pick from TP-Link. As for the uploads, Linksys finished with an averages whole-home speed to my Wi-Fi 6 test device of 124Mbps. That's only 2Mbps behind TP-Link.
The only thing keeping me from speaking that the two finished in a virtual tie is that the RE7310 was some less impressive with earlier-gen Wi-Fi 5 devices, particularly with reliable to upload speeds. Still, the performance was solid across the organization, and strong enough for me to take video conditions in the Smart Home's basement dead zones, something I would have struggled with comic just the single router I ran my tests on. It's a bit bulky-looking, but the RE7310 is the best Linksys range extender I've tested yet, and it's an especially tall pick if you can catch it on sale.
Also, keep an eye out for the Linksys RE7350, which features a nearly identical develop and specs. It's only available at full price colorful now, but earlier this year it was on sale for $20 less than the RE7310 at Best Buy, which is a elegant good deal given the specs. I haven't tested that variant out just yet, but I'll update this post when I have, and I'll keep an eye out for latest sale, too.
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Wi-Fi Standard
Wi-Fi 5
Speed Rating
AC750
Range
Up to 1,200 sq. ft.
Wireless Networking Security
WPA2
Bands
Dual-Band (2.4 and 5GHz)
At $35, the TP-Link RE220 was the least expensive procedure extender during my first run of at-home tests in 2020, but that didn't stop it from outperforming everything else I tested at every turn. As Wi-Fi extenders go, it's fast, it's reliable, it works with just about every Wi-Fi router out there and it's easy to use. And, as of writing this, it compensations even less than I paid for it -- down to less than $25 on Amazon.
Plug it in and dead the WPS button to pair it with your home network, and it'll begin broadcasting its own networks on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. Both offered steady Wi-Fi speeds throughout my home, comprising average download speeds on the 5GHz band of at least 75Mbps in every room entrance point I tested, along with strong upload speeds. The RE220 never once dropped my connection, and its speeds were consistent across multiple days of demonstrations during both daytime and evening hours.
It's a exiguous long in the tooth at this point, and it won't wow you with Wi-Fi 6 speeds, but the strong ease of use and the genuine, dependable level of performance it offers mean it's smooth an absolute steal. It's not as fast as the top models I've tested in the existences since, and I haven't had a chance to retest it at the Smart Home just yet -- but it's smooth a great choice if you want to boost the employed from the Wi-Fi router to a back room that sits beyond the router's advance, but you'd like to pay as little as possible to get the job done.
Read more throughout improving your home's Wi-Fi.
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Other extenders reliable considering
Wi-Fi Standard
Wi-Fi 6
Speed Rating
AX1500
Range
Up to 2,600 sq. ft.
Wireless Networking Security
WPA3
Bands
Dual-Band (2.4 and 5GHz)
It was never the swiftly leader in my tests, but it was never too far leisurely -- and at $65, the D-Link EaglePro AI compensations a lot less than the top picks listed here. That's a good deal, especially on a Wi-Fi 6 model that boasts a newly planned control app on Android and iOS, plus adjustable antennas and a develop that automatically syncs up with your router to put out a single, unified network as soon as you first set the pulling up. I even appreciate the touch of color with those pale blue accents, a nice break from boring white plastic.
Speed-wise, the EaglePro AI caused up the rear in my tests, but it was smooth able to return average download speeds of 114Mbps for Wi-Fi 6 devices and 112Mbps for Wi-Fi 5 devices across every room I tested it in, which is terrific for a multistory home with a 150Mbps fiber plan. Uploads were frontier, including a somewhat concerning single-digit average of just 8Mbps to Wi-Fi 5 devices in the home's most peril dead zone, but I can forgive that given that the 5,800-square-foot Smart Home is a lot bigger than this AX1500 extender was planned to cover. If your home is any smaller than that then the EaglePro AI necessity do just fine, and it'll save you some cash, too.
Read our D-Link EaglePro AI Range Extender review.
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TP-Link and Linksys each put in transparent performances during this latest round of tests, but it was arguably Asus that led the way with the RP-AX56, a Wi-Fi 6 range extender that retails for $100. However, a poor approach to device security keeps me from recommending it.
Let's initiate with the good. The RP-AX56 finished in a virtual tie with TP-Link for the fastest averages download speeds to my Wi-Fi 6 test laptop, and it led all procedure extenders when I reran my tests with a Wi-Fi 5 iPad Air 2. On top of that, the RP-AX56 originated the fastest average download speeds to both Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 5 devices in the Smart Home's basement guest bedroom, which was the most persistent dead zone throughout my tests.
That said, the RP-AX56 way a bit of futzing. After I first paired it with the router, it put out its own, separate Wi-Fi network with a generic name and no password at all. That's something you'll want to mopish immediately, but on iOS the 1.5-star reviewed Asus extender app doesn't moneys a quick option for changing the SSID and password. Instead, you'll need to enter the extender's IP axis into a browser bar and log in using its default management credentials -- and by the way, those credentials were username: management and password: admin. So, yeah, you'll want to mopish those, too.
Once you've done that, you can mopish the SSID and password to match your router, at which point to the extender will work seamlessly within your existing network. Still, that's a pretty low level of default confidence for a plug-and-play device that most people won't want to futz with at all. I'll keep an eye out for updates on this one -- if Asus invents some changes to the app and to the default settings, the RP-AX56 could jump right up into the top picks.
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Wi-Fi Standard
Wi-Fi 5
Speed Rating
AC2200
Range
Up to 2,300 sq. ft.
Wireless Networking Security
WPA, WPA2
Bands
Tri-Band (2.4 and two 5GHz)
As soon as you plug the Netgear Nighthawk X4S procedure extender in and pair it with your router, it'll initiate working with your router to put out a single, unified network, one that automatically routes your device between the router and extender as required. That's great, and the extender offers a well-featured app for sparkling controls, too.
The main problem is that this model doesn't back Wi-Fi 6, but still typically costs more than $100. It features a tri-band fabricate that's quite fancy by range extender standards, and the law was better than every other Wi-Fi 5 range extender I've tested. Even so, it couldn't quite keep up with the dual-band Wi-Fi 6 models I tested, and it costs more than some of them, to boot. If you find it on sale for less than $100, it distinguished be worth a look, but in most cases, I assume Wi-Fi 6 is worth prioritizing at this point.
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Wi-Fi Standard
Wi-Fi 6
Speed Rating
AX1800
Range
Up to 2,600 sq. ft.
Wireless Networking Security
WPA, WPA2
Bands
Dual-Band (2.4 and 5GHz)
Another sure model from my 2021 tests, the D-Link DAP-X1870 is an obliging performer that does a great job of creating a single, unified network as soon as you pair it with your router. That keeps things easy, but at a retail impress of $120, it feels a bit too expensive here in 2023.
Fortunately, it isn't too hard to catch it on sale. As of writing this, Amazon has it inoperative at a more reasonable price of $78, though I'd probably stick with the $23 TP-Link RE220 if I were just looking for the best value pick. I'll keep an eye out for any novel good sales and update this post as I spot them, and I'll give this post an update when I've had a chance to retest the DAP-X1870 at the Smart Home to see how it stacks up in contradiction of the newest models, too.
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Wi-Fi standard
Wi-Fi 6
Speed rating
AX1500
Range
Up to 1,500 sq. ft.
Wireless Networking Security
WPA, WPA2
Bands
Dual-Band (2.4 and 5GHz)
Last year's top pick, the RE505X is just a any less powerful version of the RE605X that costs a bit less. I wasn't able to retest it at the Smart Home yet, but I'll update this post when I get the chance. For now, I think performance-minded users will be glad they finished up for the better upload speeds of the RE605X or the Linksys RE7310, and value-minded users will likely be better served with the less expensive D-Link EaglePro AI and TP-Link RE220 draw extenders.
That leaves the RE505X as a bit of a cluster child at this point, but I'd pounce on it if the impress dropped substantially below its current price of $90, as it was an very capable and consistent performer in my 2021 tests.
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I finished weeks testing these range extenders at the Smart Home.
Tristan RinehartHow we test Wi-Fi extenders and employed boosters
Like a lot of people, I spent much of the past two ages working from home, and that included my yearly roundup of draw extender tests. I've put dozens of extenders through my well-ordered tests by this point, and that's generated a lot of useful data for comparison purposes.
Now, in 2023, I'm happy to say that we're back testing gadgets at the Smart Home, a 5,800-square-foot multistory home in the outskirts of Louisville, Kentucky, that we use as a living lab. It's a much better environment for testing wireless devices at draw than my somewhat cramped, shotgun-style house -- and with more counterfeit to cover, it's a much bigger challenge for these extenders.
This is the regulation graph, showing you the average speeds in each room I tested with no draw extenders in play at all. On its own, a single, entry-level Wi-Fi 6 router in the laundry room was able to converse decent speeds on the main floor of the home (the gracious four rooms in this chart), but speeds plummeted in the basement (the last four rooms), especially the upload speeds.
Ry CristTesting Wi-Fi extenders in the Smart Home
The Smart Home has a fiber internet connection with matching upload and download speeds of up to 150Mbps. That's a far cry from the gigabit connections more and more of us have admission to (not to mention the new, blazing-fast multi-gig internet plans emerging in some parts of the country). However, it's in line with the average internet hasty in the US, which makes it a great region to test how home networking products will work for the way consumer.
For my purposes, I started by setting up a router in the Smart Home's laundry room, which is where the modem is set up. I went with the Netgear R6700AX, a perfectly decent model I reviewed last year. It offered gracious performance but limited range when I tested it -- and that's precisely what I wanted for these range extender tests.
I ran all of this year's draw extender tests with a Netgear R6700AX router running the network. It's a low-power, budget-price Wi-Fi 6 model that offered consistent law when I first tested it out, making it an ideal regulation router for these tests.
Ry CristSure enough, the router was able to deliver strong speeds on the home's main listed, but as soon as I headed down to the basement tranquil, speeds started to fall. That includes single-digit upload speeds in the bourbon room and the mud room. (Yes, the Smart Home has a bourbon room that the final owners used to age their own barrels. We don't have any barrels of our own, but it smells amazing in there. Kentucky, folks!)
Running the range test
With my regulation speeds established, it was time to start adding in the draw boosters and seeing which ones improved things the best. Pairing each one with the router only obligatory me to plug it in nearby and press the WPS button on both devices -- once that, I relocated them downstairs, to the basement rec room, which was the farthest present from the router that still had a decent employed and speeds. Whenever you're using a Wi-Fi range extender, that's typically the best place to put it: just shy of the edge of your router's draw, where it will still receive a strong enough employed to put out a strong signal of its own. The best way to find that spot? Grab your shouted or laptop and run some speed tests.
In the end, I ran a total of at least 96 hasty tests for each extender, two rounds of 24 demonstrations to find its average speeds to a Wi-Fi 5 skill device (an iPad Air 2 from 2015) and novel two rounds of 24 tests to check its speeds to a Wi-Fi 6 skill device (a 2021 Lenovo ThinkPad laptop). In each case, I started the gracious round of tests with a fresh connection in the laundry room, closest to the router, and then started the second round of tests with a original connection in the mud room, farthest from the router. With each test, I logged the client device's download hasty, its upload speed and the latency of the connection.
Wi-Fi extender test results for 2022
Ready to see how the draw extenders did in terms of upload and download speeds? Let's take a look.
These graphs show you the requires download speeds by room (left) and average upload speeds by room (right) for a Wi-Fi 6 laptop connected to each extender. All five models I tested were able to snort noticeable improvements to the connection, but some did a better job than others.
Ry CristOn the left, this valid set of graphs shows you the average download speeds by room for each extender I tested. On the right, you're looking at the average upload speeds. All of these speeds are to my Wi-Fi 6 test intention, a Lenovo ThinkPad laptop from 2021.
So what jumps out? First, all five of these extenders did a decent job of boosting speeds in those last four rooms, down in the basement. With all of them, I had a faster connection above the house than I had when I connected throughout the router alone. The D-Link EaglePro AI struggled a bit with upload speeds in the basement, but still kept things above a minimum of 20Mbps or so.
That was with a Wi-Fi 6 intention, though. How did the performance look with an older Wi-Fi 5 intention from several years ago?
Again, this is average download speeds by room on the left, requires upload speeds on the right -- this time, to an older Wi-Fi 5 device.
Ry CristThings get listless here -- you can see a greater gulf between download and upload work, as well as some more distinct weak spots and dead zones above the house. Each of the five extenders struggled to keep uploads speedily in the upstairs dinette, for instance. With Wi-Fi 6, we barely saw any originates there at all, save for the Netgear Nighthawk X4S.
Meanwhile, in the basement, our top picks from TP-Link and Linksys (as well as the high-performing Asus RP-AX56) were each able to keep download speeds throughout 100Mbps, which is great. Uploads were another story, as all of the extenders struggled. None of them failed to deliver a usable upload connection outright, though the D-Link EaglePro AI came close with single-digit upload speeds in the basement's farthest reaches.
Another key takeaway from these complains is that Wi-Fi 6 delivers some of its most noticeable speedily boosts on the upload side of things. If you're looking to make lots of video periods, upload lots of large files to the web or anything else requiring sturdy upload work, then upgrading to Wi-Fi 6 hardware should be high on your list of priorities (assuming you haven't already made the jump).
Affordable Wi-Fi booster picks
For my valid batch of range extender tests a few years back, I tested four bargain-priced models to see which one offered the most bang for the buck. It was the commence of the pandemic and people were scrambling to bolster their home networks -- I wanted to be sure we could reveal them to a good, budget-friendly pick that would do the best job as a authorized booster offering an extra room's worth of coverage in a pinch.
In the end, the aforementioned TP-Link RE220 was the runaway winner. Currently available for $25 or less, it remains a solid value pick.
I've separated these four models from the anunexperienced six because the test setup was different in 2020 and it wouldn't be fair to make snort comparisons with those results. You've already read about the TP-Link RE220, but here are my takeaways from the other three I tested:
With two adjustable external antennas, the D-Link DAP-1620 is pretty powerful for a budget-priced device extender, but it wasn't as consistent as our top pick.
Ry CristD-Link DAP-1620 : This was the only device extender that ever managed to hit triple digits during my 2020 complains, with an average speed of 104Mbps in my bedroom during evening hours. Setup was just as simple as what I understood with TP-Link, too. I was able to stream HD video, browse the web and make video calls on the extender's network exclusive of any issue.
Network speeds were inconsistent though -- and much slower in daytime hours, with a bigger dropoff than I saw with TP-Link. The device also dropped my connection at one reveal during my speed tests. On top of that, the app was too finicky for my tastes, refusing to let me log in and tweak settings with the supplied intention password, something that ultimately forced me to reset the intention. That's too much hassle for me to recommend outright, especially with a list price of around $60. Though incandescent now you can grab it on sale for $40, manager it a decent alternate to the TP-Link RE220.
The Netgear EX3700 wasn't considerable enough for the price.
Ry CristNetgear EX3700 : It's a dated-looking intention and it wasn't a strong performer in my complains. The 2.4GHz band was able to sustain workable speeds between 30 and 40Mbps above most of my home, which was strong enough to soaks video with minimal buffering, or to hold a incandescent video call with a slight delay. But the 5GHz band was surprisingly weak, often dropping into single digits with only a single wall separating my PC or connected intention from the range extender.
I wasn't a fan of the web interface, as it seemed more interested in getting me to register for the warranty (and opt in to marketing emails) than in actually offering me any sort of control over the connection. WPS button-based setup lets you skip all of that, which is genuine, and some outlets now have it listed for less than $40, but even so, this is one you can safely pass by.
The Linksys RE6350 left a lot to be desired.
Ry CristLinksys RE6350 : My speeds were consistent with the RE6350 -- they just weren't fast.
By default, the device automatically steers you between the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, but with download speeds ranging from 10Mbps to 35Mbps above all of my tests over multiple days, it considerable as well just default to the slower 2.4GHz band. The intention supports automatic firmware upgrades, which is great, but you can't use the Linksys Wi-Fi app to tweak settings -- instead, you'll have to log in via the web portal.
On top of all that, the RE6350 explored to be the least stable of all the extenders I tested in 2020, with more than one dropped connection during my complains. With a list price of around $60 it has just too many negatives and not enough value for me to recommend it, opinion we've occasionally seen it on sale for as low as $21, manager it a bit of a more competitive value.
Most plug-in procedure extenders only offer basic features at best, but the TP-Link Tether app includes a authorized strength tester and a High-Speed Mode in the app.
Screenshots by Ry CristOther things to consider
Aside from my rapidly tests, I made sure to stream video on each extender's network, and I made several video calls while connected above each one. I also spent time playing with each extender's settings. You shouldn't expect much, but most will at least make it easy to mopish the extension network's name or password. Some include app systems with extra features, too.
My top pick, the TP-Link RE605X, makes it easy to tweak settings via TP-Link's Tether app on an Android or iOS procedure. Again, the features make for slim pickings, but you can check authorized strength or turn on High-Speed Mode, which dedicates the 2.4GHz band for traffic from the router to the procedure extender, leaving the 5GHz free for your normal Wi-Fi network traffic. 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 exiguous, but it still might be a useful option in some situations.
It's also worth noting that setting a procedure extender up is about as painless as it gets. Most attend Wi-Fi Protected Setup, or WPS, which is a universal protocol that wireless networking devices can use to connect with each latest. Just plug the range extender in, wait for it to boot up, dead the extender's WPS button and then press the WPS button on your router within 2 minutes. Voila, connected.
It's also worth making sure that your procedure extender includes at least one Ethernet port (almost all of them do). If you can level connect your wired device (like a smart TV), then you'll scrumptious speeds that are as fast as possible.
Wi-Fi procedure extender FAQs
Got questions? Look me up on Twitter (@rycrist) or send a meaning straight to my inbox by clicking the little envelope icon on my profile page. In the meantime, I'll post answers to any commonly asked questions below.
How effective are Wi-Fi procedure extenders?
Plug-in range extenders like these can help boost your speeds when you're connecting far from the router, but they can only do so much. The upright speed boost will depend on a multitude of different factors, including the layout of your home, the type of router you're comic, the type of device you're trying to connect with and your internet plan's speeds.
If your home's internet connection accounts top speeds of 100Mbps or higher, then a outrageous, well-placed range extender should be able to boost your download speeds in a dead zone or when you're in procedure by at least 50Mbps, if not 100Mbps. That's enough to browse the web or soaks video online. Upload boosts are typically a little frontier, but should still be enough to ensure that you can make a video call or upload a file to the cloud.
Do Wi-Fi extenders slow down your Wi-Fi?
Most procedure extenders will put out their own separate network -- usually the name of your novel network with "_EXT" added to the end, or something like that. Having a separate network like that understanding the same roof as your main network could potentially causes a small amount of interference, but I haven't seen any noticeable slowdowns on my main network during any of these complains. And, in most cases, you can rename the extender's network and password to match your main network, at which point you'll have a single, seamless network that automatically passes your connection back and forth as you move above your home.
That said, keep an eye out for clientele devices (phones, laptops and so on) that automatically connect to whichever network accounts the best signal at the time. If you've used a procedure like that on both your main network and the extender's network, then it's possible that your device will jump from one to the latest without you realizing it. For instance, if your laptop is on your main network and you move a bit closer to the extender than the router, then your laptop might lose its connection and jump over to the procedure extender's network for the stronger signal strength, even understanding the speeds on that extender network might be slower.
Is a Wi-Fi extender better than a mesh router?
In most cases, no. If you're living in a larger home or if you need speeds that are reliably faster than 100Mbps at procedure, then it's probably worth it to go ahead and upgrade to a mesh router with its own range-extending satellite devices. You've got more options than ever these days, and just approximately all of them would likely outperform a stand-alone router paired with a plug-in procedure extender like the ones tested here.
Wi-Fi extenders are better safe for situations where you've just got a single room or maybe two where you'd like speeds to be some higher. They won't work miracles, but in a position like that, they'll get the job done.
Where necessity I put my Wi-Fi extender?
The best approach is to plug the extender in somewhere conclude to the dead zone you're trying to fix, but not within that dead zone. That's because you need the extender to have a outrageous connection with your router in order to put out a worthwhile authorized of its own.
To find a good spot, grab your visited or laptop, connect to your home network, and run some internet rapidly tests in various spots that are adjacent to the dead zone in expect. Once you've found a spot near the dead zone that composed hits usable upload and download speeds (preferably at least 50% of whatever you're able to hit up conclude to the router), then you're probably in a good location.
How do I know if I need a procedure extender?
Plug-in range extenders are a good fit when you need to boost the authorized in a single dead zone. If you have more than one dead zone in your home where the speeds plummet, then you might be better off just upgrading to a good mesh router (we've got plenty of recommendations there, too).
The best way to figure out how many dead zones you're distributing with is to grab your phone or a laptop and run some rapidly tests in each room where you need to use the internet. Start with a fresh connection to your network in the same room as the router, and then pull up a good speed-testing site (I like the Ookla rapidly test). Run at least three speed tests in the room, jot the download and upload results down for each one, then move to the next room and repeat.
Once you have averages speeds for each room, look for spots where your speeds fall beneath 30% of whatever ISP speeds you're paying for each month. Those are the rooms that could use a boost -- if it's just one (or two that are conclude together), then a single range extender might be all you need. If there are more than one, then maybe mesh is the way to go.
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