{"id":193948,"date":"2021-03-04T09:40:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-04T06:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/wi-fi-extender-vs-mesh-network-whats-the-difference\/"},"modified":"2021-03-04T09:40:00","modified_gmt":"2021-03-04T06:40:00","slug":"wi-fi-extender-vs-mesh-network-whats-the-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wi-fi-extender-vs-mesh-network-whats-the-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"#Wi-Fi Extender vs. Mesh Network: What\u2019s the Difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a416caab17c9\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a416caab17c9\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wi-fi-extender-vs-mesh-network-whats-the-difference\/#What_Is_a_Range_Extender\" >What Is a Range Extender?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wi-fi-extender-vs-mesh-network-whats-the-difference\/#What_Is_Mesh_Wi-Fi\" >What Is Mesh Wi-Fi?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wi-fi-extender-vs-mesh-network-whats-the-difference\/#Mesh_vs_Extender_Which_One_Is_Right_for_You\" >Mesh vs. Extender: Which One Is Right for You?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><strong>&#8220;#Wi-Fi Extender vs. Mesh Network: What\u2019s the Difference?&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<div>\n<figure style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-714785 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/EeroProWiFi.png\" alt=\"Three Amazon Eero mesh Wi-Fi devices\" width=\"650\" height=\"300\" data-credittext=\"Eero\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Eero<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Both Wi-Fi extenders and mesh networks promise to improve and extend your Wi-Fi signal, but they achieve this through different means. Plus, if you don\u2019t purchase the <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ropriate system, you may find that the investment wasn\u2019t worth it.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_a_Range_Extender\"><\/span>What Is a Range Extender?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A range extender is usually a box that plugs directly into an outlet \u201cwall wart\u201d-style. It may or may not have external antennas, and as the name implies, it extends the range of your Wi-Fi network.<\/p>\n<p>If, for example, your Wi-Fi network is strong in your home\u2019s living room, bedrooms, and kitchen, but it doesn\u2019t reach the den, then a strategically placed range extender may help get you the coverage you need.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-714786 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/TPLinkExtenderRE650.png\" alt=\"A rectangular range extender with four external antennas plugged into a wall outlet.\" width=\"650\" height=\"300\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">TP-Link RE650 Wi-Fi Range Extender<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Range extenders were a popular option for improving home networks prior to the arrival of mesh systems. When shopping for an extender, however, confusion usually arises because you can also run across devices called Wi-Fi repeaters, extenders, or boosters.<\/p>\n<p>For the most part, the terms \u201cWi-Fi extender,\u201d \u201crepeater,\u201d and \u201cbooster\u201d are used interchangeably, with extender being the more common term. The major difference to watch out for is that some extenders are Powerline adapters requiring two boxes, while most extenders are purely wireless devices. A powerline adapter setup uses your home\u2019s electrical wiring to transmit data.<\/p>\n<p>Extenders typically have a different network name (SSID) from the main home network, such as \u201cHome Wi-Fi\u201d and \u201cHome Wi-Fi Ext.\u201d Some devices do allow you to use the same name and password for both the extender and the main network, but that usually isn\u2019t a good idea. The problem is that your wireless device may keep trying to remain connected to the weaker signal, resulting in frustration for you.<\/p>\n<p>If you just have both networks saved under different names, your phones and tablets should just connect to the stronger signal. And if you are using the wireless signal for a television or console, then it\u2019s wise to only give those devices the extender\u2019s Wi-Fi credentials to prevent connection attempts to the weaker signal.<\/p>\n<p>While extenders can help a great deal, the problem is that the Wi-Fi signal degrades the further away you get from the source (your ISP router or modem). So, if you use two extenders to hit the basement, for example, the speed and strength of your Wi-Fi will often be noticeably slower.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_Mesh_Wi-Fi\"><\/span>What Is Mesh Wi-Fi?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-714787 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/GoogleWiFi.png\" alt=\"Three Google WiFi pucks all white, with light blue LED accent in the center.\" width=\"650\" height=\"300\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Google Wifi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>When extenders aren\u2019t up to the job, mesh networking becomes a very attractive solution. Mesh networks are often referred to as systems that \u201cblanket\u201d your home in Wi-Fi. A mesh system is made up of a source router and additional \u201csatellite nodes\u201d that can be placed around the home. The number of nodes you need depends on the size of your home and the coverage the particular system covers. Some manufacturers have systems that cover up to 5,000 square feet with a single router and node, while others need three or more devices to cover an area that size.<\/p>\n<p>Once they\u2019re installed, mesh devices connect to each other to provide a strong Wi-Fi signal across your entire home under a single network name. As you move through the home, your mobile devices simply connect to the device with the best signal for that part of the house.<\/p>\n<p>Like extenders, mesh systems also repeat that original signal coming from the source of your ISP-provided modem or gateway. However, the difference is that these routers are far smarter and more powerful than a regular extender. If you get a tri-band mesh system, for example, the system typically dedicates one of its bands for data backhaul. That simply means that the routers use one band exclusively for communicating with each other to vastly improve performance over what even a tri-band range extender could do. The other two bands, meanwhile, are for your devices to use.<\/p>\n<p>Dual-band mesh systems will also use backhaul, but they share that bandwidth with other devices on your network, thus the performance isn\u2019t as high as a tri-band system\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p>Mesh systems can also come with a ton of extra features depending on the system you purchase. They can integrate with smart home devices, act as a smart home hub, or come with built-in speakers that double as smart speakers.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>What Are Dual-Band and Tri-Band Routers?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mesh_vs_Extender_Which_One_Is_Right_for_You\"><\/span>Mesh vs. Extender: Which One Is Right for You?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-714788 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/MeshRouterExtender.png\" alt=\"Two orbi mesh devices next to a TP-Link range extender\" width=\"650\" height=\"300\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Left:<\/strong> TP-Link RE300 Extender;\u00a0<strong>Right:<\/strong> Orbi RBK50 Mesh Wi-Fi system<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Deciding between getting a mesh system versus an extender comes down to a few issues. First, a mesh system is going to be more expensive. Even if you just need a router and satellite, that\u2019s going to run you in the hundreds of dollars compared to a less expensive extender that can be picked up for $50 to $100, such as\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Extender-2600Mbps-Repeater-Internet-RE650\/dp\/B01MR90E3A\/?tag=hotoge-20\">TP-Link\u2019s RE650<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>If you just have one room that\u2019s a dead spot in the house, then a single extender might be the better choice. The minute it starts to look like you\u2019ll need multiple extenders to make it work, however, a mesh system is often the better option.<\/p>\n<p>There are tons of mesh systems out there for every budget. Ideally, you\u2019d get a tri-band system with a dedicated band for backhaul. But if your budget doesn\u2019t fit that, there are many dual-band systems that are still very good.<\/p>\n<p>Looking for a great mesh Wi-Fi system? Check out\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/28831\/the-5-best-wi-fi-mesh-routers-for-total-home-coverage\/\">our top picks for mesh Wi-Fi routers<\/a> at our sister site, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/\">Review Geek<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/28831\/the-5-best-wi-fi-mesh-routers-for-total-home-coverage\/\"><strong><em>The 5 Best Wi-Fi Mesh Routers for Total Home Coverage<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n setTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s) } (window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n   fbq('init', '335401813750447');\n   fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/714781\/wi-fi-extender-vs.-mesh-network-whats-the-difference\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;#Wi-Fi Extender vs. Mesh Network: What\u2019s the Difference?&#8221; Eero Both Wi-Fi extenders and mesh networks promise to improve and extend your Wi-Fi signal, but they achieve this through different means. Plus, if you don\u2019t purchase the appropriate system, you may find that the investment wasn\u2019t worth it. What Is a Range Extender? A range extender&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":193949,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/EeroProWiFi.png?height=200p&trim=2,2,2,2","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-193948","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/193948","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=193948"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/193948\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/193949"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=193948"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=193948"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=193948"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}