{"id":572644,"date":"2023-05-01T22:33:24","date_gmt":"2023-05-01T19:33:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/why-wi-fi-range-extenders-suck-review-geek\/"},"modified":"2023-05-01T22:33:24","modified_gmt":"2023-05-01T19:33:24","slug":"why-wi-fi-range-extenders-suck-review-geek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-wi-fi-range-extenders-suck-review-geek\/","title":{"rendered":"#Why Wi-Fi Range Extenders Suck \u2013 Review Geek"},"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-6a301b46b70ca\" 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-6a301b46b70ca\" 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\/why-wi-fi-range-extenders-suck-review-geek\/#What_Is_a_Wi-Fi_Range_Extender\" >What Is a Wi-Fi 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\/why-wi-fi-range-extenders-suck-review-geek\/#Wi-Fi_Range_Extender_vs_Mesh_Network\" >Wi-Fi Range Extender vs. Mesh Network?<\/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\/why-wi-fi-range-extenders-suck-review-geek\/#Why_Wi-Fi_Range_Extenders_Arent_Worth_It\" >Why Wi-Fi Range Extenders Aren\u2019t Worth It<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-wi-fi-range-extenders-suck-review-geek\/#What_to_Buy_Instead\" >What to Buy Instead<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-wi-fi-range-extenders-suck-review-geek\/#Netgear_Nighthawk_RS700\" >Netgear Nighthawk RS700<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div id=\"article-header-area\">\n<p class=\"subheadingtext\">They&#8217;re not worth the hassle, so buy this instead. <\/p>\n<p><!-- .entry-meta -->\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-content-area\">\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"type:primaryImage size-full wp-image-152390\" data-pagespeed-no-defer=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2023\/05\/a186fb50-1.jpg?width=1200\" alt=\"Netgear Wi-Fi Range extender in a mans hand.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"type:primaryImage imagecredit\">Corbin Davenport \/ Review Geek<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In this day and age, dealing with unreliable internet or a shoddy Wi-Fi connection is one of the most frustrating things ever. If you have a large house or too many internet users, you might consider a Wi-Fi range extender but don\u2019t do it.<\/p>\n<p>Several scenarios or issues could lead to a poor Wi-Fi experience, whether that\u2019s multiple people streaming TV and gaming, rooms too far away from the router, or a signal that can\u2019t reliably make it out to your garage or back patio.<\/p>\n<p>I understand the frustration and have tried range extenders, but honestly, they suck. It leads to a poor experience, adds another network name to your home that further limits bandwidth, and they\u2019re not worth the hassle. Here\u2019s why you shouldn\u2019t buy one, or if you already did, throw it away and get an upgrade that\u2019ll actually help.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_a_Wi-Fi_Range_Extender\"><\/span>What Is a Wi-Fi Range Extender?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 1930px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-76183 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2021\/04\/6366255d.jpg\" alt=\"D-Link Wi-Fi booster\" width=\"1930\" height=\"1222\" data-credittext=\"D-Link\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">D-Link<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>You\u2019ll see terms like \u201cWi-Fi extender,\u201d \u201cbooster,\u201d and \u201crepeater,\u201d which are all similar yet work a bit differently. To make things more confusing, most brands use one, two, or all three of those \u201cnames\u201d on the same product.<\/p>\n<p>A Wi-Fi Range Extender is the most common and affordable option. So, how does it work? It\u2019s a mini router you can strategically plug into any outlet throughout your home or in the garage to try and extend your Wi-Fi range.<\/p>\n<p>A range extender tries to boost your existing signal throughout the house. They work by picking up your current router\u2019s WiFi signal, then take advantage of extra antennas to shoot Wi-Fi far and wide past the initial reach. Well, they try, at least.\u00a0Sure, some have an Ethernet port for a solid wired connection that works, but that defeats the purpose of Wi-Fi for most.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re considering a Wi-Fi range extender to try and improve your home internet situation, you\u2019re better off getting a Mesh system, or it\u2019s likely time to <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/134291\/want-faster-internet-speeds-upgrade-your-router\/\">upgrade your router.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wi-Fi_Range_Extender_vs_Mesh_Network\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_1\">Wi-Fi Range Extender vs. Mesh Network?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-152383\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2023\/05\/c8bc9143.jpg\" alt=\"Google Nest Wi-Fi Pro Mesh Router set of three\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Jason Montoya \/ Review Geek<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>A Wi-Fi range extender is completely\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/714781\/wi-fi-extender-vs.-mesh-network-whats-the-difference\/\">different from a Mesh Wi-Fi system<\/a>, even if they seem the same at first glance. An extender is usually the first choice for users because they\u2019re cheap devices, and you won\u2019t have to buy all new gear. Instead, you add a booster to select rooms.<\/p>\n<p>Mesh Wi-Fi systems use similar add-on units you\u2019ll place around your house instead of a single router, which is why many confuse the two. The way the system works, however, is vastly different.<\/p>\n<p>With Mesh, you\u2019ll get two or more finely tuned satellite add-ons that all run the same software, deliver a more robust connection, and have fewer dropouts, all of which run as a single unified network.<\/p>\n<p>Installing a Wi-Fi Mesh network in your home means you have a system that\u2019s designed to work together, while a Wi-Fi range extender is more like adding a cheap band-aid to the situation.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Wi-Fi_Range_Extenders_Arent_Worth_It\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_2\">Why Wi-Fi Range Extenders Aren\u2019t Worth It<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-152394\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2023\/05\/dd33d1a9.jpg\" alt=\"Netgear Wi-Fi range extender with an Ethernet port\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Corbin Davenport \/ Review Geek<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>When you add a range extender to your Wi-Fi network, it\u2019ll do several different things. For one, the extender has its own name and password, which is another thing to remember. Plus, you\u2019ll have to set up and reconnect every device again to the new extender. Yes, you can change the name to use the same SSID, but that\u2019s still not ideal.<\/p>\n<p>Even worse, now you have your original Wi-Fi network and the extender fighting for bandwidth, which slows performance. You\u2019ll likely experience Wi-Fi interference, and your devices might frequently bounce between the two networks, which isn\u2019t a good experience. Imagine that with 2-3 extenders offering 2.4 or 5GHz bands, giving you countless different Wi-Fi systems under one roof. It\u2019s a nightmare.<\/p>\n<p>Another big problem is the location. Most people add a Wi-Fi range extender to that upstairs corner room office, the garage, or the basement where Wi-Fi already struggled. The extender will have the same trouble connecting as your devices, and you\u2019ll experience terrible results.<\/p>\n<p>The extender transmits another wireless signal, which could be slower and more unreliable than the original speed coming from your router.\u00a0When you connect to your new Wi-Fi range extender on a TV or laptop, you\u2019ll see 3-4 bars on your device that the connection is strong. But a connection and the actual speed it delivers are two different things.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll likely end up connected to an extender that keeps dropping the connection, fails, or has the same lag and stuttering issues as before.<\/p>\n<p>Even if you can find a decent spot in the middle of your home to extend the signal, you\u2019ll still deal with the problems mentioned above with a frustrating setup, multiple networks clogging bandwidth, frequent dropouts, and interference.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_Buy_Instead\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_3\">What to Buy Instead<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-152396\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2023\/05\/12e2267a.jpg\" alt=\"Nest Wifi Pro mesh node next to a house plant\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Jordan Gloor \/ Review Geek<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>So, what should you do instead of dealing with multiple networks, unstable connections, and average-at-best speeds?\u00a0There are two great ways to improve your home Wi-Fi without trying a cheap range extender.<\/p>\n<p>Both options are more expensive but worth it in the long run. You can buy a newer and faster Wi-Fi router, preferably one with the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/368332\/wi-fi-6-what%E2%80%99s-different-and-why-it-matters\/\">new Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) technology<\/a>, or even the latest\u00a0Wi-Fi 7 router.<\/p>\n<p>Another excellent option is to buy a whole-home Mesh Wi-Fi system. Again, Mesh operates similarly to extenders by placing multiple devices throughout your home. Thankfully, they\u2019re more stable, designed to work together and yield excellent results. Here are a few solid options.<\/p>\n<div class=\"product-box  \">\n<div class=\"product-img product-img-noaward\">\n<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\" role=\"presentation\" href=\"https:\/\/redirect.viglink.com\/?key=14d03d76e0a6285761e58439513dfd19&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.netgear.com%2Fhome%2Fwifi%2Frouters%2Frs700%2F&amp;cuid=xid:{xid}&amp;___trxnet=vg\" onclick=\"fbq('track', 'Buy Button'); if (fb_t_convert){fb_t_convert();}\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2023\/03\/a5418a10.png\" height=\"147px\" width=\"150px\" alt=\"\" role=\"presentation\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"product-title \">\n<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Shop for Netgear Nighthawk RS700\" aria-label=\"Shop for Netgear Nighthawk RS700\" href=\"https:\/\/redirect.viglink.com\/?key=14d03d76e0a6285761e58439513dfd19&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.netgear.com%2Fhome%2Fwifi%2Frouters%2Frs700%2F&amp;cuid=xid:{xid}&amp;___trxnet=vg\" onclick=\"fbq('track', 'Buy Button'); if (fb_t_convert){fb_t_convert();}\"><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Netgear_Nighthawk_RS700\"><\/span>Netgear Nighthawk RS700<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"product-features\">Netgear&#8217;s first Wi-Fi 7 router features speeds up to 19Gbps and a maximum range of 3,500 square feet. It&#8217;s a significant upgrade over existing routers.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"product-box noflex-desktop \">\n<div class=\"product-img product-img-noaward\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/21tkkQCP3sL._SL160_.jpg\" height=\"147px\" width=\"147px\" alt=\"\" role=\"presentation\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\nsetTimeout(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', '1137093656460433');\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. 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Corbin Davenport \/ Review Geek In this day and age, dealing with unreliable internet or a shoddy Wi-Fi connection is one of the most frustrating things ever. If you have a large house or too many internet users, you might consider a Wi-Fi range extender but&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":572645,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2023\/05\/a186fb50-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-572644","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\/572644","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=572644"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/572644\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/572645"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=572644"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=572644"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=572644"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}