How Do Wi-Fi Range Extenders Really Work?

A low-cost way to increase the reach of your wireless network is to use a Wi-Fi Range Extender, often known as a Wi-Fi Booster, or a Wi-Fi Repeater. But how do they work? What do you need to know to use them correctly? Let's find out.




#garyexplains

[akprice]

Finally! Someone who explains this stuff in a way that's understandable. Thanks dude!

[cjacdc]

You just saved me money... I had a wrong idea of how it works. Almost bought one until I watched this video

[JerryPalmerino]

I vote for the additional videos on powerline and Ethernet wired backhaul.

[Erin-Thor]

Tech has improved! Years ago I bought an extender, and while it increased the range, with each one daisy chained (wirelessly), data throughput was essentially halved. So at the house, great data speed, garage slower, equipment room even slower, pool area sllooowwweeerrr, barn… hopelessly slow.

[zonumev]

I would like to see presentations of the mesh network and powerline adapters. Love your videos, great work, thanks.

[sarrum]

Yeah, I purchased a Wi-Fi extender, tested it out in various places around my house, and ended up returning it. You really do have to test the locations before and after to see if it’s really giving the benefit your looking for.

[funkykong]

Awesome explanation! Looking forward to learning more about mesh networking soon too

[coyotedreams]

Thanks Gary! This was so helpful. I really appreciate your ability to put things in regular people speak. So so so helpful.

[synthwave]

Thanks Gary - Just bought a MESH WiFi system from Huawei and it solves all these "old" wifi issues. Mesh is super fast and best of all all the Android phones of my family automatically fails to the strongest signal keeping the Internet speed high over the fibre line. Used 5 WiFi Apps to do testing in and around my house to make sure MESH works and it does !!!

[namedkenn]

When I have nothing to watch, your videos are always the ones I go to, awesome content as always Gary!

[sendgl]

That was very enlightening. Didn't realise how much they'd affect an existing WiFi. I do use a separate Access Point, extended using powerline adapter and also different channel to main system.

[CommodoreFan]

I find placing the extender 1/2 way between the router where you still get a good signal(usually in the hallway), and where you want to connect say your back porch, to work the best for me, I did not fell like drilling holes in my floors, or running cables in my walls, so in my house I have 2 WiFi Network extenders. one for the front edges of my house, and one for the back edges.

[_..---]

would love a video on power-line communication

[sheebastanley]

yes, a video on MAC addresses please~

[Phlogiston]

I didn't realize that extenders recalculated the data, I thought that it was just a passive repeater

[minenachos]

Definitely spot on. Best explanation I've ever heard on the subject. I currently run four access points hardwired back to a gig switch/router. 3300 square feet 2 story the switch is the DHCP server. That was the only way I could get everything talking to each other. Access points 2 upstairs 2 downstairs none in the same corner and manually set channels I turn the power down to about 50% on all of them so it makes it switch from one to the other. Cat6 cable not the prettiest install but it's effective, expensive, and bottlenecked at the switch. It's like running a USB 3.0 device on a 2.0 port. But I can stream video to multiple devices with no problem except for the bottleneck. I really don't have a use for anything faster than 300Mb. Now for the question.
How come four devices run a speed test at the same time and all four get 250MB download but, one device by itself will only do maybe 260 MB? I'm not complaining cuz I don't pay for gigabit speed but how is it getting it is my question?

[RecisDempayos]

Really love the explanations using the house diagram! Really made things clear and informed my purchase decision. Kudos to you, Gary.

Now, I'm wondering on two things:
1. What's the bandwidth percentage in the upper right room if the range extender is in the hallway?
2. What are better alternatives to range extenders? You'd think with all the advanced mobile tech we have now that WiFi tech is able to bypass walls and obstructions, but that doesn't seem to be the case...

[jeeper]

i like using multiple APs in the way that Ubiquity does with the UniFi system so each AP is linked to a central router, so wherever you go you are connected to the same network, the radios are the only thing that changes, but i know some people are unable to run ethernet cables everywhere due to leasing agreements, or maybe the way the house is configured, i've tried wifi extenders in the past, and always ended up just getting the alarm installation bit out, the low voltage tools, and a box of ethernet cable and running a wire to an additional AP configured with the same config as the primary and setup in the firmware as a wireless extension in AP mode Only via WDS, so as you said, WiFi Extenders do have their place, but they aren't the end-all be-all that most try to make them out to be, great video mate, and loads of good information

[pachelimbuyamba]

crystal clear explanation! Thanks @Gary 😀😀😀😀

[JobsAroundTheCornercom]

Hello, Gary. You are a wealth of information. Thank you for explaining how an Extender works. From your explanation, Extenders inside the house are pointless but it's only helpful if you want to connect with the WiFi outside. Is that correct? Therefore, is Mesh a better option to push the wifi to other parts of the house where there are deadzones?