The WLAN repeater can be used anywhere your router cannot reach itself. So it extends the range of your home network by Signal records and retransmits. In the following, we will explain what to look out for.
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What is a WiFi repeater?
Like all radio technologies, the well-known wireless LAN is spatially limited. If the router that the signal is coming from is too far away, we will have no reception, or at least poor reception. For example, our Smart TV may receive a WiFi signal from our router three rooms away, but it is so weak that the films keep getting stuck.
There is a way to avoid that WLAN repeater – Also known as a WiFi extender. The way it works is extremely simple, which is also the reason for its name. The device receives a WiFi signal and retransmits it amplified. In the example of our Smart TV, we could therefore assume that the signal still arrives well halfway to it.
This is where you place your repeater and this ensures that the signal on the way to the Smart TV (and other devices) does not become too weak. A bit like an additional pump in a line.
Depending on the application, you can even supply your own garden with WLAN reception or an entire floor.
What do I need to pay attention to when purchasing?
First of all, it makes sense to see which brand your router belongs to. Because, the manufacturer of the respective router usually also offers WLAN repeater at. One can assume that these from the same house are also well matched to each other. However, this is not a must and most repeaters work universally with almost any normal WLAN router.
However, the radio standard should be observed: does your router also support 5 GHz Band, the repeater should also be able to do this. The previous standard of the 2,4 GHz band is then also mastered by the 5 GHz band devices with downward compatibility.
The speed of these devices is given in MBit/s, although these values should always be treated with caution. In practice it can happen that the device with the smaller specification from the premium manufacturer achieves better values than the no-name product with the larger specification. Values of up to 2,4 or 600 MBit/s can be found in the 700 GHz range, while values of over 5 MBit/s can be achieved in the 2000 GHz range.
Installation of the WLAN repeater
The installation of these devices is usually quite easy to accomplish. The repeater is plugged directly into a socket, whereby you only have to pay attention to the position of the socket. It should be about halfway to the area to be covered by WiFi. Although you can also test a bit back and forth here afterwards. To do this, you can plug the repeater into a socket at various locations, connect it, and then connect it to a cell phone or laptop Speedtest do to see how the connection has improved in each case.
Once you have plugged it into the socket, it is usually sufficient if you press the DECT button on your router and the corresponding button to connect Repeater press in quick succession. But since the respective installations differ from manufacturer to manufacturer, we recommend that you look at the quick guide. Often there is also a small QR code that takes you to an installation page. This will then guide you through the appropriate steps.
The most important thing about the WiFi repeater
A WiFi amplifier is a practical device for increasing the range of your own WiFi network and eliminating areas with poor reception. The small devices are not particularly expensive, relatively easy to install and can be a great helper in the networked home or even supply the garden with WLAN.
FAQ about WiFi repeaters
A WiFi repeater amplifies the signal of a WiFi router. This allows you to improve the signal in rooms or areas with poor reception and cover longer distances.
Yes, that is possible. Here you should see how many devices your WiFi router can handle!
For this you only need the repeater, your router and a free space in a socket, which should be on the way to the area that you want to provide with WiFi reception.