If you’re looking for ways to improve the internet connection around your home, then you’ve likely come across wi-fi boosters. They are sometimes also referred to as extenders and repeaters, and nowadays, they usually mean the same thing
A booster can help you to get a stronger signal around your home, and enable that signal to travel a greater distance too. They can allow your wi-fi signal to pass through thick walls, and it’s a good way to get better wi-fi coverage a decent distance from your router.
They’ve become increasingly popular in recent years, with many people looking to improve their signal strength. They can be used whether you’re at home or in the office. But how exactly do these wi-fi boosters manage to do this?
Surely it can’t be simple to just make a signal better and more powerful? Well, that’s what a wi-fi range extender can do, but let’s look at just how exactly wi-fi boosters really work.
Do Wi-Fi signal boosters really work?
Many people wonder whether wi-fi boosters really work as they’re supposed to. I think that a lot of this is because of their pretty low price, as people think you probably can’t get such a great improvement in your internet connection for just £20 or £30.
However, the truth is that wi-fi boosters work really well to help spread the wi-fi signal around your home. If you’re using a wifi router with limited range, then it could be a god accompaniment without having to get yourself a new router, or switching over to a full mesh network.
Even the budget models can help to boost your wi-fi quite significantly, so they’re definitely worth trying – but, you do need to get the right one. If you’re interested, then check out this list of the best wifi boosters.
Getting wireless coverage throughout your whole house is something that most of us want, and an extender is a great way of achieving that. Though, the truth is that they’re not always the best option.
Circumstances where a booster won’t help your wi-fi signal
There are some scenarios where a wi-fi booster won’t really help your situation. This might be because;
In the past, a lot of people thought wi-fi boosters may be some sort of scam product or something that didn’t work.
But both Virgin Media and Sky have started offering their own wi-fi boosters in the last few years, so that says that they must have some confidence in them.
Before even thinking about purchasing a wi-fi booster, it might be best to get in touch with your existing wi-fi service provider. It’s possible that they may be able to provide you with one without you having to purchase it yourself.
For a full solution to the problem, a mesh network could be a better choice. They work in a similar way to a booster, with several different hubs spread out across your home. But, the downside to them is that they’re usually significantly more expensive.
How do Wi-Fi boosters work?
Quite simply, a wi-fi booster works to help increase the speed of the wi-fi connection around your house, as well as the range and distance it can reach.
Essentially, the wi-fi booster pulls in the wi-fi signal from your current router. It then amplifies the signal, and then sends it out again to your other devices. This helps to make your signal more powerful, which is key if you’re trying to get reliable Wi-fi.
So, a wi-fi booster will pull the signal into one router, then amplify this signal and send it back out via another router. The transmission is then send back from your device to the booster, which then transfers it back to the router (and then through to the modem).
Also referred to as a wi-fi repeater or a wi-fi extender, they can help improve both the quality of internet signal and the distance that the signal can travel as well. This makes them a good option if your internet service provider can’t do anything to improve your home wi-fi.
Often, they’ll also come with ethernet ports on them for you to use as well. You can use it with the device you want to have the best connection, as a wired cable is still going to be a lot more reliable than simply connecting wirelessly.
What’s causing my weak wi-fi connection?
There are many different causes of a weak connection in your house. Whilst sometimes the problem may just be with your internet provider, often there are other things that may have an effect too. The main causes are;
Conclusion
All in all, a wi-fi booster is a very easy and cheap way for you to improve your wi-fi connection around your home. All you need to do is pick up one device, and it takes just a few minutes to set it up. This device will help to amplify your wi-fi signal, so that it can reach all of the areas around your home.
So, if you’re having wi-fi issues at your house, you might not need to switch providers – a wi-fi booster could be a cheap resolution to help improve your wi-fi range and its quality too.
