Boosting Your Wireless Connection

Nowadays, a robust and reliable wireless connection is crucial for both work and leisure. However, many of us have experienced the frustration of a weak or unreliable WiFi signal both at home and at work at some point. This is where WiFi repeaters, also known as WiFi extenders or boosters, are often deployed. In this blog post, we’ll explore the situations in which using wireless boosters is beneficial and when it might be better not to.

The Basics of WiFi Repeaters / Boosters

Wireless repeaters are devices designed to extend the range of your existing WiFi network. They work by receiving the existing WiFi signal, amplifying it, and then rebroadcasting it to areas with a weaker signal. These devices can be particularly useful in large homes, offices, or spaces with multiple obstacles that may interfere with the WiFi signal.

When to Use WiFi Repeaters or boosters

Large Homes or Offices

If you live in a large home or work in a spacious office where the WiFi signal struggles to reach certain areas, a wireless booster can be a cheap option to extend coverage. These devices can help eliminate dead zones and ensure a consistent and strong signal throughout your space.

Multiple Floors

Homes or offices with multiple floors often face challenges in maintaining a reliable WiFi connection on every level. A strategically placed wireless booster can help bridge the gap and improve connectivity from the basement to the attic.

Remote Areas

If you have an outdoor space or a detached garage that requires WiFi access, a wireless booster can extend your network to these remote areas. This is particularly useful for those who need a connection in their garden or workspace.

Overcoming Obstacles

Walls, furniture, and other obstacles can weaken WiFi signals. WiFi repeaters can help overcome these physical barriers by amplifying the signal and ensuring that it reaches every nook and cranny of your space.

Improving Signal Strength

In areas where the WiFi signal is weak but not necessarily non-existent, a booster can enhance the signal strength, leading to a larger coverage area.

When Not to Use Wireless Repeaters

While wireless repeaters can be a valuable solution in many situations, there are instances where they might not be the best option.

Single Room Setup

If you live in a small apartment or only need WiFi in a single room, a wireless repeater may be unnecessary. In such cases, a quality router or access point with sufficient range is a better way to cover the entire space.

Interference Issues

If your WiFi issues stem from interference rather than distance, a repeater may not be the ideal solution. Interference from other electronic devices or neighbouring WiFi networks can be better addressed by changing the WiFi channel or using a dual-band router.

Outdated Hardware

Before investing in a wireless booster, ensure that your existing router and modem are not outdated. Upgrading your hardware might provide a more effective solution to connectivity issues.

Network Congestion

In densely populated areas with many WiFi networks, network congestion can be a challenge. A wireless repeater won’t necessarily solve this issue. Instead, consider upgrading to a higher frequency band.

Issues With WiFi Repeaters

A WiFi repeater will increase signal strength and coverage but they reduce bandwidth so you need to be careful what you want to use in the boosted area.  They also add interference to the existing WiFi solution.

Repeaters are usually installed close to the edge of your WiFi coverage so as not to cause interference with your main wireless access point that will cause it to back off the power which will reduce the coverage.

At the edge of coverage, the available bandwidth is considerably lower.  Boosting the signal strength extends the range but not the bandwidth so once again the further you are from the repeater the lower the bandwidth you have.

Just because you have signal strength doesn’t mean you have the bandwidth you require.

Alternative options

Wireless mesh systems work in much the same way as repeaters but they provide multiple uplinks as they mesh together which therefore improves bandwidth and reliability slightly.

PIL – Power in line adapters. These rebroadcast your wireless network around the location however unlike booster they use your power cables to go back to the router.  This generally provides a higher bandwidth uplink and therefore is more robust than using a booster.

Additional Access points.  If you have the budget for it, this is always the best option.  It provides a far greater coverage area and bandwidth.

Conclusion

In the quest for a reliable and strong WiFi signal, wireless boosters can be a cheap way of achieving this. Knowing when to use them is essential to ensure that you invest in the right solution for your specific needs. If you’re dealing with a large space, dead zones, or obstacles hindering your WiFi signal, a WiFi repeater can make a significant difference as long as you don’t require high bandwidth in the extended coverage area.

In smaller spaces or when dealing with interference and congestion, alternative solutions or upgrades to your existing hardware may be more effective. Careful consideration of your unique circumstances will guide you in making the right decision to boost your wireless connection.

If you want a truly reliable and consistent wireless connection then do it properly, spend a little more and get an extra wireless access point.  If you can’t run the cabling required to connect it back to the router then try something like this 

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