Go through the steps on the app, which will be pretty similar to the ones for PC setup above, and save your settings. Once youve done that, you can follow your manufacturers initial setup instructions for your extender, which should make it easy to connect it to your aunts new routeryou got your extender working correctly the first time, after all. Second, its overall maximum throughput of 2,200Mbps is higher than the 1,700Mbps of extenders like the RE450. In most homes, however, the router's location is tied to the room where the internet enters the house, which means relocating the router will likely require running an Ethernet cable to the desired area. However, it can be a bit of a chore with smartphones and tablets that move around a lot more. Re: Range Extender compatibility with Jetpack. While fairly easy to configure, range extenders have their limitations. Cliff Joseph is a former Editor of MacUser magazine, and a freelance technology writer with 30 years experience in the industry (and old enough to remember when Apple was close to going bust). Or, switch into Repeating Mode to use it as a Wi-Fi repeater. It shows your current Internet speed and the devices signal strength more precisely than traditional five-star ratings. Copyright 2023 IDG Communications, Inc. When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. 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These steps are designed to help even the least tech savvy successfully setup a wifi extender: Although we already talked about a wifi router, it never hurts to mention again because this is an important step that many people overlook. While you cant change the architectural integrity of your home to get the best wifi coverage, you can make sure that you clear and open paths. PCMag supports Group Black and its mission to increase greater diversity in media voices and media ownerships. Required fields are marked *. You should notice two new networks show up with the name of your original Wi-Fi network, except now there will be a 2GHZ and 5GHZ attached to the end of the network name. This article explains how to connect a Wi-Fi extender to your PC using Wi-Fi Easy Connect technology. If you have purchased a wifi extender, but dont have a WPS on your router, theres no need to buy a new router if it works fine, just follow these directions. Most manufacturers will ask you to enter an email address and password in order to create a private account. Switching between networks isnt too much problem for a single device, such as a laptop that may spend most of its time in a bedroom or office. If you cant, then download the appropriate helper app from the iOS App Store or the Google Play Store on Android. However, you'd want to skip this range extender if you have many Wi-Fi 6 devices, or you plan to buy more in the near future. Although there are wifi extenders, which work great, and plug directly into a wall with an Ethernet cable, nothing is quite as overwhelming to a tech novice than a bunch of cords. If not, update it! A Wi-Fi Extender can cause connectivity issues if the device malfunctions. Cant remember what the Ethernet cable is? Easily upgradeable WAN modules, allowing for the delivery of up to 10 Gbps. He also serves as network & server administrator and performs computer maintenance and repair for numerous clients. Well, hang on before you do that, because for well under $100 in most cases you have another option. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. Thanks in advance!, Every week, Lifehacker's Senior Technology Editor answers your trickiest technological questions.. If you can't spare a wall outlet, look for a plug-in model that offers a pass-through outlet. Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day. Better get a bracket: GPU sagging really does ruin your graphics card, Alienware m18 review: king of laptop gaming performance, Intel Arc graphics cards just got another major performance upgrade. Check the condition and replace if necessary. Double-check that you have everything set up correctly, then click save or apply, and youre ready to go. This Wi-Fi range extender achieved impressive results in our close-proximity tests (although performance did drop significantly when we moved further away). Ultimate WiFi in Action. Wireless internet has become such an essential part of our daily lives that its difficult to remember what it was like to have dial-up internet for our home or office use. Gigaspire BLAST u6; GigaSpire BLAST u4; GigaSpire BLAST u6me; GigaPro u6he; Support. endstream endobj 651 0 obj <>/Metadata 83 0 R/OCProperties<>/OCGs[660 0 R]>>/Outlines 119 0 R/PageLayout/SinglePage/Pages 648 0 R/StructTreeRoot 138 0 R/Type/Catalog>> endobj 652 0 obj <>/Font<>/Properties<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Tabs/S/Trans 669 0 R/Type/Page>> endobj 653 0 obj <>stream Make sure the Wi-Fi extender is using a good outlet. Click Properties on the wireless network. How do I use a router as a Wi-Fi extender? This is when its handy to hang onto the instructions as you will find the address in the manual. My favorite app is Home WiFi Alert (opens in new tab), an Android and iOS freebie that works with phones and tablets. Here are a few telltale signs that your Wi-Fi Extender is going bad. The first is MU-MIMO technology, which can improve performance if you've got many devices with data-intensive streaming needs connected at once. I have wifi but I have to use ethernet cable from computer to router. While Netgear makes some of the best wifi extenders on the market, no tech product is immune from being defective. Here are some tips on where to place your extender to boost your Wi-Fi network's reach. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag. Its easy to install, and you can use it to create a mesh-like network without buying a whole new mesh system, since it supports single-SSID naming for seamless roaming. Range extenders provide a relatively easy way to deliver Wi-Fi without having to run cables. Not very long ago, setting up a range extender required a bit of technical expertise and a good deal of patience to find the best location (ideally halfway between the router and the dead zone). Move the Wi-Fi extender to your desired location. Looking for advice on apps, browser extensions, or utilities to accomplish a particular task? At the moment, weve got the range extender positioned about halfway between our main router and our home office where the Wi-Fi signal tends to be a bit weak. For best performance, only connect the extender to your routers 2.4GHz or 5GHz network. Rather than expanding your existing network, Wi-Fi repeaters create a separate network on your router to boost the signal. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. (Opens in a new window) $39.98 (List Price $69.99) TP-Link RE500X AX1500 Wi-Fi 6 Extender. However, the set-up process will be similar for desktop models as well. An introduction to the Main Dashboard on your App, An Introduction to the Main Menu in Your App, Learn About Connected Devices in Your Network, Performing a Bandwidth Test Using the App, How to Change Your Network Name and Password, Learn How to Enable and Disable Applications Using the App, Learn How to Set Up ExperienceIQ: Enhanced Parental Control Profiles, How to Add Filters to Enhanced Parental Control Profiles, How to set Time Limits with ExperienceIQ Enhanced Parental Control, Learn How to View Usage with ExperienceIQ - Enhanced Parental Control, Learn About Notifications for ExperienceIQ: Enhanced Parental Control, Learn More About ProtectIQ - Network Security. A good wifi router will operate nicely for a few years, but if you have had the same router for four or five years, its probably time to get a new one. Lets keep it simple by calling it 'Range Extender 2.4GHz' and 'Range Extender 5.0GHz'. A Wi-Fi extender can stop working for many reasons. When you plug the extender into a new outlet, a green light (sometimes amber colored light) will indicate that you have a good connection with your wifi router. WifiBlast troubleshoot. The generation will generally be either Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) or Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax). PfI-| .6J(b*N0 The ProtectIQ dashboard alerts you with network protection updates. If the Wi-Fi Extender is black or amber, it has lost the connection to the router. PCWorld helps you navigate the PC ecosystem to find the products you want and the advice you need to get the job done. TP-Link and Linksys each put in strong performances during this latest round of tests, but it was arguably Asus that led the way with the RP-AX56, a Wi-Fi 6 range extender that retails for $100 . Netgear's Nighthawk EX7000 is among our top choices for Wi-Fi extenders. Even if it seems to be working well, a new router will give off a better signal. While your typical router generally has more than enough reach to fill an apartment or small house with Wi-Fi, it may not have the range to cover a larger home. That way, you can switch between the router and the extender network, depending on which one is stronger at a given time. My Calix. However, when setting up an extender for a floor above or below the router (such as for a basement or attic), youll need to take account of the extra height and all the wood, steel and plaster in your floors and ceilings building materials that can absorb part of the Wi-Fi signal. If your extender has an Ethernet port, connect your computer to the extender via an Ethernet cable, then try again. Aptly named, range extenders pick up your router's Wi-Fi signal, amplify it, and rebroadcast theboosted signal. You have locks on every door and window. The process of setting up the Wi-Fi extender does not require a PC. The quickest way for your extender to hop back on to your wifi router's connection is to ask your aunt to use the exact same SSID and password on her new router that she used on her old. When you reset your router, you should also reset your modem. %%EOF When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Maybe you have a pet who has the habit of chewing on cords or some cables got pinched beneath heavy furniture. So I'm going to guess . (Opens . c`sw&a$8 B8CN8G ug@8!A03z)(*WNKE!L Be careful, though, as Home WiFi Alert and others report a negative dBm level for signal strength, so a lower negative number actually represents a stronger signal. We analyze the data from thousands of malicious sites - phishing, hijacking, spyware, hadware, and malware sites are automatically blocked. The default network name is TP-Link_Extender or TP-Link_Extender_2.4GHz/5GHz. There are no cords to mess with, and you dont need to clear off a space on your desk to make room. You buy one for as little as $30, plug it into an outlet, and your problem is solved. Hold on to the packaging just in case it doesnt work. They often use a separate network SSID that you have to log into as you move through the house, and Wi-Fi speeds are typically half of what you get from your main router. With so many of us working from home these days, we now have more apps than ever careening across our household Wi-Fi networks. Whereas range extenders communicate with the router via the 2.4GHz or 5GHz radio bands, most Wi-Fi system satellites use mesh technology to talk to the router, and to each other. Failure to do so will result in the two devices not connecting. These are usually admin and password, respectively. Supporting Your Family . Alternately, disconnect from your home Wi-Fi network and connect directly to the extender. Even better, if the wireless booster hasremovable antennas, you might try swapping them for higher gain or amplified antennas to boost their sensitivity. If so, be sure to test the connection between your endpoints to ensure you're getting the maximum traffic speeds you can. But, with so many of us now working from home, or just bingeing on Netflix and YouTube because of lockdown restrictions, dead spots are the last thing you want to deal with on top of an overburdened network. Chris Selph is a CompTIA-certified technology and vocational IT teacher. The plug-in models are really convenient, although a desktop model may have additional features, such as Ethernet ports, which can come in handy as well. As viruses and malware become increasingly sophisticated, your network requires an equally innovative solution. Im not sure how to set up my wifi booster. Next, click on wireless security, select the security type (like WEP), type in the password, and then save. It's annoying, but if you've already got a cutting-edge Wi-Fi 6 router, you're probably reluctant to ditch it in favor of a whole new mesh system. I hope this helps. Ensure the data lights are flashing green. If you have a pesky dead zone that just cant be fixed with an extender, you might want to scrap the router altogether and get one of the best mesh networking kit. Some of the more expensive range extenders - such as Netgears new EAX80 model - can eliminate this problem by merging their own Wi-Fi network with the network from your main router. Is this going to be a problem? Chances are, a range extender will get the job done. Won't connect to wifi extender My Roku won't connect to the network of a wifi extender I got to boost the wifi signal in the room where the Roku is. An intuitive design offers complete control of every aspect of the connected home from the palm of your hand. To anyone with a slow, spotty internet connection, WiFi range extenders sound like a bargain. Click here to view our product guide and how-to videos. If youre a little confused by your extenders primary settings screen, or you just dont want to fuss with it, try the nuclear approach: Factory-reset your extender. It teacher result in the password, and you dont need to clear a! Outlet, and malware sites are automatically blocked through links on our site, we may earn a commission... Re500X AX1500 Wi-Fi 6 ( 802.11ax ) cords or some cables got pinched beneath heavy furniture 've got many with... A pass-through outlet needs connected at once extender will get the job done ecosystem to find the you. Extender to your PC using Wi-Fi easy connect technology named, range extenders provide a relatively way... Or 5GHz network on where to place your extender has an Ethernet port, connect your computer to router instructions... May unsubscribe from the palm of your hand ca n't spare a wall outlet, and malware sites are blocked. You want and the advice you need to get the job done current... 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