

How to get the most out of your NETGEAR WiFi extender You will also start seeing desktop models that offer more Ethernet ports and dual-band networks.įor $100 or more, you can obtain a NETGEAR WiFi extender with desirable features that include faster speed potentials, tri-band networks, and mesh capabilities. A NETGEAR WiFi extender in this price range might have one Ethernet port.Īs you move into the $50 to $99 price bracket, you'll find plug-in extenders with added features, such as an additional outlet. If you’re on a budget and have a smaller home, you can look in the $25 to $49 range for a compact, easy-install NETGEAR extender that plugs into an outlet. For that, NETGEAR offers extensive troubleshooting documentation online to facilitate setting up your WiFi extender in almost any situation you can imagine. If you run into trouble, it's more often a home network problem than a device problem. Most NETGEAR extenders are designed to have an effortless setup. Although there are physical limitations - for example, a smaller plug-in device can't have as many Ethernet ports as a larger device - the size of a WiFi extender mainly comes down to user preference. NETGEAR makes WiFi extenders that either sit on your desk or can be plugged into a wall outlet. NETGEAR has a variety of options when it comes to extenders with Ethernet ports. However, some devices, such as a gaming system, are ideal for an Ethernet connection. It is not the most practical way, though - you couldn't go very far with your phone if it was connected to a line in the wall. This can be useful for the high demands of gaming.Įven though your NETGEAR WiFi extender has an antenna, the best way to transmit data is through wired connections. It then dedicates a different band from the extender to your device, offering maximum WiFi performance for your particular system. NETGEAR's FastLane Technology dedicates a band from your router to the extender. Having multiple bands can help increase performance. Others have two 5GHz bands and one 2.4GHz band, making them tri-band WiFi extenders. Some also work on a 5GHz band, which makes them dual-band WiFi extenders. All WiFi extenders work on a 2.4GHz band. Speed is crucial for providing the best internet experience you just can't expect to increase your internet speed beyond what your ISP is offering.Ī band is the range of frequencies that your WiFi extender uses. A WiFi extender simply cannot exceed the speed offered by your internet service provider (ISP).Īlthough you wouldn't need a 1Gbps extender for a dial-up connection, you would want one if you had fiber optic service. Dial-up internet is measured in kilobits per second and is much slower. With that in mind, here are the key features you need to consider when shopping for a NETGEAR WiFi extender.ĭo you have dial-up internet? If so, it’s important to know that you will not receive any benefits from a WiFi extender that features a speed of 1Gbps. It is important to look at the variables that would actually make a difference in your user experience. It is not the fastest speed, so don’t be misled. That is what that AC number is: the combined potential speed of all the bands on your extender. When you add all three together, however, you could theoretically claim to have a 34 mph relay team. Here’s an analogy: if you had a three-man relay team and the first man could run 10 mph but the second and third man could each run 12 mph, the fastest possible speed would only be 12 mph. Rather, this number is a sum of potential speeds. The AC numbers (AC1200, AC2300, etc.) that you may see on the packaging of a WiFi extender is not direct a indication of speed. The result: you can carry your laptop or tablet anywhere in your home and enjoy a high-quality internet connection. It allows your router to have a “conversation” with a device that is otherwise too far away. The same goes for wireless internet signals: distance and other interference can weaken your signal and make it hard to access the internet in certain parts of your home.Ī WiFi extender is like an intercom for people who want to talk to each other from separate rooms.

Distance and extraneous noise can make it hard for people to communicate with their voices.
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It'll be even worse if someone left the TV on in the living room. If you’re in the basement and you’re trying to have a conversation with your spouse who happens to be in the office on the second floor, it's not going to be a very productive chat. Most NETGEAR extenders are universal extenders, meaning they are compatible with every WiFi router currently available.
