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Wifi Range Extenders - Worth it?
Posted on 7/10/19 at 11:37 am
Posted on 7/10/19 at 11:37 am
I've got my router in my second bedroom of my place, and the wifi out on my balcony can be kind of slow/spotty. I like to work out on my balcony during the summer months, so was wondering if wifi repeaters/extenders are worth the money...or if they're like those cell phone signal booster stickers that people used to stick inside their phones.
Anyone have any thoughts or recommendations? Was looking at this one, and for $30 it doesn't seem like a terrible gamble.
LINK
Anyone have any thoughts or recommendations? Was looking at this one, and for $30 it doesn't seem like a terrible gamble.
LINK
5
Posted on 7/10/19 at 11:42 am to Chucktown_Badger
I like the ones that operate over your electric wire in the house. They seem to work better.
LINK
Something like the link i just posted. I haven't used one in years (switched to a mesh system a few years back). But using one of those is like converting your already installed electrical line into one big ethernet cable and having a direct connection into that secound router (instead of trying to connect a shoddy OTA wifi signal and then producing an even shoddier secondary OTA wifi signal).
LINK
Something like the link i just posted. I haven't used one in years (switched to a mesh system a few years back). But using one of those is like converting your already installed electrical line into one big ethernet cable and having a direct connection into that secound router (instead of trying to connect a shoddy OTA wifi signal and then producing an even shoddier secondary OTA wifi signal).
Posted on 7/10/19 at 11:46 am to Chucktown_Badger
I haven't tried a range extender like the one you linked, so I can't speak specifically to that. I did, however, try a powerline adapter. It's a similar end-goal, but a different way to get there.
All that to say, the powerline adapter was a total waste of money. T-O-T-A-L waste.
I mention that only because I investigated the same thing you are, and my research brought up powerline adapters as well and they seemed like a great solution. False.
I ended up just getting a more powerful router.
EDIT: As mentioned above, a powerline adapter could be a good solution in certain houses and wiring systems - but it does heavily depend on the wiring in your apartment/house.
All that to say, the powerline adapter was a total waste of money. T-O-T-A-L waste.
I mention that only because I investigated the same thing you are, and my research brought up powerline adapters as well and they seemed like a great solution. False.
I ended up just getting a more powerful router.
EDIT: As mentioned above, a powerline adapter could be a good solution in certain houses and wiring systems - but it does heavily depend on the wiring in your apartment/house.
This post was edited on 7/10/19 at 11:49 am
Posted on 7/10/19 at 12:03 pm to Niner
quote:
EDIT: As mentioned above, a powerline adapter could be a good solution in certain houses and wiring systems - but it does heavily depend on the wiring in your apartment/house.
I don't have the phone line running in the main living area, so guessing that puts the kabosh on the powerline adaptor.
Posted on 7/10/19 at 12:34 pm to Chucktown_Badger
quote:
Anyone have any thoughts or recommendations? Was looking at this one, and for $30 it doesn't seem like a terrible gamble.
NetGear Externder
I have 2 good NetGear extenders I will sell cheap. I cant use them since I went to a mesh network but they worked fine for extending upstairs and out in my shop. I have a Nighthawk router too but it was acting up hence the move to Goggle WIfi
This post was edited on 7/10/19 at 12:44 pm
Posted on 7/10/19 at 1:12 pm to Chucktown_Badger
I've dealt with several and all have needed to be rebooted every couple of weeks. A mid level mesh system is a much better choice. Extenders work okay, but are frustrating in the long run.
Posted on 7/10/19 at 1:55 pm to Chucktown_Badger
quote:
I don't have the phone line running in the main living area, so guessing that puts the kabosh on the powerline adaptor.
You don't need it -- someone correct me if i am doing this wrong but the set up is as follows for powerline:
1. purchase the extender (it is 2 pieces)
2. plug piece 1 in to your router with an ethernet cable and plug piece 1 into the plug in the wall
3. plug piece 2 in the wall in the room you want
4. connect to wifi
the electrical wires act as an ethernet cable connecting between the two. The way it was described to me is that the power runs on a different frequency over the electric line and it doesn't interfere with anything.
These do NOT work if your house runs on two or more grids -- meaning it only works on one grid in the house.
Posted on 7/10/19 at 3:39 pm to Fonzarelli
quote:
1. purchase the extender (it is 2 pieces)
2. plug piece 1 in to your router with an ethernet cable and plug piece 1 into the plug in the wall
3. plug piece 2 in the wall in the room you want
4. connect to wifi
Ah, gotcha. That makes sense. So perhaps it is an option.
Posted on 7/11/19 at 9:32 am to Fonzarelli
quote:
powerline adaptor
Terrible idea. Basically extending your LAN outside your home on the power lines, the clear text transmissions will interceptable for quite a way until it gets filtered out by enough transformers and such. If they can be recieved they can be injected as well.
Posted on 7/11/19 at 10:02 am to dakarx
quote:
clear text transmissions
Not true. The HomePlug AV standard uses 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard.
Posted on 7/11/19 at 10:14 am to TAMU-93
They actually listened to complains from years ago? I'm impressed, and will stand corrected.
Posted on 7/11/19 at 5:22 pm to Chucktown_Badger
Slight hijack
But can you pair 2 wireless routers together wirelessly? I just moved and switched to ATT. Most of my house is covered except for one room and outside patio. Was wanting to connect my old Netgear router to my new att router
But can you pair 2 wireless routers together wirelessly? I just moved and switched to ATT. Most of my house is covered except for one room and outside patio. Was wanting to connect my old Netgear router to my new att router
Posted on 7/16/19 at 4:22 pm to KajunKouyon
Hey fellas, took the dive and got the Netgear wifi extender for $30...figured what the hell.
I've got a 1,100 sq ft condo and the router is in the bedroom by the entrance. The area I was having issues with was out on my balcony off the front of the place. The thing is super small and took me maybe 5 minutes to get it set up. I plugged it in in the living room by the sliding glass door of the balcony.
Just did a test on the balcony with the sliders closed:
regular network
27.67 mbps download
3.69 mbps upload
extended network
65.94 mbps download
77.20 mbps upload
Dang. I've seen people complain about them not working long term and/or not staying connected, but that's a hell of a difference.
I've got a 1,100 sq ft condo and the router is in the bedroom by the entrance. The area I was having issues with was out on my balcony off the front of the place. The thing is super small and took me maybe 5 minutes to get it set up. I plugged it in in the living room by the sliding glass door of the balcony.
Just did a test on the balcony with the sliders closed:
regular network
27.67 mbps download
3.69 mbps upload
extended network
65.94 mbps download
77.20 mbps upload
Dang. I've seen people complain about them not working long term and/or not staying connected, but that's a hell of a difference.
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