Question WiFi range extenders ?

[woolybully]

Had a Linksys router and range extender but I found that wi-fi was better when extender turned off so returned it. Since then I've read that range extenders need LAN connection. Is that right or wrong before I buy another extender?

I also found that BT Hub 5 provided better coverage before I went fibre.

 

[Lutfij]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

Range extenders don't exactly need ethernet connection to operate, you can wirelessly tehter them to your wireless router to extend the range of your initial WiFi signal. If the Range extender came with an ethernet port, it's very likely that the device could be used as an Access Point or to tether a device that lacks Wireless connectivity via the Ethernet port/LAN cable.

To round off your predicament, you didn't mention the model of your devices, apart from mentioning that they're from Linksys.

 

[woolybully]

Thanks for that. Router is Linksys SPMNX57 installed by fibre provider . Extender i don't know as I returned i but looked similar to router. So why was my wi-fi coverage better when it was switched off? Extender was plugged into power socket and did have an ethernet port

 

[bill001g]

Depends on what you mean by "coverage".

First proper placement is important. It must be placed where it can receive the signal from the main router and still provide a signal to the remote room. If it was one big massive open field you would place it half way. When you have walls/ceilings etc it makes it more complex.

Next if you do it correctly you will get more signal strength but in best case you will lose 1/2 the bandwidth. So it might get slower speedtest numbers via repeater than a direct connection to the router even though the signal level is lower.

Before you get too far remember you do not really need more bandwidth/speed for most application, especially those that run on portable devices. Bandwidth is only really used for large file downloads. If it works ok then don't make thing more complex with extenders.

 

[woolybully]

What I meant by coverage was that my BT Hub (when I had wire to house at 30Mbps) would reach to a point where my Linksys router at 150Mbps cannot reach. The info I get from Linksys is that range of the router is marginal for my house, hence the need for extender. I get the point about placement. My router is inside front wall on ground floor and extender was central on first floor. What I intend to do is use Powerline to reach the point the Linksys router can't. I know it's old tech but have used it before to connect to ethernet device.

 

[bill001g]

Depending on your application powerline is better than wifi. If like most people on this forum you play online games powerline will have much more consistent latency than wifi. Games only use about 1mbps.

There has been no technology advancement on powerline for many years so I suspect there is a some limitation. The units with 1000 or 2000 number still get 130mbps in most houses.

People get too hung up on bandwidth/speedtest number. Most families can live easily live with 100mbps internet plan. This allows 3 people to watch different 4k netflix moves at 30mbps each as well as play games and surf the web. You only need more if you download extremely large files on a very regular basis.

 

[dingo07]

Look into EERO - the PRO6E devices are great for providing Mesh coverage if you don't have a wire

 

[woolybully]

Thanks all . I'll give my Pow.erline a go. The failure of my Linksys extender will remain a mystery.

 

[bill001g]

Although the linksys extender could have failed it is more likely it was placed in a location that did not work. Might have moved it a foot one way or another and it work better. Wifi is almost magic because you can not see the signals and what is blocking it. It does not take much to block signal. When you consider your microwave oven works on the same 2.4g frequency as wifi and it runs at 1000 times the power but the amount of signal legally allowed out is a tiny fraction of what your router can legally transmit at. What ever glass treatment is used on the door that lets you see in but blocks all that power is impressive.

Powerline units work in most houses but there are the rare few it does not work because of how the wiring works. Seem 1 brand of arc fault breakers required in new house can block it so even very new houses you can get unluckly. If you have coax in both location MoCA is the preferrered solution and it will eaisly run 1gbit for most people.