Do you have a spot in your house where the WiFi signal just can’t seem to reach? Or maybe you’ve tried to use your laptop in the yard and found that there was no connection at all. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many people face this problem every day.
The good news is that there is a solution: a WiFi extender!
In this article, we will discuss how far a WiFi extender can be from the router and provide some tips on how to get the best performance from your device.
Though WiFi routers have increased in range over the years, they often are still limited. As a result, many people use WiFi extenders to help boost their signal strength. But just how far can a WiFi extender be placed from the router?
The WiFi extender’s range can typically be from 100 to 400 feet, depending on your home’s layout and the type of extender you have. Positioning your router in a central location will give you optimal results with your extender.
When purchasing a WiFi extender, many customers make the mistake of thinking that it will provide them with the same speed as their router regardless of where they place it. Unfortunately, this isn’t true; while the extender may certainly offer greater speeds in areas with slow networks, its overall performance will be limited by the speed of your router and it’s distance from the router.
The Best Location for the WiFi Router
Now that you know the optimum speed is always nearest to the router, it’s crucial to position the router in a way that gives your home complete coverage. Here are some popular instances:
- If your router is on the first floor and there’s a second floor in your home, place the router as close to the center of the home as possible. This will help give you better coverage on both floors.
- If your router is in a corner, try to move it to a more central location.
- If your router is in a closet, try to position it near an open door so that the signal can reach more of your home.
By following these simple tips, you can ensure that you’re getting the best possible performance from your WiFi network – and that means being able to stream movies, browse the internet, and play online games without any lag or buffering.
When using a WiFi extender, it is best to place it in an open area where the signal can easily reach your devices.
WiFi Router and Extender Compatibility
Not all WiFi extenders are made equal. There’s nothing worse than getting a product home and discovering that it won’t function with your setup. You’re most likely looking for an extender because your house has dead zones, after all! When buying extenders, be sure to verify the expected range of coverage; some of them may not meet your needs.
With many of us now using streaming services and smart devices in our homes, a bad WiFi connection can be very frustrating. Think about your favourite show cutting out all the time, or your new Echo Show being glitchy because it’s too far from the router!
Not only does this interrupt our fun, but it can also waste a lot of time trying to fix the problem.
Strategies for Placing your Extender Devices
The size of your flooring and the distance between them; if the distance between the router and any of the extenders exceeds 300-400 feet, there’s a good chance that extension won’t significantly improve your WiFi coverage. If this is your situation, place one extender around 100-200 feet from the router and another one around 100-200 feet from it.
The idea of using several extenders is sometimes referred to as a “mesh network” since the extenders collaborate with the router to distribute internet access throughout the house. This is an excellent setup in big homes where you have multiple floors to cover or in other big homes where the layout makes it necessary for there to be a long distance between rooms.
If you do a search for “mesh network” on Google, you’ll come across a few items that match your needs.
Conclusion
A WiFi repeater may be placed up to 400 feet away from a router, but this will not always ensure complete coverage in your house.
Understanding the distance between places you wish to have internet service and the compatibility of extenders with your router is important when choosing the best one for your home.
