Best WiFi Range Extenders

Do you want to extend the Wi-Fi coverage of your current home? A range extender might be just the thing you've been looking for, and luckily we have a big in-depth guide available that can help you find the best WiFi extenders on the market. Want to know more about this? Then read our in-depth guide explaining everything about this topic.

Ben Grindlow

Ben Grindlow is the founder of ProXPN, a company that provides reviews about VPN products and services. Ben's interest in cybersecurity and privacy led him to start ProXPN, which has become one of the most well-respected VPN providers in the world. Ben is passionate about his work, and he is constantly exploring new ways to improve ProXPN's in-depth guides.

Last updated: 10:10AM 7/5/2022

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Table of Contents

The importance of a stable and strong internet connection cannot be overemphasized. Having a weak wi fi network can be very frustrating because you can not archive everything you want on the internet at the speed you want.

After putting your wifi router in the perfect position, be ready to connect all your wireless devices; your laptop, smart tv, and everything in your smart home.

Suddenly you discover the wi fi signal is on the last bar and too weak to grant you internet access when you need it the most.

Furthermore, you discover your bedroom or some part of your home is a dead zone with no wi fi signal.

The solution to this predicament is getting one of the best wifi boosters, including the Netgear Nighthawk EX8000.

Netgear Nighthawk EX8000 The best wifi Signal Booster of 2022

Score: 9.6

One main feature of this WIFI amplifier is its speed. It's one of the fastest signal boosters available for sale. Losing speed is practically impossible when using this wifi amplifier. This is a result of the dedicated band for communication with your router

  • Wi-Fi standards: 802.11ac/g/n
  • External antenna: No
  • Frequency bands: Simultaneous tri-band
  • Speed 2.4 GHz: 40 Mbps
  • Speed 5 GHz: 1733 Mbps
  • Ethernet ports: 4

AVM FRITZ! Repeater 3000 Best Buy wifi Amplifier of 2022

Apart from the price-quality ratio enticing, its speed is close to the Netgear Nighthawk EX8000. The wifi amplifier or signal booster uses a dedicated band that aids communication with your wifi router and boosts the signal.

  • Wi-Fi standards: 802.11ac/n
  • External antenna: No
  • Frequency bands: Simultaneous tri-band
  • Speed 2.4 GHz: 300 Mbps
  • Speed 5 GHz: 1733 Mbps
  • Ethernet ports: 2

The 5 Best wifi Boosters At A Glance

  1. Netgear Nighthawk EX8000: This model has the best wifi amplifier. The speed is incredible; setting it up has never been easier with the app. The minimum Ethernet port has four.
  2. AVM FRITZ!Repeater 3000: If your interest is a top price-quality ratio, choose this signal booster model from AVM FRITZ. Except for the lower price, it possesses similar features to the Netgear Nighthawk EX8000.
  3. Netgear Nighthawk EAX80: This model is the most futuristic wi fi extender. The model also supports the new 802.11ax standard (wifi 6).
  4. TP-Link RE650: Streaming more than 3 thousand content with this model is child's play, mainly because of its speed.
  5. TP-Link RE200: This is a budget-friendly model with great speed. It typically costs less than most models.

Before We Begin Talking About Wireless Range Extenders.

Here are some wifi-related definitions relevant to you if you have little to no knowledge about the wifi (amplifier) world.

Wifi Standards

  • The wifi Standard shows the speed of a wireless network. It should how fast or how slow it is. Here are examples of relevant wifi Standards:
  • 802.11ax: This standard 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz band does its data transfer in a new way to other devices. This action increases the maximum speed on a single frequency to nothing less than 4800 Mbps.
  • 802.11ad: At a relatively short distance, it can perform data transfer, and it does this with incredible speed. If you are in the same room with the wifi router, it will work at this speed.
  • 802.11ac: This Standard can function as fast as 450 Mbps(Maximum Speed). This standard functions on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. It is a well-known standard, the most famous.
  • 802.11a/g: The maximum speed is 54 Mbps; with this speed, you have access to the arena of single-band wifi equipment.
  • 802.11b: This standard has a band speed of 11 Mbps, and it's the first of its kind.

Frequencies

When comparing a wifi router and wi fi extender, one distinctive feature is the frequency they both operate on, which is different. It often operates with just two frequencies, but you have more than that on the wifi network.

  • 2.4 GHz band: This band is slow, but it covers a wider range when it comes to speed.
  • 5 GHz band: This band is faster, but its range coverage is not wide.
  • 60 GHz band: This is the fastest band with a very wide coverage range; its network can reach a few meters, which means it has a stronger signal.

These are some extra details on single-, dual- and tri-band:

  • Single-band: This router will only work on the 2.4 GHz band. When it comes to speed, it's relatively low. It has a wide network range.
  • Dual-band: This kind of router can function on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, but it's limited to one band at a time.
  •  Simultaneous dual-band routers: can function on both frequencies at the same time.
  • Simultaneous tri-band: These routers can function on the frequencies of more than two bands but proceeds to be active on an additional 5 GHz band and a 60 GHz band.

What Does MU-MIMO Stand For

MU-MIMO is an abbreviation for Multiple User Multiple Input and Multiple Output.

There is a difference between MU-MIMO and “normal” MIMO; this has to do with their access points. For the MU-MIMO, its access point has a wider range and can communicate with multiple devices.

Best wifi Range Extenders, Detailed.

1. Netgear Nighthawk EX8000 The Best wifi Booster of 2022

  • Wi-Fi standards: 802.11ac/g/n
  • External antenna: No
  • Frequency bands: Simultaneous tri-band
  • Ethernet port: 4
  • Speed 2.4 GHz: 400 Mbps
  • Speed 5 GHz: 1733 Mbps

The Netgear Nighthawk EX8000 is the best wifi amplifier accessible today; this is the result of its three frequency bands, one of which is solely for communication with the router.

This wi fi range extender has eight LEDs, which disclose the status of the frequency bands.

Client's devices can now receive the data that flows to them, encouraging Ethernet and USB activity. Within this model are quad-core processors with amplified antennas which are six in number and are up to ± 230 m², able to provide network coverage.

The EX8000 reached a maximum data rate of 526.1 Mbps when a test was carried out at 15 meters and 472.6 Mbps at 23 meters ( the wi fi range extender was about 30 meters from the wifi router). When it was set up through a wall and up a floor, over 9 meters, it managed to hit 338.5 Mbps of bandwidth.

The EX8000 setup process can be done via the Netgear Genie app for iOS and Android. You must study the manual when carrying out a wi-fi-protected setup for the EX8000. Because of some of its advanced settings, it may take a while to finish.

Pros

  • The EX8000 ensures that the wifi is strong even with a wall outlet involved. The EX8000 performs excellently well.
  • The app makes things easy when it's time to install the EX8000

Cons

  • Because of its big size, it requires a good spot.
  • Regarding the price, it comes at a reasonable price to get it at a good deal.

2. AVM FRITZ! Repeater 3000 Best Buy wifi Amplifier of 2022

  • Wi-Fi standards: 802.11ac/n
  • External antennas: No
  • Frequency bands: Simultaneous tri-band
  • Ethernet port: 2
  • Speed 2.4 GHz: 300 Mbps
  • Speed 5 GHz: 1733 Mbps

The MU-MIMO amplifier has three frequency bands. Its maximum speed has been recorded as about 300 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 1733 Mbps on the 5 GHz. This is quite impressive.

While testing this wi fi range extender, a 15 meters gap was between it and the wifi router, with not just one wall outlet but also between it and the router. It still produced an average speed of 98.3 Mbps.

Furthermore, two laptops on the 2.4 GHz band were connected to this wireless range extender with a 5 meters gap it's average speed was approximately 179.6 Mbps.

The LED lights appear in front of the case, this helps to know the signal strength also, the connection button easily, and the connection status LED.

Inside the device, you will find a PQ4019 quad-core CPU and a gigabit Ethernet transceiver from Qualcomm, with 256MB of RAM and 128MB of storage.

To check the data of the FRITZ! Repeater 3000, you can access the mesh technology or networking tab in the web interface; this indicates that it can be part of a mesh system.

Pros

  • Value for your money.
  • The speed of the AVM FRITZ! Repeater offers are perfect for home wifi networked; it's enough for an average user.

Cons

  • The FRITZ! Repeater 3000 can only work with the ac and n standards.

3. Netgear Nighthawk EAX80 Best Future Proof wifi Amplifier

  • Wi-Fi Standards: 802.11a/ac/b/g/n
  • External Antennas: No
  • Frequency Bands: Simultaneous dual-band
  • Ethernet port: 4
  • Speed 2.4 GHz: 1200 Mbps
  • Speed 5 GHz: 4800 Mbps

The Netgear Nighthawk EAX80 is in its class.

This simultaneous dual-band MU-MIMO amplifier is mainly centralized on the latest wifi standard: 802.11ax, or wifi 6.

Because this model is not widely used yet and most occurrences of the current ware are not compatible with the 802.11ax standard, this amplifier hastily appears outdated.

Among the wi fi range extenders, the EAX80 is futuristic, and it can reach overage f up to more than 550 m² and can be added on in a mesh system.

The setup can be done with the Netgear Genie app for iOS and Android; you can also use WPS. This makes it easy to connect to your wireless router.

The EAX80 reached a maximum speed of 889 Mbps in the same room; this was done while working with equipment that supported only one wifi 6.

The measurement was done within the wifi 5 standards. The maximum speed dropped when 15 meters of space and two walls between the devices and the router were used. This new speed was about 423 Mbps.

The device hardware was a major influence in this achievement.

For instance, the EAX80 has a 1.8 GHz dual-core processor so that more than three thousand contents can also be processed easily.

With the LED light, you can easily monitor the status of your wifi connection, the frequency bands, the USB connection, and your Ethernet connections.

Pros

  • With the app, you can do your settings with ease.
  • The EAX80 has the highest speed record so far.
  • It is futuristic

Cons

  • You have to pay for the premium package.

4 TP-Link RE650 Best wifi booster for surfing and streaming

  • Wi-Fi Standards: 802.11ac/g/n
  • External Antennas: Yes, 4
  • Frequency Bands: Simultaneous dual-band
  • Ethernet port: 1
  • Speed 2.4 GHz: 800 Mbps
  • Speed 5 GHz: 1733 Mbps

This simultaneous dual-band wifi amplifier performance is top-notch both in large areas and small once.

With beamforming and MU-MIMO technologies to connect many connected devices simultaneously, the RE650 can cover an area of up to ± 95m².

Within this, the wifi extender is an 880MHz dual-core processor which streamlines data delivery and controls the operation of the wi fi range extender.

Its job is to transmit data over four virtual lanes and can theoretically transfer 1,733 Mbps over the 5 GHz channel and 800 Mbps over the 2.4 GHz channel.

With the tp-link, you can connect to the host router using WPS or a browser-based procedure.

All settings can be adjusted with the web client; this includes time schedules and turning the LEDs on or off.

You can also monitor the RE650's functioning via an iOS or Android app.

With a home wi fi network,

The RE650 transmitted data over 9 meters, with a wall passing through the outlet and up a floor; it reached a speed of 153 Mbps. Furthermore, two walls were added with a pass-through outlet, and the speed rose to 215 Mbps.

Pros

  • The RE650 is fast enough for an average user.
  • Adjustable external antennas bring flexibility to the wireless range extender.
  • The RE650 is more compact than the initial wi fi range extenders mentioned in this top 5.

Cons

  • Blocks adjacent plug(s)

5. TP-Link RE200 Best Budget wifi Amplifier

  • Wi-Fi Standards: 802.11ac/g/n
  • External Antennas: No
  • Frequency Bands: Simultaneous dual-band
  • Ethernet port: 1
  • Speed 2.4 GHz: 300 Mbps
  • Speed 5 GHz: 433 Mbps

This small simultaneous dual-band doesn't block nearby sockets, so you can plug it into your computer, console, lamp, and other devices without any issue.

Five LED lights show if your wifi extender is on, it also indicates the health of your 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, also your Ethernet and wifi.

Setting up is easy with both the supplied Ethernet cable, which you can connect the RE200 to a computer with a CD reader, and via the WPS procedure. The TP-Links browser setup can also be used.

On the 2.4 GHz band during the the5-meter test, it reached a speed of 52.5 Mbps. On an unoccupied 5GHz band, he reached a respectable 92.4 Mbps.

When it reached 15 meters, speeds dropped to 32.7 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 56 Mbps on the 5 GHz band.

The device works better when you plug it close to browsing.

Pros

  • The speed is great at close range.
  • The setup procedure is easy.
  • The RE200 is affordable.

Cons

  • The RE200 can only be set up on a computer; it does not have an installation app.
  • If the distance is more than five meters, the speed will be negatively affected.

Buyer's guide

Making the right choice when you want to purchase a wifi range extender is very important. Apart from choosing a model with a good appearance, you should also consider the frequency bands, wifi standards, and much more.

Connection Speed

Four main factors that determine your internet speed:

  • The routers speed
  • The influence of a fiber optic connection
  • The speed your modem supports
  • The speed you get from your internet service provider (ISP)

Do I need a new modem or router?

It's not every problem that a wifi range extender can solve. Sometimes, the solution to your internet connection problem may be for you to install a new router and replace the old one.

This is more applicable if your router is more than five years.

In most cases, Internet users think that a standard 802.11ac router and a midrange wifi amplifier are like the AVM FRITZ! Repeater 3000 can handle anything

The Netgear Nighthawk EAX80 is safer if you don't reside in a large city within your country and certain large gigabit internet subscriptions are not available to you.

Most wireless ac routers and amplifiers can perform optimally with average broadband speeds of around 100 Mbps.

Shortly, the ax or wifi 6 extender will become very relevant and useful, but for now, it's limited to what the Internet service providers make available, which is not above 500 Mbps.

Frequency bands

Most wifi range extenders have to offer a minimum of two frequency bands:2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.

The main difference between these two frequency bands is their speed and range.

The 2.4 GHz band has a wider range and can penetrate through walls, but it lacks the internet speed that the 5 GHz band can deliver and operates at a lower frequency.

The 2.4 GHz band makes surfing the web seamlessly.

It also shares the same frequency with other devices such as Bluetooth devices, cordless telephones, and even microwave ovens.

5GHz band offers considerably better throughput speeds with little signal interference while using more than one device to access the internet.

You can assign a specific band to a certain application to prevent overloading your wifi extender.

Consider a simultaneous tri-band wifi range extender to set up the internet connection in your office or at home with a large family. This wifi range extender has one extra 5 GHz band or 60 GHz band to handle part of the Internet traffic.

Protocols

Let's talk about protocols: Most Wireless Ethernet networks use 802.11 protocols to transmit data.

The 802.11ac or wireless ac can reach optimal (theoretical) data rates of up to 5,400 Mbps and works on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.

The ac protocol operates Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) technology to achieve better performance, which utilizes different antennas to transmit and receive up to eight spatial data streams.

Beamforming is a technology that transmits wi fi signals directly to a client instead of sending them in all directions. The protocol also supports this.

Automatic band steering allows wifi devices to select the most efficient radio band based on network traffic, band availability, and range of the router and wifi extender. This is also supported.

Furthermore, The 802.11ac protocol supports the Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO) technology, which provides bandwidth to multiple devices at once rather than sequentially.

802.11ax or wifi 6

802.11ax or wifi 6

The 802.11ax, an evolution of 802.11ac technology, guarantees higher throughput (up to 4.8 Gbps), less network congestion, greater client capacity, and better range. It is due to several new and improved wireless technologies, most notably Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) and Target Wake Time (TWT).

OFDMA can enhance overall throughput. It does this by splitting wifi channels into subchannels, which allows up to 30 users to share a channel at the same time.

TWT can lessen power consumption by enabling sleeping devices to more efficiently determine the time and how often they wake up to begin transmitting data.

The TWT can improve the battery life of mobile devices, particularly smartphones and tablets. Battery-operated smart home devices (security cameras and video doorbells) are also not left out.

The terms of 802.11ax usage

A wifi extender like the Netgear Nighthawk EAX80 can solely utilize its 802.11ax capabilities if your router and client support this protocol.

Since you will also have to purchase the matching equipment, it is wise to count the cost before you go for it

Additional functionalities

Ethernet ports

Every wifi range extender has a minimum of one Ethernet port. To optimize the use of your wifi range extender, it's important to take note of the number of Ethernet ports available if you want to plug in multiple devices.

Configuration options

If you think that using a configuration is easier and more effective, then you can go for the Netgear wifi range extenders are very good choices. Also wifi range extenders from TP-Link.

The TP-Link RE200 offers additional setting options when using an Ethernet cable and a CD or the web interface for the configuration process.

Wifi booster vs. wifi repeater

Wifi repeater and wifi booster have been used to refer to the same device; since then it has been accepted.

When you mention them, it's clear that you are referring to a wifi range extender or amplifier.

What is a wifi extender?

A wifi extender relays weak wifi signals from your router, amplifies them, and goes on to pass them to the clients in its environment.

Which wifi extender should I buy?

Your need is the main determining factor in choosing the wifi extender to buy.

Here are some great choices to pick from – The Netgear Nighthawk EX8000 and the Netgear Nighthawk EAX80. You quickly end up with the AVM FRITZ for a great price-quality ratio! Repeater 3000 or the TP-Link RE650.

How do you set up a wifi extender?

You either make use of the configuration app or the web interface. The process is relative depending on the model of the wi fi extender.

Conclusion

You have all you require now to make the right choice regarding purchasing a wifi extender. Whether you intend to purchase the TP-Link RE200, which is quite cheap, or the future-proof Netgear Nighthawk EAX80, your wifi speeds will increase.

Frequently asked questions

What WiFi frequencies and speeds are supported by the WiFi booster? Is it capable of operating on the most up-to-date 802.11ac standard? Wireless N can stream video in HD quality, while wireless AC may push video streaming to 2.8 times faster than wireless N technology.

You can add new features, re-configure existing ones, and even remove specific features. Has a propensity to conflict with some routers. It's not the greatest option for huge homes or multi-story abodes. It might be tough to set up, and many settings need to be adjusted individually.

WiFi extenders can, in fact, increase the range of your wireless network. However, their efficacy is limited by a number of factors, including the speed of your internet connection, the distance from your router, the need for WiFi coverage in specific parts of your home, and how much WiFi bandwidth your household requires.

When a distance between two or more hosts exceeds the capability of an IEEE 802.11 connection, a wireless booster is employed to bridge the gap. A WiFi extender extends your network's coverage area.

WiFi extenders do not slow down or speed up the internet. WiFi extenders are used to rebroadcast the signal sent by the modem and send it throughout the house or wherever you're going.

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