Do you find that your WiFi doesn't reach all of the corners of your home? Maybe you have your WiFi router set up in your den, and when you walk to your bedroom down the hall, you compliantly lose connection. A WiFi extender may be an affordable solution for you. Keep watching to learn more and see how to set one up.




https://youtu.be/YvhhtDg6bCI




First, what is a WiFi extender? Well, it expands your WiFi connection. Simply plug the extender into a neutral area where it can get a good internet connection from your main wireless router, while also rebroadcasting to places that are less covered, therefore eliminating those annoying dead zones.



Next question, how is an extender different from a Mesh network I talked about previously? Well, a mesh network initials a whole network overhaul with all new routers spread across your home that all broadcast the same WiFi network. A WiFi range extender, on the other hand, can easily integrate into your existing WiFi network while also being much cheaper. However, your range extenders will broadcast separately from your main router. So, when you want to connect to your main router, you have to go into your WiFi settings and select it. When you want to switch to your WiFi extender, you have to go back into your WiFi settings and change your WiFi network again. With a mesh router, one network is broadcasted, and in the background, the software will handle which node you're connected too. That being said, if you have the budget to upgrade to a mesh network, do it. It will be a way more robust and consumer-friendly solution, unlike a patch job with a range extender.



Now, let's try setting up a range extender for ourselves.



Today's example is a Netgear EX6100, which can operate as both a WiFi extender and access point thanks to its included ethernet port. But, more on that in a minute.



First, we need to find the best place to put your WiFi extender. The best way to start is to know where your dead zones are by traveling to every corner of your home taking Speedtest. Once you find the areas that need coverage, you can walk from that space to your main WiFi router, continually taking Speedtest on the way. You're trying to see how far out you can go but still have a really good connection. Once you find the place, you can plug in the extender and start the setup process.



This extender has two configuration options, either as a range extender or an access point. In an access point configuration, you run an ethernet cable from your router to the extender. This way, the extender is broadcasting the full speeds of your network and is very stable. To learn more about running ethernet cables and such, get subscribed and hit the bell icon to be notified of our next video. Alternatively, configuring it as a WiFi Range extender will rebroadcast the WiFi signal it's receiving. Just note, wireless solutions will almost always be less stable.



Now, let's dive into the software side of things.



To test out my WiFi extender, I'm going to plug it into an outlet in my living room on the second floor. I'm hoping this extender can take the WiFi connection broadcasting on the third floor and forward it to me in the basement below.



I start off by plugging the extender into the wall and waiting for it to boot up. With the power LED green, it's time to get started on the setup. So, with the mode set to extender, I'm going to click the WPS button. Then, I'm going to "click" the WPS button on my main WiFi router. In my case, it's not a physical button on the router but instead a button within its management app. The WPS feature allows you to connect your WiFi device to your network without entering the WiFi password.