Beginners Guide to Wifi Repeaters

With Wi-Fi becoming a necessity these days, it is essential to have proper Wi-Fi coverage over your entire premises. There will be certain spots where the wifi signal will be weak. This is where a wifi repeater can help you out.

To truly understand the importance of having a wifi repeater, it is time to find out what it is and how it works.

What Is A Wifi Repeater?

A wifi repeater is a small device you can connect to the electric socket. It usually comes with an antenna to propagate the signal.

The wifi repeater captures the existing wifi signal, amplifies it, and then transmits the boosted signal. The higher amplitude means the signal will travel a larger distance, thereby providing much larger coverage than the original signal.

The higher amplitude signal means that only where there was a weak wifi network there will be better coverage resulting in higher browsing speeds. 

You need not worry about signal drops in between. You can rely on the wifi network for gaming, video calling, or even live streaming. A good wifi repeater can be purchased online from a reputable online store like this website. Check reviews for complaints and other issues before choosing a model.

It is time to understand when it makes sense to get wifi repeaters for your premises.

When To Use Wifi Repeaters?

There are many use cases for a wifi repeater. We will cover some of them below.

1. Unavailability of the hotspot

Usually, when you have a mobile hotspot available in an area, even if the wifi signal is weak, you can still browse the Internet. 

However, if the mobile network reception is slow, or you do not have the option to use a wireless hotspot in a particular area, it makes perfect sense to get a Wi-Fi repeater to cover that area. 

That way, you won’t lose connectivity when you’re in that particular area.

2. Large distance between the router and your device

The most common application of a wifi repeater is when your device is far away from the router. It often happens in our homes. The router might be at one end of the home, and your laptop or mobile might be at another. 

In that case, even though the router is technically in your home, you cannot enjoy high-speed Internet. The simplest way is to use a wifi repeater.

3. Interference

Microwaves and electromagnetic fields can interfere with the wifi signal. Consequently, the amplitude of the signal becomes weaker. Low amplitude means that you won’t get the same Internet speed. 

In some cases, your devices might not be able to detect such a wifi network at all. It all depends on the level of interference. 

The best way to tackle this interference is to increase the amplitude of the wifi signal. A wifi repeater does just that, which is why it is a good solution to this problem.

4. Overload of devices

In premises like offices, there can be over 15 different devices connected to the same wifi network. In that case, the network might be overloaded. 

This is where a higher amplitude signal can undoubtedly help you out. The wifi repeater will increase the amplitude of the signal, allowing everyone to remain connected. 

However, it might or might not amplify the bandwidth; therefore, only the connectivity would be better, not the speed.

5. Propagation of wifi to another floor

If your premises are spread across multiple floors, a single wifi router might not be able to propagate signals across all the floors. This is where the wifi repeater can help you out. 

However, It will simplify the signal and can propagate it to the next floor. You need to get the one that comes with the antenna and point it in the right direction.

These are the likely cases in which it makes perfect sense to use a wifi repeater.

Where To Place The Wifi Repeater?

Even the best Wi-Fi repeater will help you if you do not place it at the right location. While selecting the place of the wifi repeater, there are three things to keep in mind. We will cover these below.

1. Near low reception area

You must first identify the spot where you are getting the weak wifi signal. This is the spot where the signal needs to be amplified.

You need to place the repeater near the spot. However, to pick the right spot near the low reception area, you have to look at the two additional factors we have covered below.

2. Ensure no obstruction

If you want to ensure that the repeater operates with the highest efficiency, ensure that there is no obstruction between the repeater and the device getting low reception. 

If possible, there should be no obstruction between the existing wifi router and the repeater itself.

Both are in the line of sight propagation; the amplification of the signal will be maximum in the range of the wifi will increase drastically. 

If it is impossible to avoid obstacles in both the parts, at least the part between the wifi repeater and the device getting low reception should be devoid of any obstacles.

3. Power source

Lastly, when selecting the repeater’s location, you must check for an electric socket nearby. The repeater can only function if it has an electric connection. That is another thing to keep in mind while selecting the location.

Choose a location that satisfies these three conditions, and you should never have to worry about weak Wi-Fi reception again.

What Is AP Mode?

AP mode stands for Access Point mode. Also, This mode allows you to connect various wireless machines to a wifi network. The advantage of this mode is that it can extend your wifi reach without having to opt for an additional repeater. 

However, in this mode, the security features are less robust. If using the router provided by your ISP, it might have this mode disabled by default.

What Is WPS Mode?

WPS mode on your router commences the discovery of new devices. After that, you can select the desired network from your device, which will automatically connect without entering the network password. 

However, since this mode bypasses your router’s security, it is good not to keep it active. That is why; you shouldn’t press the WPS push button available in most routers.

Thus, if you want a robust and reliable wifi network, it is good to get a wifi repeater. Also, Using the guide above, it is easy to understand what such a repeater does and how you can place it for maximum efficiency.