The internet is undoubtedly one of the biggest inventions in the last century. Businesses have been thriving on a global scale thanks to the internet. People from all around the world are able to communicate in seconds. Products are sold, shipped and processed all online.
This is why when one’s internet connection suddenly lags, drops, or completely gets disconnected when you move into a different room, the effect can mean something as simple as losing in an online game, or as big as losing access to your business operations.
Fortunately, advancement in technology has brought devices like the wi-fi extender to solve some of these connectivity issues. So when is it ideal to invest in a wi-fi extender? Here are common instances when a wi-fi extender is a MUST-buy:
1- To Boost Signal outside your house or brick-and-mortar business.
Sometimes, people don’t realize that their newly-installed internet connection does not reach outside their doors and only discover this once you actually wanted to get fresh air at your garden or deck while you work, or once you extend your restaurant tables along the sidewalk.
Unlike indoors where you can move things around, it is sometimes more challenging to fix internet issues after installation. Fortunately, wi-fi extenders can still solve this dilemma, as long as there’s a plug you can connect them to nearby.
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The best thing about wi-fi extenders is that they are portable. While it is perfectly fine to install it in one spot and leave it there permanently, you’d still have an option to move it around when needed.
For example, your dessert shop gets greenlighted to open al fresco dining but only at breakfast serving hours, but you’d have to bring back the wi-fi extender to the back garden for serving guests the rest of the day.
2- Remove dead spots around your space.
Dead spot is any area that the wi-fi cannot “reach.”
For most people, finding “dead spots” around the house, office, store, or other spaces happen gradually. One time you discover you’re unable to connect when you’re tucking your kid to bed or clearing the attic. Or it could be possible that another person (a customer, visitor, employee, or someone from your household) discovered the dead spots.
When you find out you have dead spots and you just cannot leave it dead, you can plug a wifi-extender nearby and enjoy going online on that spot.
3- Expanding house or business, but does not want a new internet plan.
If you’re constructing an additional floor or section in your house, there’s a good chance your existing internet connection wouldn’t be able to accommodate that space.
Those who do not want to pay for a new internet installation and would rather just stick to a single plan can benefit from a wifi-extender.
The good news is the wi-fi extenders in the market are available in different models and capacities. Wi-fi extenders are not a one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, you’d still have to consider the coverage range, the thickness of your floors/walls, how many obstructions there are from the router to the new space, and so on.
4- Wi-Fi is slow, even if your wired connection is pretty fast.
If you enjoy fast internet when you’re on the computer, or using any wired connection, there is still a chance to fix this dilemma. You do have to invest in a wi-fi extender.
Note that not all wi-fi extenders can bring your wi-fi to the speed of your wired connection. These devices also cannot become faster than the router’s speed since extenders come from the same router and as a result, “share” the source.
5- New devices only receive “minimal” signal strength.
If more devices are connected to the router, expect the signal strength to get affected either by lagging or intermittent connectivity.
When you place a wi-fi extender at some point between your router and where you’re sitting, your device will receive a stronger signal (even if your device is 11th out of 10 devices currently connected to just one wi-fi.
Some wi-fi extenders are called differently, but they serve the same purpose. Also, not all Wi-Fi extenders rely solely on wireless connections. For example, powerline extenders are designed to be connected to your room’s electrical wiring, so your regular wired connection could carry high-speed internet signals traditionally before it transfers as a wireless signal.
Like other devices, you have to check the brand, model, features and other considerations because wi-fi extenders are not created equally.
But if you already have super-fast Gigabit connections or do not want to invest in a new gadget, you can even recycle old routers and turn them into your do-it-yourself wi-fi extender. Of course, they probably wouldn’t be as great as a TP-link model, but you’d be surprised how awesome it could fix your connectivity issue as well.
