Streaming series on the couch or listening to music online in the kitchen – many people take that for granted. All the more annoying when the internet is stuck or completely gone. It can happen that the router cannot distribute a comprehensive and evenly strong WiFi signal in every corner of the home. A WiFi repeater can help.
WLAN repeaters may seem inconspicuous at first glance, but in practice they prove to be real heroes of everyday life. TECHBOOK explains which factors to look out for when making a purchase and answers the most important questions on the subject.
the essentials in brief
WiFi repeaters connect to the router wirelessly. Most of the models are plugged into a socket or a USB port. But there are also products that are powered via a network cable. The alpha and omega of a WiFi repeater are the frequency bands and the data transfer rate. Even more important, however, is their compatibility with the router and possibly other components of the home network.
WiFi repeaters are often incorrectly referred to as WiFi repeaters. This is not correct as the WiFi signal is not amplified, it is just passed on.
What you should consider when buying a WiFi repeater
If you want to expand your home network, you should make sure that you choose the right WiFi repeater to match the router. Before making a purchase, you should therefore clarify a few important aspects and let them flow into your decision. It’s easy to make the wrong purchase, since it’s not just the device itself that plays a major role in WiFi repeaters, but also how it interacts with the home network.
Compatibility with the router
Which repeater model is the right one for personal use always depends on your own router. The former should definitely be compatible with this one, both at the frequency level and at the data transmission rate.
It is therefore not advisable to buy a WiFi repeater with values lower than those supported by the router. Values far above this do not reduce the performance, but they are money thrown out the window. It is recommended to get a WiFi repeater that is at eye level with the router of the home network at the two points.
frequency bands
The frequency level refers to the terms 2.4 GHz (WLAN n), 5 GHz (WLAN ac) or recently even 6 GHz (Wifi 6E). These are the frequency bands of the WLAN over which, for example, routers transmit, i.e. transmit data. With regard to the frequency bands, there are three different types of WLAN repeaters:
Single Band Repeater
As the name suggests, these WiFi repeaters only use one radio band – it’s 2.4 GHz. The available WLAN rate is halved because the repeater both receives and transmits at the same time via the 2.4 GHz band.
Dual Band Repeater
A dual-band repeater transmits on 2.4 and 5 GHz. This significantly speeds up data transmission, since both sending and receiving can take place simultaneously thanks to so-called crossband repeating.
Tri-band repeater
A tri-band repeater, like a dual-band repeater, transmits over 2.4 GHz via the N standard and over 5 GHz via the AC standard. The latter, however, is present twice in tri-band, albeit separately: one radio unit covers the lower channels of the frequency range, the other the upper ones. This enables the highest overall speeds.
data transfer rate
The data transmission rate is given in Mbit/s and shows how fast the connection is. Different values are possible based on the frequency band and the WLAN standard.
It is important to know that the specified Mbit/s can only be achieved in absolutely ideal cases. This means no interference from walls or other devices that work with radio waves, for example – from the neighbor’s home network to the microwave to the baby monitor, obstacles can hardly be avoided .
LAN port
The vast majority of WiFi repeaters have LAN ports. One as standard, but usually more as the price range increases. These can be used to let wired end devices participate in improving the performance of data transmission. These are, for example, game consoles or televisions.
But WiFi-enabled devices can also be connected via Ethernet to reduce the risk of interference. This is a big advantage over WiFi. A decisive disadvantage, on the other hand, is the small number of end devices that can be connected at the same time.
What there is to know about WiFi repeaters
In the following we would like to provide basic knowledge about WiFi repeaters, which can be interesting and useful before you buy them. In order to clarify the most frequently asked questions, we have researched the most important information and summarized it briefly and in bundles.
What is a wifi repeater?
A WLAN repeater is usually a small and handy device that optimizes the quality of the Internet connection within a network. It acts as a bridging vulnerability that arises due to insufficient range of the router. In this way, high-speed Internet can also be used on end devices outside the range of a router.
What types of WiFi repeaters are there?
First and foremost there is the classic WLAN repeater, which connects to the router via radio and thus forwards the signal. In recent years, however, there have also been new, intelligent solutions for area-wide and high-quality WLAN – the mesh WLAN, which works with repeaters, among other things.
Classic WiFi repeater
The standard version of the repeater is plugged into a socket at a suitable location and connects wirelessly to the home network of the router. Another radio network is then created based on the repeater, which extends the range of the WLAN overall. The exact properties of this network depend, among other things, on the number of frequency bands used and the data transmission rate.
mesh repeater
A mesh network consists of various components, including routers and access points as well as repeaters. These form a closed network that constantly communicates with each other. In this way, end devices in the home network are automatically connected to the device that can provide the best possible bandwidth at the location.
Also read: What actually is Mesh WiFi?
How much does a WiFi repeater cost?
As with so many technical products, the prices for WiFi repeaters also vary. An average across all variants can therefore only be defined very roughly: the range extends from around 20 to 150 euros. But as is so often the case, there are no upper limits to the costs here either. Understandably, the following applies: the more extensive, the more expensive. Simple single-band repeaters can be purchased for little money, and satisfactory middle-class dual repeaters can also get away with a price range of 40 to 70 euros. However, if the focus is on particularly high data transmission rates, a tri-band repeater or integration into a high-quality mesh network, then three-digit amounts are usually unavoidable.
Summary
A WiFi repeater is a classic and reliable solution for fighting dead spots and interruptions within your own four walls. When buying, the frequency bands and the data transmission rate of the repeater itself and the router at home should be the top priorities – compatibility is a decisive factor. Furthermore, a close look at the existing LAN connections should not be underestimated. The choice is between classic repeaters and those intended for integration into a smart mesh network. We present particularly recommended models here:
The Best WiFi Repeaters for Stable Internet
The prices vary depending on the requirements. The simplest WiFi repeaters can be purchased for less than 20 euros and do their job reliably. High-end devices, on the other hand, can fundamentally raise the level of a home network and the WLAN strength within it and enable maximum comfort when using laptops, televisions, mobile phones and the like – this is also reflected in the costs.