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In my tests at the CNET Smart Home, an RE605X in the basement was able to extend the router's signal from upstairs just fine, giving my upload and download speeds a significant boost in every room I tested.
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The performance is particularly sharp, too.
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At $100, it's far from the most affordable extender on the market (keep reading for the value picks), but with a highly capable AX1800 design, full support for the latest Wi-Fi 6 speeds and features, adjustable antennas and a helpful, easy-to-use control app with strong reviews on both Android and iOS, it's about as well-rounded as range extenders get. If you're buying one in 2022, I think you should put the TP-Link RE605X right at the top of your list. TP-Link makes some of the most popular picks in the range extender category, with a fairly wide variety of options to choose from at various price points. That creates a single, seamless connection that will give you the best Wi-Fi range available with your current setup, and all without you needing to think about too much. Plus, these Wi-Fi boosters are a cinch to set up, they'll work no matter what brand of router you're using, and in most cases it's easy to give them the same SSID and password as your original router.
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All of today's top models are less expensive than upgrading to a full-fledged mesh router with its own mesh Wi-Fi systems and range-extending satellite devices. Plug one in near the edge of your router's wireless range and pair it with the network, and it'll start rebroadcasting the signal farther out for significantly better Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home. Wi-Fi extenders work by using built-in Wi-Fi radios and antennas to pair wirelessly with your router, no ethernet cable required. However, if tweaks like those aren't doing enough, you could also try using a Wi-Fi extender.Īlso called Wi-Fi signal booster, a range or Wi-Fi extender is a compact, plug-in device that is simple and hassle-free to implement. If you find yourself dealing with that issue, there are a number of things you should try to eke out a better signal from your router. In many homes, a single router is a little too weak to generate a stable signal that reaches into every room, which can result in dead zones and unstable connections. There isn't any point in paying for fast internet speed if your home's Wi-Fi network isn't strong enough to take advantage of it.
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