Who has never gone crazy in front of an internet box offering a bad connection? Whether for leisure or for work, we all need a good wifi network on a daily basis. However, depending on the geographical location, the internet operator, the wifi relay or the quality of the router, the wifi signal is not always strong enough to guarantee an optimal internet connection.
The Internet market has thought about this problem by offering users effective remedies. The Wifi repeater is one of them. Rather simple to understand and tame, the wifi repeater maximizes the coverage of the network of an internet box, thus allowing a connection to the signal at a longer distance. Although interesting, this solution is not naturally adopted by a large number of homes. It is then relevant to reveal its principle and its utility before your purchase.
What is a Wifi repeater?
Before going into more detail in what a Wifi repeater can offer, novices undoubtedly need a clear definition of this solution. In case of connection problems, the purpose of the repeater is to improve the Wifi coverage on a specific geographical area. To operate, the Wifi repeater captures the signal of the wireless network of an internet box or a router, in order to create a copy. This copy is then broadcasted as a second Wifi box. And the results are more than efficient since you can easily double the said Wifi coverage.
For example, if the wireless network of a box is limited to 10 meters, the repeater will reproduce this distance of 10 additional meters. Thus, the connection can be broadcast up to 20 meters away. The repeater should not be confused with an amplifier. If the amplifier aims to improve the quality of the speed or the power of a signal, a repeater is only responsible for increasing the Wifi coverage. This means that a bad Wifi signal will not be solved with a repeater, it will just be reachable further.
In short, a poor quality copy will inevitably emit an equally poor signal. The location of the repeater plays a key role in the good connection emitted. It is important to find the ideal location to balance signal quality and distance requirements.
Types and models of wifi repeater: ensure perfect compatibility with your devices
As its name suggests, a repeater works according to the Wifi signal. Several Wifi standards define the internet market today. The most recent current standard is the Wifi qualified as “AC” which can support a maximum speed of 1700 Mb/s. Remember that a repeater can not be compatible with a box with a standard higher than his own. Thus, an “AC” box will have to work with an “AC” repeater. Not respecting this adaptability would strongly limit the capacities of the repeater for your connection problems. However, it is fully possible to use a Wifi repeater with previous standards, either “N”, “B” or “G”.
In terms of frequencies, a Wifi network can have only two: 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz. If an “AC” network operates on two bands, it happens that a repeater can manage only one. It is therefore imperative to be well informed before buying what type of equipment your internet box requires. It is very easy to find a Wifi repeater on specialized websites or on Amazon. Electronics retailers such as Boulanger, Fnac or Darty will also be able to offer you a model compatible with your internet box, at the desired price.
How to choose a wifi repeater?
To benefit from an ideal result for its internet connection, the purchase of a Wifi repeater must involve the consideration of certain criteria. As mentioned above, make sure you choose the best Wifi standard first. The current repeaters support the 802.11n standard, so the theoretical speed is 450 Mb/s. Although a bit expensive, this type of repeater remains the best option for its Wifi coverage. The biggest budgets can also opt for the 802.11ac standard, much more recent and offering a speed of 1300 Mb/s. Avoid giving in to older standards and their lower prices, the performance will be lower.
In addition to the standard of the repeater, it is inevitably the frequency that comes into play. Two current frequencies dominate the market: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Whether it manages one or two bands, a repeater will always be more efficient if it manages two types of frequency at once. Finally, the choice of a repeater also depends on the additional options it offers. Ethernet, WPS function or jack will be small details that will make all the difference when using the repeater. When buying a repeater, choose the one offering a maximum of options.
How to connect its internet box to a Wifi repeater?
The installation of a Wifi repeater is particularly simple, but still requires a precise explanation to avoid any mistake. Two main types of connection are practiced today:
- To name the repeater as the Wifi network of the box or the router to the word. In this case, all the devices of a household will establish an automatic connection to the repeater signal. Simple and fast, no other adjustment will be necessary. This has become a common way to install a repeater and comes from TP-Link, a pioneer in the field of repeaters.
- Create a brand new Wifi network. This technique is done on the original internet box; the network name is different, but the password remains the same. This way of proceeding is mainly used by Netgear and its numerous products. More tedious, you will have to manually reconnect all your electronic devices.
Whatever method you choose, once the devices are connected to the repeater, the next connections will be made automatically. This connection can be made on the best signal available in the home, depending on where the device is located in the house or apartment.