bobbymax Publish time 2-12-2019 23:04:17

Wi fi boosters?

Do these actually work OK?
                                                https://www.amazon.co.uk/TL-WA850RE-Universal-Extender-Broadband-Ethernet/dp/B00AHXXJVW/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=WiFi Extender&qid=1572697654&sr=8-1-s               

EndlessWaves Publish time 2-12-2019 23:04:19

It looks like that isn't a homeplug/powerlink device and can function as both a range extender and an access point.

As an access point (connected to the router with an ethernet cable) it should be fine. It's an old wi-fi standard so it's not very fast but it would be acceptable for less demanding networking requirements, such as sharing a medium speed internet connection.

Range extenders (using it without a cable) are more limited in their ability. They connect to the router using wi-fi so they have the same connection to the router as any other device. So for them to function optimally you want to place them about half way between the router and the area you want to cover, or more accurately where the signal is at half the strength.

Because signal strength determines how fast a wi-fi connection is range extenders are a trade-off between speed and range. Some of the more basic ones also have additional speed limitations like a single radio.

A cheap one like that is a decent prospect if you want to extend the range of your connection but don't need much in the way of speed. Good for IoT or smart home devices, not much good for streaming UHD Blu-Rays across the house.

noiseboy72 Publish time 2-12-2019 23:04:19

Nope, I have one and it's utter rubbish. It provides an unreliable, slow network with very little in range extension.

You would do a lot better with home plugs and a remote access point. This: https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TL-WPA8630KIT-V2-Powerline-Extender/dp/B06XRXJNMT/ref=sr_1_43?keywords=homeplug WiFi Extender&qid=1572703936&s=computers&sr=1-43 is expensive but actually works. You can get some cheaper ones for about £30 and they're generally OK.
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