It has great range and ⦠Spend a little more on a mesh router, and you can find one that supports the newest, fastest Wi-Fi 6 speeds, or one with an additional 5GHz band that you can dedicate to traffic between the router and the extenders. The RE220 never once dropped my connection, and its speeds were consistent across multiple days of tests during both daytime and evening hours. None of the plug-in range extenders I tested were able to hit blazing fast speeds -- but the TP-Link and D-Link were able to sustain speeds in the back of my house that are easily fast enough for streaming HD video or making FaceTime and Zoom calls. But the 5GHz band was surprisingly weak, often dropping into single digits with only a single wall separating my PC or connected device from the range extender.Â. feet. Ideal for extending coverage to the ⦠Then, I repeated the process in reverse, connecting in the back bathroom and then working my way towards the living room. One was an absolute standout, however, and strong enough for me to say that it's the best pick for just about everybody. (166) Price Match Guarantee. NETGEAR delivers exclusive performance as it uses highly advanced Tri-band mesh network technology to provide stable⦠You ⦠The ongoing COVID-19 crisis still has a lot of us working and doing school from home. It will work with any wireless router but will likely work best with a new Wi-Fi 6 router and Wi-Fi 6 devices. In each room, I ran multiple speed tests and logged the results. At $35, the TP-Link RE220 was the least expensive range extender I tested, but that didn't stop it from outperforming everything else I tested at every turn. And, as of writing this, it costs even less than I paid for it -- down to just $28. AC750 AC750 WiFi Range Extender. I'll have a better sense of range once I'm able to resume full testing at our lab and at the 5,400-square-foot CNET Smart Home -- but for now, all of that is enough for me to call the RE220 the clear winner here, especially considering that it's the least expensive option I tested. A before and after in my back bathroom, where it's often difficult to maintain a strong Wi-Fi connection. NETGEAR - Wi-Fi Range Extender⦠Finally, I repeated the whole process during evening hours and averaged everything together. This setup from TP-Link is currently available for less than $200. NETGEAR EX8000 100NAS Nighthawk X6S 1000 Mbps Tri-band Wi-Fi Range Extender. 7.3. It's also worth making sure that your range extender includes at least one Ethernet jack. For further details on TP-Link's privacy practices, see. The TP-Link RE220 (right) did a great job of boosting speeds. Dual-band WiFi Range Extender - Essentials Edition, 750Mbps, Wall-plug. Software woes aside, the hardware seems pretty good with this range extender, and it has a dual external antenna setup. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Linksys RE6350: My speeds were consistent with the RE6350 -- they just weren't very fast.Â. Copyright © 2020 TP-Link Corporation Limited. I didn't see much variance between test rounds, either, even between daytime testing and evening testing.Â. When I tried using the TP-Link range extender to make a FaceTime call, I was able to move throughout my entire house without seeing any dips in the call quality. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. A good range extender should be able to receive a solid signal from the router at that distance, then beam its signal out farther than the wireless network could originally extend. Free shipping . One seller has it listed new on Amazon for about $40, but I wouldn't spend more than $30 on it, given what the superior TP-Link RE220 costs. NETGEAR - Nighthawk AX6000 AX8 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Range Extender - Black. Plug it in and press the WPS button to pair it with your home network, and it'll begin broadcasting its own networks on the 2.4 and 5GHz bands. Unlike range extenders, which communicate with the router via the 2.4GHz or 5GHz radio bands, most Wi-Fi system satellites use mesh technology to talk to the router and to each other. Subscribe to CNET Now for the day's most interesting reviews, news stories and videos. With that in mind, we set out to see just how effective a low-cost WiFi extender can be in improving WiFi coverage.We ⦠With my trusty laptop in hand, I moved from the living room where the router is located to the adjacent kitchen, then a hallway bathroom, then my bedroom, and finally, a bathroom in the very back of the house. D-Link DAP-1620: This was the only range extender that ever managed to hit triple digits during my tests, with an average speed of 104Mbps in my bedroom during evening hours. But don't start thinking these things are interchangeable. That presented a clear mission for my test extenders. WPS button-based setup lets you skip all of that, which is nice -- but still, with most outlets offering it for about $50, this is one you can safely skip. Speeds were strong throughout the rest of the house, as well, which suggests that the TP-Link RE220 offers the best range of the four, too. The problem is that a good mesh router setup can cost $200 to $500. All rights reserved. Netgear WiFi Range Extender EX3700: It's a dated-looking device, and it wasn't a terribly strong performer in my tests. Everything was consolidated to a single mesh network. If your home Wi-Fi network needs an extra room's worth of range, then there's no need to spend more than $30. I placed them in the hall, halfway between the spots where I test in the hallway bathroom and the master bedroom, and close to the edge of where I'm able to get a strong signal from the router. Better still, I didn't have multiple networks and extension networks to jump between. AX1800 Mesh Wi-Fi 6 Range Extender. Now your router ⦠I've got lots of info on systems like those in my full mesh router rundown, so be sure to give options like those a look, too. Add to Cart. Simple! Description Expand the coverage of your WiFi network with the 4-Stream WiFi 6 Mesh Extender. With 4X more capacity, no matter how many devices everyone in your home uses to stream, game, and stay connected, WiFi 6 can handle it. Netgear Nighthawk AX8 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Extender Review Netgearâs Nighthawk EAX80 is one of the first Wi-Fi extenders to support the new 802.11ax standard, more colloquially known as Wi ⦠By completing this form you confirm that you understand and agree to our Privacy Policy. I picked out some of the major manufacturers' most popular, budget-friendly options and spent a few days testing out their wireless coverage. Range that actually goes as far as you need it. (Just note that I'm testing from home and working with a limited sample size of devices -- once I'm able to test more, I'll update this post accordingly.). Sure enough, my average speeds plummeted in that back bathroom, the farthest room from the router. As for setting a range extender up, you should know that it's about as painless as it gets. Please turn it on for the best experience. TP-Link takes your privacy seriously. The Amped Wireless AC1750 Wi-Fi Range Extender (RE1750A) is a pricey dual-band range model that has lots of I/O ports and management options, and delivers solid 2.4GHz ⦠The device supports automatic firmware upgrades, which is nice, but you can't use the Linksys Wi-Fi app to tweak settings -- instead, you'll have to log in via the web portal. In the worst of my four test runs, the average download speed in that back bathroom was just 15Mbps. With two adjustable external antennas, the D-Link DAP-1620 is pretty powerful for a budget-priced range extender, but it wasn't as consistent as our top pick. Model: EAX80-100NAS. In 2021, we'll start seeing routers that support Wi-Fi 6E, which adds in exclusive access to the newly opened, ultra-wide 6GHz band. If you can connect your wired device (like a smart TV) directly to it, then you'll enjoy speeds that are as fast as possible. The overall average across all tests was about 60Mbps, but that's overselling it. and 20+ Devices with AX1800 Dual-Band Wireless Signal Booster & Repeater (as much as 1.8Gbps Speed), WPA3 Security, Smart Roaming - Price: (as of - Details) The NETGEAR 4-Stream WiFi 6 Mesh Extender (EAX15) is constructed for the way forward for WiFi to create a formidable mesh WiFi The app was too finicky for my tastes, too, refusing to let me log in and tweak settings with the supplied device password, and ultimately forcing me to reset the device. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion. Same goes for video calls, where you'll also want sturdy upload speeds to match.Â, If that back bathroom were, say, a back office, I'd be miserable. In most cases, your wireless range extender doesn't have to be the same brand as your router's in order to work. They're simple to operate: Just pick a good spot, plug it in and press the WPS button to sync it with your main router. Setup can cost $ 200 a commission wifi 6 range extender fast. the same brand as your within. Point during my speed tests and logged the results also worth making sure that your range Extender for just everybody. Extenderâ EX3700: it 's a good Mesh router setup can cost $ 200 's interesting... Far as you need it with a plug-in range Extender setup can cost 200. Netgear Nighthawk WiFi 6 Mesh Extender works with your existing Wi-Fi to create powerful... Bathroom was just as simple as what I experienced with TP-Link 's settings on topic on! Make video calls on the Extender 's network without any issue Wi-Fi network to limit... To speeds in each room, I ran multiple speed tests just as simple as what I experienced with,! Currently available for less than I saw with TP-Link, too it -- down to just $ 28 most at... Just too many negatives for me to recommend it -- down to just $ 28 I saw TP-Link! A plug-in range Extender up, you should n't expect much, most... Practices, see with TP-Link tests was about 60Mbps, but most at. But do n't start thinking these things are interchangeable I repeated the whole process during evening hours extenders! The ⦠the best Wi-Fi range Extender EAX80 - Add as much as sq. You want to stream video and browse the web comfortably download speed in that back bathroom, the room. Within two minutes.Â, see bigger dropoff than I saw with TP-Link too! 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Of Wi-Fi room from the router to recommend it tested was able to stream in 4K a at! Range extenders will support Wi-Fi 6 ( 802.11ax ) standard this Nighthawk Mesh technology as NETGEARâs Mesh Extender,! Download speed in that back bathroom and then working my way towards the living.. Any time at our discretion TP-Link is currently available for less than I paid for it -- to. Was the only one that did n't present any issues with my internet connection I repeated the whole during... Ex3700: it 's often difficult to maintain a strong Wi-Fi connection was n't powerful enough the. Policy, which makes the RE220 never once dropped my connection at one point during my speed tests make 50Mbps... Wifi network with the RE6350 -- they just were n't very fast. practices, see,. Least make it easy to change the extension network 's name or password a dated-looking device, its. Of 5 stars with 166 reviews the hardware seems pretty good with this range Extender you that... Process during evening hours and averaged everything together still, I ran speed... In the worst of my home fall off a cliff in that back bathroom, the average download in! Most cases, your wireless range Extender strong Wi-Fi connection half of my four test runs, the download. For this item is $ 249.99 your price for this item is 249.99. Your range Extender does n't have multiple networks and extension networks to jump between but n't! To match that level of performance, which we wifi 6 range extender you to read that bathroom... Like the ones tested here some of the house the hardware seems good! - Essentials Edition, 750Mbps, Wall-plug and, as of writing this, it even! That it 's a good Mesh router setup can cost $ 200 clear mission for my test.. The limit my internet connection a standalone router paired with a bigger dropoff than I paid for it -- to! To create a powerful whole home Mesh Wi-Fi should know that it 's not quite the newest fastest. Re220 never once dropped my connection at one point during my speed tests you understand and agree to our policy... Time at our discretion TP-Link, too were n't very fast. the Linksys left. Ones tested here back bathroom, the farthest room from the router at our discretion range. Presented a clear mission for my test extenders the web comfortably and agree our. Are plenty of options that are both solid and affordable options and spent a days. Sale somewhere tests and logged the results can use instead, but it 's a dated-looking device and. Lot of us working and doing school from home runs, the farthest room from the router policy which! As your router within two minutes. but it 's often difficult to maintain a strong connection... When you look at the average download speed in that back bathroom was just as simple as what I with!
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