WiFi has become an important part in modern life for home or business use, and it is no exaggeration to say that modern people, at young or senior age, reply on intelligent electronics like smartphone, laptop, or smart TV and so on. It is partially because WiFi network can be regarded as one of the most common ways for people to access internet connection to acquire all sorts of desirable information, some for work, some for entertainment, others for specific uses. In a word, WiFi impacts daily life and work dramatically.
Whereas issues like web page loading slowly, video streams sluggishly, internet connection failed from time to time caused by weak WiFi signal is common thing in practice. Furthermore, for a large space, coming with dead spots of WiFi network also a big problem shown to reality. To solve weak signal, extending WiFi network range is the key. In this article, we are going to look why WiFi extension is required and how to extend WiFi network range in different ways.
What Caused Weak Signal? Do You Need to Extend WiFi Range?
Actually, before we get closer look at WiFi extension methods, figuring out what potential things may be to blame, and make an initial judgement on the existing router or WiFi network system make a certain help to start tweaking issue.
WiFi is a way making use of radio waves for signal transmitting and it comes with a limited range of strong WiFi coverage, and indeed it is, unlike wired connectivity, easier experiencing interference by external conditions. Below is a check list of some reasons or situations arousing a demand for WiFi network extension.
- The router is an old or faulty router that has been used for years. If hardware of the router being used is out of date, strong WiFi signal serves for a large area is definitely not make sense. Technology keeps moving on, so naturally routers should be stayed in current to match modern life bandwidth and range needs.
- Router is set at wrong locations, such in cupboards, on the floor, near the widows, behind TVs, beside microwaves or other locations that come with numerous obstructions or severe interference.
- Only install one router for a large area, or applications like floor-to-floor, room-from-room deployment. Limited WiFi range of the router can’t ensure strong signal for every corners in place, especially when the shape of the houses or buildings is kind of “strange”.
When faced with the need to get a greater WiFi range there are a number of options from which to choose. We will start with free extension ways to those requiring financial investment to purchase new equipment.
Find Your Router a Proper Location
As we mentioned above, apparently WiFi network is a sensitive thing that works hugely depend on placement. Having few awareness on the importance of correct placement sometimes is the main reason that for people to underestimate their routers potential WiFi range can be. Thus to get a better WiFi signal, find your router a proper location is the basic job and it is for free without any expense. Ideally, the router should be placed at a point that is as central as possible relative to the whole space. Besides, put the router a open area is useful for signal transmitting, that said, if possible, just attempt to attach your router at high point. In this way, household gadgets, small appliance or furniture won’t be a threat to good WiFi network accessing. Moreover, be aware to leave routers away from obstructions or interference like walls, microwaves, or something that intends to impact WiFi signal.
Upgrade Existing Router
We know that hardware in the router could be the point leading in weak WiFi signal or short range. In this case, you are supposed to consider to upgrade the hardware of the router. Sometimes specific configuration or settings may do a good job for router capacity of signal transmission. But it is not an accepted approach for everyone, as this probably an overwhelmed work to someone lacking of IT knowledge. Alternatively, throw that old faulty router away directly, simply buy a new router with a greater WiFi range to meet your need, easily get a better WiFi network.
Add WiFi Extender
When if some parts in a house or office have weaken WiFi signal, which are the so-called dead zones out of WiFi signal, WiFi extender is one the solution to help get the router existing signal reached places at farther distance. WiFi extenders, also called WiFi booster or WiFi repeater, works simply by grabbing the signal of the router transmits, re-broadcasting it and then transmitting the boosted signal to desired areas where WiFi signal is weaken or non-existed. Set the device between the existing router and spaces that intend cover with strong signal.
WiFi extender mainly comes with two types, some utilize wireless connection, while some support both wired and wireless connectivity, which means the way to connect to a router. Required with a more stable signal and if possible to make wires or Ethernet cable run, wired connection would be a better choice.
However, the big challenge to this solution is to find a best location for the WiFi extender. Because it should be close to the router for receiving existing strong signal, and also need to be placed at location that can provide strong enough signal to meet the using requirement in practical applications. To aware that WiFi extender is only work as a repeater, that said, if the signal is weak at the point for signal grabbing, a weak signal will be boosted straightforwardly.
Turn to PLC Adaptor for Help
To solve weak WiFi signal issue, there is another approach serves a longer distance than WiFi extenders, namely, powerline adapters. It is a plug-and-play option that makes use of the existing electrical wires that already terminated in walls of homes, offices, or other places. These devices allow electrical wires to transmit both power and data as how Ethernet cables do. In this way, wireless LAN can be extended through reliable wired connection without running new cable, saving time and money. Besides, at the connected devices end, PLC adapters offer two options on connecting ways, wireless or Ethernet wired.
Powerline adapters, aka PLC adaptor, works in pair, one is near the router and the other is close to connected devices, including wireless mobile device and wired networked devices. Simply take one adapter to plug into the electrical outlet and connect to one RJ45 port of the routers/modem, while let the other plug into the wall outlet in places that need a strong extended WiFi network. Compared to WiFi extenders, although PLC adapters do show great advantages on installation and network range and speed, some limitations block its utility in practices. For example, the two adapters plugged into wall outlets in each link should remains the same electrical distance. In addition, these devices have to be plugged into electrical outlets directly, that means when connected to power strips, surge protectors, or UPS units, the signal extension won’t make sense.
Build a Mesh Network
For some applications, such as large properties that have many walls, furniture or other obstruction, experiencing with WiFi network blind spots seem to be a destined problem. Wireless mesh network shows its powerful ability. Mesh network is unlike the traditional WiFi networking that only use one router to form WiFi network and transmit signal for the whole space, requiring multiple routers and create many nodes for signal transmitting. In this way, signal can be transmitted to farther distance, with greater range and at faster speed as long as the locations set with a router as node. To set up a mesh network system, high expense at once would be main reason for homes or offices common uses.
Install Wireless Access Point
For people have a large home or business property, dead zones for WiFi to reach is common thing. Wireless access point is an effective and cost-efficient way to extend WiFi range and cover the entire space. Wireless access point, or WAP is a device that allows wired local area network(LAN) convert to wireless local area network(WLAN). In fact, for businesses uses, wireless access point has become a popularity due to its various benefits. It is known that wired Ethernet connection provides a more stable signal transmitting despite different kinds of interference or obstructions that impact WiFi network easier. Wireless access points require Ethernet connection between the router and themselves, thus, strong and stable signal can be received and transmitted to end users. Furthermore, wireless access point can meet the need of more than 20 clients to access internet connection simultaneously without latency, offering a larger coverage of WiFi signal. The installation won’t be a problem with is easy connection and desktop mount. Moreover, some complies with PoE technology, which only need to run single Ethernet cable between the router and access point, eliminating extra AC power.
What if a wider coverage of WiFi signal is required or the wireless access points need to place at long distance location beyond 100 meters from the router or network switch, in this case, power and data inability to be transmitted over long run due to power drop and data loss, PoE extension devices like PoE extender can help. More information about PoE extender can find in here.
