The Best WiFi Range Extenders for 2021: The Ultimate Buying Guide

Employees working from home might have faced one problem at some point or the other - an unstable WiFi signal! This is a common problem with routers. No matter how strong the internet signal is, no WiFi device can provide seamless signal strength across a field. This is where WiFi range extenders come into play.

What are WiFi Range Extenders?

WiFi range extenders are essentially signal boosters. These devices amplify any existing WiFi signals emitting from a router. It boosts your network's signal strength, providing a stable internet connection to every corner of your home.

An Increasing Demand – Need for WiFi range extenders for Home & Office

Many corporate offices already have WiFi range extenders that create a strong network of stable internet connections across the office floors. With the working populace moving from traditional office culture to working from home, there has been a surge in the purchase of WiFi range extenders. A stable internet connection is the need of the hour.

Therefore, Amazon Business brings its buyers the opportunity to buy the best WiFi range extenders. Further, if you want to upgrade your WiFi routers, Amazon Business has some amazing products listed from premium brands.

Top WiFi Extender Brands to Consider for Home & Office Use

While shopping from Amazon Business, buyers can be assured of the quality. Amazon Business lists top-quality products from premium brands so that the quality is never compromised.

If you are looking to buy the best WiFi range extenders for your home office, consider any of these brands:  

• Netgear
• TP-Link
• D-Link
• Mercusys
• Tnda
• Linksys
• Microware

Bulk purchasing of WiFi range extenders from Amazon Business can get you some additional discounts. If you run a business or work as an office admin, electronic and IT-related office supplies procurement becomes hassle-free.

Best WiFi Range Extenders for small enterprises

Before buying WiFi signal boosters, one should keep certain things in mind. If you have a compact space with not many walls, you won’t require a WiFi range extender. Simply place your router at a central location of your home to eliminate dead zones or areas where there are no WiFi signals.

But there is one challenge, however. Removing the WiFi router is a tad difficult task as one needs to extend the ethernet cable.

If it is not feasible to extend the ethernet cable or move the router from its place, you may consider buying a WiFi range extender. For small enterprises or offices, any basic or mid-range WiFi range extender would do the job.

For buyers’ convenience, here is a list of the three best WiFi repeaters available on Amazon Business –

1. TP-Link TL-WA850RE N300 Wireless Range Extender
2. Mercusys MW300RE Wireless Repeater WiFi Booster
3. Netgear EX6110 AC1200 WiFi Range Extender

If you are running a small business from home, you may find our blog on How Small Businesses Manage WFH useful.

Best WiFi Range Extenders for Large enterprises

WiFi signals get blocked by the walls. People residing in a multi-storied building may require WiFi signal boosters because having one router to cover the entire living space is insufficient. If you have a large office with many rooms and walls, you may consider investing in premium WiFi range extenders.

Here is a list of the three best WiFi signal boosters for large enterprises –

1. NETGEAR Wi-Fi Mesh Range Extender EX6250
2. NETGEAR WiFi 6 Mesh Range Extender
3. Linksys AX5300 Smart Mesh Wi-Fi 6 Router (Whole Home WiFi Mesh System)

For large enterprises, creating a mesh network may be more effective than having multiple range extenders. Therefore, we have listed the best mesh extenders in this list as well.

You can also read our blog on Comfortable WFH set up to get more ideas.

Working of a WiFi range Extender

The purpose of range extenders is to enhance the wireless connection and eliminate dead zones in your home or office. Place the WiFi signal booster midway between the router and the dead zone. The device will receive the WiFi signals and relay them to cover a wider space.

Setting up a WiFi signal enhancer is pretty straightforward. However, finding the right place for the device may be a tad challenging. If you place the range extender in the dead zone with no WiFi signal, the system will not work.

Find the Right Extender for Your Modem/Router?

The WiFi signal booster has to be compatible with your existing router. For instance, if you have a dual-band AC1750 router, you need an AC1750 WiFi range extender for the optimum result. AC1750, in this case, is the base requirement. You can opt for a more advanced product.

Similarly, you need to ensure that your range extenders support other technologies as well. If your router supports MU-MIMO technology, get a range extender that supports the same technology.

Desktop or Plug-In Extender?

Primarily, buyers will find two types of WiFi range extenders in the market – Desktop Extenders and Plug-in Extenders. As the name suggests, desktop extenders look more like regular router modems and have multiple ethernet inlets. The users can also connect printers, gaming consoles, TVs to the desktop WiFi range extenders.

Plug-in signal boosters, on the other hand, are smaller and more compact devices. These devices need plug-sockets for connection. They are easier to set up and a bit light on the pocket as well. TP-Link TL-WA850RE N300 Wireless Range Extender is a good option for those looking for a plug-in WiFi signal booster.

How to correctly set up a WiFi range extender?

The main difficulty users face while setting up a WiFi range extender is pairing the device with the router. However, with the introduction of WPS technology, it has become effortless to connect a WiFi repeater to the modem.

Here is a list of the three best WiFi repeaters with WPS (WiFi Protected Setup) technology –

1. TP-Link TL-WA855RE Wi-Fi Range Extender
2. NETGEAR AC750 WiFi Range Extender
3. Portable 300M USB WiFi Extender

Furthermore, the best WiFi extenders on Amazon Business come with web-based setup wizards along with user manuals. Going through the illustrations will make the installation and pairing very easy.

With that being said, the most crucial part of the installation is to find the right place for the WiFi range extender. Should you get the location wrong, even the best WiFi boosters for home will not give the expected result. Install the WiFi range extender right in the mid-way between the coverage area and the dead zone. These devices need a strong WiFi signal to relay it across the place.

Points to Consider Before Purchasing WiFi Range Extenders for Home and Office   

Before purchasing the WiFi range extenders, one needs to keep in mind certain points:  

• Consider the size of your home or office
•  WiFi signals drop significantly because of walls
•  Even the best WiFi range extenders have limitations
•  WiFi speed over extenders is relatively low compared to the main router
•  Mesh network offers better coverage for large areas compared to plug-in range extenders

For readers’ convenience, here is a quick rundown of the nine best WiFi range extenders we picked for you:  

1. TP-Link TL-WA850RE N300 Wireless Range Extender
2. Mercusys MW300RE Wireless Repeater WiFi Booster
3. Netgear EX6110 AC1200 WiFi Range Extender
4. NETGEAR Wi-Fi Mesh Range Extender EX6250
5. NETGEAR WiFi 6 Mesh Range Extender
6. Linksys AX5300 Smart Mesh Wi-Fi 6 Router
7. TP-Link TL-WA855RE Wi-Fi Range Extender
8. NETGEAR AC750 WiFi Range Extender
9. Portable 300M USB WiFi Extender

WiFi range extenders are not very expensive devices. They don’t consume much electricity and are also pretty easy to maintain. Now that you know all about WiFi range extenders, you may not face any signal issue in any corner of your home or office. However, if you still struggle to boost your productivity, our blog may give you some ideas on how to boost productivity during work from home.

Conclusion

If you want to buy the best WiFi range extender, look no further. Amazon Business brings you all the best products from premium brands. Buying from Amazon Business has a ton of benefits. The product quality is top-notch, hassle-free exchange policy, and furthermore, all the products are available with a GST invoice. Therefore, small or medium business owners can claim input tax credit for all their purchases from Amazon Business.

Amazon Business is your one-stop solution for buying electronics and IT supplies, office supplies, and many other items. Not only IT employees or administrators, but Amazon Business also helps teachers finding the right equipment for online teaching. If you happen to be taking online classes, you may find our blog on online teaching tools quite useful.

FAQs

1) Can a WiFi range extender work without access to the modem?

No. WiFi range extenders only amplify the network signals emitted from a modem or router. They cannot function without access to the modem or the router.

2) Do WiFi range extenders need an ethernet cable?

Generally, WiFi range extenders are wireless devices. However, many WiFi range boosts have ethernet docks.

3) What is the best location for placing a WiFi Range Extender?

The best location for placing a WiFi range extender is mid-way between the covered and dead zones. Ensure that the WiFi range repeater gets a strong signal from the modem.

4) What are the issues found during WiFi Range Extender Setup?

While setting up the WiFi signal booster, one may encounter –

• Incorrect wireless settings
• Distance issues
• Traffic in connected devices
• Wireless interferences
• Outdated firmware

5) What's the difference between mesh networking and a traditional WiFi range extender?

Mesh networks are standalone wifi networks that can replace any existing router. On the other hand, wifi range extenders are an addition to the existing network to boost the signal coverage. Mesh networks are more seamless compared to range extenders and are also a bit more expensive.