Nowadays we struggle to imagine our home without WiFi. People are using more and more mobile devices to connect to the Internet within their own four walls and nobody wants to use a cable. But what do you do if the wireless signal is not strong enough, Internet access is weak or even interrupted? A repeater can quickly put an end to frustration when surfing the Internet.
The ideal scenario would be for a WiFi router to be a sufficient access point in a house or apartment. But a reinforced concrete wall can interfere with reception.
Routers best emit their signal horizontally.
WiFi signal quickly weakens when it travels vertically to an upper floor. And if you want to have robust wireless Internet access in your summerhouse too, you’ll presumably need some form of booster.
More range via WiFi repeaters
The device of choice is a WiFi repeater. It receives the signal from the router which is connected via cable to the Internet connection. The repeater receives the signal and amplifies it.
This significantly expands the range of the WiFi network. The user, also known as the WiFi client, will not be aware that this transmission has taken place.
The name of the actual WiFi network will be displayed, which the user can log into. The device and local conditions will dictate by how much further the WiFi can reach. This could be 100 additional metres.
There are two types of WiFi repeater: devices that can be mounted on the wall or on a shelf, or devices for the socket. The antennae are installed either internally or externally. The WiFi connection is displayed using LEDs.
WiFi repeaters for shelves are usually larger than the socket versions. They provide space for more powerful amplifiers and additional Ethernet ports. Devices can then by attached to them non-wirelessly via a cable.
When purchasing a WiFi repeater, check which wireless standards and encryptions it uses. It should, of course, be compatible with the properties of your router.
You set your WiFi repeater up via WPS (WiFi Protected Set-Up). To do so, you push a button on the repeater and on the router.
It takes a short period of time, usually two minutes, for the devices to detect each other and to connect automatically, without you needing to manually input the password. But often you’ll need several attempts for this to work.
The second option is to input an eight-digit PIN for authorisation. This password is shown on the WiFi repeater. You connect the repeater by inputting the PIN on the operating screen of the router, which is accessed via a computer.
WiFi repeater via Powerline
Another option is a WiFi adapter for a Powerline connection.
This involves the Internet signal first being directed to the power supply via an adapter in a power socket. The signal is directed to another adapter in a different socket in the house.
This adapter is WiFi-enabled and transmits the connection to the WiFi clients.
Photo credits: Netgear
