5 Reasons Not to Get a Wi-Fi Extender or Repeater

It is quite common to find problems in the signal distribution of Wi-Fi at home. Sometimes the source of the signal cannot reach all the rooms in the house — or even at work — and in these cases it is suggested to use a repeater of Wi-Fi or even a extensor, but would these be the only ways to deal with this problem? Some users of these devices complain that they have not been able to solve their problems with this type of device. Just take a look at these considerations and also some solutions.

Repeaters do not always deliver the proposed

Um signal repeater common uses the capabilities of the router just like any other device that can connect to the installed wireless network, that is, the original signal is not amplified or reinforced, exactly, it is just repeated. The ideal here is for the repeater to achieve the best possible coverage within the field where the router is located. If the repeater has insufficient coverage, the opposite of what you are looking for may happen: instead of improving, it will end up worsening the Wi-Fi network.

Signal amplifiers are often complicated to set up.

To connect our devices — cell phones, computers, smart TVs, and any connected device — to the wireless network, we need to know which is its SSID (Service Set Identifier, something like “Identifier of the Set of Services”), which we know in Brazil as the name of the wi-fi network. When using signal repeaters, each of these devices must have its own network name — which means that all devices that are going to be connected must have each of these networks added to work correctly.

Another problem is that, if the main router (which receives the internet signal) has its SSID modified, it will be necessary to reconfigure all the repeaters installed in the house.

Repeaters don't always give the best signal.

As stated in the previous topic, each repeater will have its own SSID identity. As a result, there will be points where there will be signal coverage from more than one network (whether from the main router or from the repeaters), and the connected devices may not be using the one with the best signal at that point. In this way, it will be necessary to manually change which connection should be used, for better performance. A solution that we will present later, the mesh routers are ideal for solving these connection problems.

Some repeaters offer half capacity

The most common wireless repeaters with a radio need to divide the bandwidth (usually 2,4 GHz) between sending and receiving data, as there is not a dedicated radio for each task. In this way, the data transmission capacity will be compromised.

Another problem with this type of repeater is that all devices will have to connect to a 2,4GHz network, even if they support 5GHz. This means that the speed will be limited by the lower speed of this type of band.

Other 2-radio repeaters may suffer equally

Most Wi-Fi signal repeaters only transmit the frequency of signals they can receive, in this case, devices that have a connection to 5 GHz but work with 2,4 GHz because of the amplifier or repeater, they will always be limited to 2,4 GHz. When a repeater connects with some device in the 5GHz band, but the repeater itself does not have sufficient coverage with the router, it will also not be able to reproduce the best possible connection. So the repeater will consume all the signal capacity that other devices on the 5 GHz network could offer.

How to improve Wi-Fi signal?

With more and more devices connected to the internet, such as notebooks, smartphones, smart TVs and video game consoles, having a stable connection in every room in the house is essential. But this is not always possible with a traditional wireless router. THE mesh network is a technology that has emerged to solve this problem. With it, it is possible to expand the coverage and give more stability to the network. Wi-Fi.

O Wi-Fi Mesh uses a mesh topology where all terminals are interconnected, acting as a single wireless network with several scattered points. This type of network topology is similar to cell phone networks, in which smartphones switch between one antenna and another automatically. Unlike repeaters, which only create another network and with a lower speed than the origin of the connection, Mesh technology distributes a single network to other similar units (called modules) spread throughout the property, automatically and without data loss. or speed.

The name itself helps to understand how this system works: in English, “mesh” means mesh. It's as if each module were a node, or point of contact. When connected to each other, they form a mesh that covers the entire environment, distributing the Wi-Fi. Thus, the mesh network extinguishes those blind spots in the house where the signal is weak or does not arrive.

In addition to eliminating these dead zones from inside the house, the mesh network also allows you to use the maximum speed of your network Wi-Fi all the time, unlike what happens when using a router, because there is a limit to amplify the signal. In theory, the range is also unlimited, as long as the access points are always within range of each other, and you have as many points as you need.

Check out some mesh routers:

Intelbras Twibi Giga+

O Intelbras Twibi Giga+ uses Wi-Fi 5 Mesh system to provide strong and stable signal for all environment, IoT installation wizard, device group bandwidth control and has remote management. According to the manufacturer, the kit with 2 units copper areas of up to 360m² e Holds up to 60 items connected at the same time, such as Smart TVs, cell phones and home automation equipment.

Installation and management can be done through the app in a practical and fast way. The router also has features such as parental control and creation of networks for visitors, and the device has two gigabit ethernet ports and is able to travel speeds over 100 mega.

Is it possible to find the mesh router Intelbras Twibi Giga+ em 1 unit for BRL 350, me o kit with 2 units costs R$ 649,90 on Amazon.

TP-Link Deco E4

Similar to the model presented above, the mesh router Deco E4 da TP-Link uses advanced technology mesh deco, where units work together to form a unified network with a single name. Devices automatically switch between Decos as you move around your home, offering the fastest speeds and most stable connections, eliminating dead zones in the home.

According to the manufacturer, a kit Deco E4 with two devices offers Wi-Fi for a area up to 250 m². And if that's not enough, just add more Decos to the network at any time to increase coverage.

Is it possible to find the mesh router TP-Link Deco E4 em 2 units for BRL 472,41 in Magazine Luiza.

Google Wifi

With a minimalist design, thought to integrate the environment, the Google Wifi promises to improve network coverage and stands out for its integration into the app Google Home, allowing extensive control of settings via smartphone. The model of Google guarantees a coverage up to 110 m² by router, being able to reach up to 330 m² in total with the use of three units.

O Google Wifi operates at 2,4 GHz and 5 GHz. When necessary, the devices automatically switch connections between the routers, evaluating the signal strength that reaches the connected device. In addition to the common functions in routers, such as parental control and device prioritization, the model has WPA3 security, UPnP protocol and IPv6.

Is it possible to find the mesh router Google Wifi em 1 unit for BRL 554,50 and 3 units for BRL 1.546,62 on Amazon.

TP-Link Deco M4

the mesh router Deco M4 from TP-Link uses a system of units to achieve perfect Wi-Fi coverage for the whole house, eliminating areas with weak signal. A pack of two Deco M4 offers Wi-Fi for an area of ​​up to 260m². It offers fast, stable connections with speeds of up to 1167 Mbps and can handle the most demanding network traffic, providing lag-free connections for up to 100 devices.

Is it possible to find the mesh router TP-Link Deco M4 em 2 units for BRL 689,90 on Amazon.

TP-LINK Deco X60

With a design that flows between the minimalist and the somewhat bulky size, the TP-LINK Deco X60 brings a lot of technology to your home. It comes with 5GHz frequency, Wi-Fi 6 connection and many more features. Among its advantages are: the system supports Wi-Fi 6, which provides faster speeds and more efficient data transfer. It can provide speeds of up to 3000 Mbps. Seamless roaming, the system uses mesh technology that allows devices to switch between different units without any disruption to the network.

The application Deco includes parental controls that let you set limits on your children's Internet usage and filter out inappropriate content. It is still possible to create a separate guest network that guests can use without accessing your main network, and the kit with 3 units it is able to cover an area of ​​about 650 square meters.

Is it possible to find the mesh router TP-LINK Deco X60 em 1 unit for BRL 927,50 and 3 units for BRL 2.747,49 on Amazon.

Linksys Atlas Pro 6

And finally we have one more premium model to present, the Linksys Atlas Pro 6. This router includes multiple access points that work together to create a single Wi-Fi network that covers the entire home or office, working with the Wi-Fi 6 standard and can provide speeds of up to 6 Gbps, making it ideal for streaming HD video, online gaming, and other activities that require a fast, reliable connection.

The application Linksys Smart WiFi includes parental control features that allow parents to monitor and manage their children's Internet access. It can be easily set up using the Linksys Smart Wi-Fi app, which provides step-by-step instructions, as well as advanced security features such as data encryption. WPA3, security threat protection, and automatic firmware updates.

Is it possible to find the mesh router Linksys Atlas Pro 6 em 3 units for BRL 5.999,90.

And you, what did you think of the tips and suggestions? Are you going to change your home appliance? Tell us in the comments!

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