There are several simple ways to expand Wi-Fi networks at home or in a small-to-medium office space. Almost all of them involve using either a high-gain antenna, or the additional use of an access point or extender, also known as a repeater. Depending on the construction and size of the house or office, there may be Wi-Fi “black spots” where the wireless signal doesn’t reach, or the connection has poor performance. Thick stone walls and long distances are the biggest culprits. Another consideration is wanting to extend a personal network to another building or office. You may also want to use your smartphone, laptop or tablet in the garden. In this article, discover two simple solutions for expanding your home or office Wi-Fi network.
Forget about pulling new network cables or drilling holes
The most effective methods involve neither pulling new network cables, nor drilling holes in the walls and choosing the right device to extend your Wi-Fi network is not too complicated. You can choose the appropriate device from a wide range of devices and equipment on the market, depending on the purpose, the technical possibilities of installation, or budget.
The two methods of extending Wi-Fi networks at home, outlined in this article, have great advantages: they can be modular and use cascading repeaters. The actual speed of data transfer on the network is proportional to the strength and quality of the Wi-Fi signal, which affects you especially when you want to access multimedia content from the Internet. Whatever solution you choose, the outcome should be the same: strong Wi-Fi signal, no “black spots” and excellent speed.
- Wi-Fi Antennas—easiest to install and use
Antennas come in different sizes and shapes and can be used indoors or outdoors. Depending on the surface you want to cover, you will need either an omnidirectional or a directional antenna. The difference can work in your favor when used properly. The higher the gain in dBi, the further the signal propagates.
The antenna must have a connector compatible with the wireless equipment you will connect it to, successfully replacing the standard antenna fitted to a router or access point you already own. Due to the fact that it is omnidirectional, it can transmit and receive the signal from all directions—providing circular coverage. Installation is simple. All you need to do is disconnect the device’s factory antenna, and plug this antenna in. You can enjoy the new network features immediately. It should be noted that the strength of the signal depends primarily on the wireless device being used. The antenna cannot transmit and receive a stronger signal than the modem or adapter being used allows.
Directional antennas, or directional beam antennas, are intended to transmit or receive electromagnetic waves preferentially in a particular direction, or directional configuration, usually between two network points in two adjacent buildings, where they also act as relays.
If you are trying to expand and set up a stable high-speed wireless network, it is recommended to choose two high-gain directional antennas. Note that transmission works best when there is visibility between the antennas, without trees and buildings in between. Even if you mount a directional antenna outside and connect it to the wireless router, the other computer, or access point, cannot receive a strong signal if the second antenna is inside another building. You can also use a directional antenna when you have a larger indoor space to cover and the router is placed in a corner.
- Range extender—versatile and easy to install
When choosing a device for expanding the office Wi-Fi network, you will have to take into account several criteria: budget, stability and reliability in operation, compatibility with the router you already own, speed or performance, and configuration. Because we live in an age of speed, and most of us do not intend to become Wi-Fi network experts, a versatile and easy-to-install range extender is the optimal solution.
The main features of a versatile range extender are:
- External antennas for optimal Wi-Fi coverage and stable connections.
- A Gigabit port which can be used as a wireless adapter with gigabit performance for any equipment that normally only connects via a network cable. The built-in Gigabit port turns the extender into a wireless adapter, thus allowing equipment that does not have wireless capabilities to connect to your Wi-Fi network.
- Simultaneous expansion in both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. Simple applications like email or web browsing can run in the 2.4GHz band while bandwidth-hungry applications like online gaming or HD video streaming can run in the 5GHz band, all at the same time.
- A smart LED system that shows you where to position it for optimal Wi-Fi coverage
- Compatibility with any Wi-Fi router or Wireless Access Point. It should instantly connect the extender to a wireless router by pressing the RE button and then pressing the router’s WPS button, if possible. Once connected to a wireless router, you can move the Extender anywhere within the router’s Wi-Fi coverage area without any further configuration.
Having a reliable internet connection at the office, or at home, is sometimes critical to getting a job done. When it comes to Wi-Fi, it’s important to have the signal reaching across the entire space, leaving no areas uncovered or struggling with a spotty connection. If you are still looking for the perfect solution for your home or office network, you could explore our Mesh network vs. Wi-Fi range extender comparison or read more about powerline adapters here.
