A Wi-Fi extender is a small tool that absorbs Wi-Fi signals and then spit them out with the same network name and frequency. Think of it as a radio repeater, because it is essentially that way.

This is a relatively simple and inexpensive way to extend the network to hard-to-reach places in the home, and it is much cheaper than a full mesh system. But setting it up is not always that simple. Here are some basic tips on how to get started and how to make the most of these handy devices.

When buying a Wi-Fi extender, you want to make the most of your existing connections. Therefore, please check your current Wi-Fi router-whether it is a router you got from an ISP or a router you bought yourself and connected to a modem.

You will need to match two values ​​between the router you own and the extender you want to buy: Wi-Fi algebra and Wi-Fi speed. This generation is usually Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) or Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax). The speed is expressed as a function of the connection: if the extender is labeled "AC750", it means that it uses 802.11ac at speeds of up to 750 Mbits/sec. If it displays "AX1800", it means that 802.11ax is used and the transmission speed is up to 1800 Mbits (1.8 Gigabits).

You can buy an extender that is newer and/or faster than the router and it will work normally. But you will pay for something you don't really need, because the extender will not be able to speed up the connection from the router itself.

Choosing where to place the network extender is very important. Ideally, you want it to be close enough to the source Wi-Fi router for the most stable connection, but far enough to cover a large area not covered by the router.

For example: if you live in a two-story house and your router is on the main floor of the living room, plug the extender into the ideal location for the socket at the top of the stairs. This will enable it to establish a fairly reliable line-of-sight connection with the router, and at the same time rebroadcast its wireless signal to the room on the second floor.

This socket is in the middle of me, between the router in the living room and the bedroom.

If you use a Wi-Fi extender for only one user (for example, to get a better signal for a home office PC), you need to place it approximately between that user and the Wi-Fi router. If you want to connect to the extender via Ethernet (see the connection section), you may have to modify it and go further.

Remember, once you set up the Wi-Fi extender, you can move it around the house as needed. Feel free to try placement to get the best and most reliable signal.

Each brand of network hardware is slightly different, and we cannot cover all of them.​​ Generally, if you follow the instructions that come with the extender, you should be fine. Having said that, there are usually two different ways to deal with it:

This is a more technical way to set up an extender. Before we start, please write down the SSID (name) and password of your existing Wi-Fi network (if you have not memorized them). Do the same for 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks (if they are different).

You need a desktop or laptop computer with an Ethernet cable for the wired connection, and the cable itself. (One may be installed in the box with the extender.) If your computer does not have an Ethernet port, you need to connect to the default Wi-Fi network broadcast by the extender, which is different from the network already in your extender . home (at least for now.) This is usually "WIFI_EXTENDER" or something similar; if a password is required, check the instructions.

Connect the laptop to the Wi-Fi extender.

Plug the extender into the wall, and then plug the Ethernet cable into the extender and the computer. Or, disconnect from the home Wi-Fi network and connect directly to the extender. Please note that in both cases, you will temporarily lose your network connection. If there is a switch on the side of the extender, make sure to set it to "Extender" mode, not "AP" or "Access Point". (The AP is used to connect directly to your modem. If you already have a Wi-Fi router or an all-in-one modem/router, you don't need it.) Booting may take a few minutes.

On your computer, open a web browser, such as Edge or Chrome. You will use your browser to enter the web-based interface of the extension. The address of this interface is usually a simple numeric address on the local network, namely 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1. Try to enter these two in the URL bar; a login prompt should appear.

If none of these addresses work, check the instructions that came with the extender or the label printed on its side; some brands use something a little different. My Netgear extender uses "www.mywifiext.net", some ASUS models use "repeater.asus.com" and so on. If you can't find it, please search for the repeater brand on your phone and add "login", you may find it soon.

After entering this page, you need to log in with the default username and password. These are usually "admin" and "password" respectively. Don't worry, you can change them later in the extender settings menu. If the default name and password do not work, try to reset the device to factory settings, which usually requires pressing a button with a pin or paperclip.

After logging into the repeater interface, it should launch a wizard to guide you step by step to connect to the local network. But if not (for example, if you purchased a used extender), you can do the following:

Find the Wi-Fi setting page of the extender and enter the same SSID name and password as the Wi-Fi router. What happens is that the extender logs into your network through the router, just like you use a laptop or mobile phone. Once logged in and the connection is stable, it will rebroadcast the same data connection on the same SSID in your home, making it easy to connect via other devices.

Most modern extenders have settings for 2.4GHz network and 5GHz network. Again, just make sure that the SSID and password match the settings on your existing router.

Double check that you have set everything up correctly, then click "Save" or "Apply" and you are ready to go. This may take a few minutes.

Use your phone or tablet to set it up

If you can connect to the extender’s Wi-Fi network using the extender’s default SSID and password, you can perform the same steps as above in the phone’s browser.

If not, please download the corresponding help application from the iOS App Store or the Google Play Store on Android. For my extender, this is Netgear Nighthawk. The box of your extender may have a link or QR code to the corresponding application.

From here, you should have fairly simple instructions on how to set up the extender. Remember, all you really need to do is make sure it uses the same Wi-Fi network as your existing router. Complete the steps on the app, which are very similar to the PC setup steps above, and then save your settings. are you ready.

After completing the above setup steps, your extender is set up. Place it within the ideal coverage area of ​​your home, and Wi-Fi devices such as mobile phones, laptops, and tablets will automatically connect to it. You should see green lights for power and wireless connections; if the connection lights are orange or red, the device needs to be physically close to the Wi-Fi router.

If you want, you can use extenders with different SSIDs and/or passwords, but unless you want to connect specifically to the extender or router instead of other devices, there is no real benefit.

If you use the extender with a wired device, such as a desktop computer or game console, plug the Ethernet cable into the extender and then into the device itself.

That's it, you are ready to rock!

Note: We may earn a small commission when you purchase something after clicking the link in our article. Read our affiliate link policy for more details.