The Netgear can expand your Wi-Fi coverage up to 2,100 sq. ft., eliminating the blind spots. Plus, it allows you to connect up to 35 devices, such as laptops, smartphones, speakers, IP cameras, tablets, IoT devices, and more.
There are no advanced options for specialists.
If you're on the lookout for a Wi-Fi extender that will allow you to get high-speed network with ample coverage in areas where using cables isn't an option, the Netgear EX7000-100NAS is the best deal. It's also a great solution for a streamer with a large number of devices.
Very large houses, large offices
3 external antennas
1 x Lan (RJ45) port
IEEE 802.11b/g/n/ac
5GHz: Up to 1300 Mbps
2.4GHz: Up to 600 Mbps
LAN: Up to 1000 Mbps
64/128-bit WEP, WPA-PSK / WPA2-PSK
AC (directly in wall outlet)
30 days
The model extends the Wi-Fi coverage by up to 14,000 square feet. The antennas do not just create a signal that is equally strong and reliable but also minimize dead spots. The Intelligent Processing Engine balances the demands of every device to keep every connection as fast and smooth as possible.
The extender is sensitive to voltage drops.
TP-LINK AC2600 (RE650) is easily the best Wi-Fi extender on the market for people who would like to cover the largest possible area with a fast and stable wireless signal. It's a bit more expensive than most, but the offered range makes it a great investment.
Very large houses, large offices
4 external antennas
1 x Lan (RJ45) port
IEEE 802.11b/g/n/ac
5GHz: Up to 1733 Mbps
2.4GHz: Up to 800 Mbps
LAN: Up to 1000 Mbps
64/128-bit WEP, WPA-PSK / WPA2-PSK
AC (directly in a wall outlet)
2 years
Smart Roaming will allow you to freely roam around the home without worrying about being disconnected at one point or the other. It automatically hands off your connection between the router and the extender. Smart Connect chooses the most optimal WiFi band for every device connected to the network.
The indicators are really bright, so they may annoy some people.
NETGEAR AC2200 is a Wi-Fi extender that puts the "smart" into a "smart device". The model isn't just impressive from a technological standpoint but also much more convenient and practical than most of its peers.
Large houses, offices
4 internal antennas
1 x Lan (RJ45) port
IEEE 802.11b/g/n/ac
5GHz: Up to 1733 Mbps
2.4GHz: Up to 450 Mbps
LAN: Up to 1000 Mbps
64/128-bit WEP, WPA-PSK / WPA2-PSK
AC (directly in a wall outlet)
1 year
The high speed mode increases overall performance by combining the bandwidth of 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz channels. LED control and domain name authorization function. Easy Wi-Fi management via the TP-Link Tether app.
The instructions are inaccurate.
The Gigabit port allows this device to work as a wireless network adapter. A good solution for home and small office. Easily connect your Xbox, PlayStation, PC, or Mac to powerful Wi-Fi, all at the same time.
Medium houses, offices
3 external antennas
1 x Lan (RJ45) port
IEEE 802.11b/g/n/ac
5GHz: Up to 1300 Mbps
2.4GHz: Up to 450 Mbps
LAN: Up to 1000 Mbps
64/128-bit WEP, WPA-PSK / WPA2-PSK
AC (directly in wall outlet)
1 year
Using the Fastlane technology, you'll be able to establish one high-speed connection that will allocate the specified bulk of the traffic to a single device. The technology is particularly suitable for streaming HD content and online gaming. The NETGEAR’s WiFi Analytics app will help you identify weak spots.
The model tends to heat up.
If you live in an average house and would like to expand the coverage area of your WiFi, this extender from NETGEAR is the best bang for your buck. With it, you'll be able to establish a pecking order and allocate the wireless resources according to individual needs.
Small to medium houses
2 external antennas
1 x Lan (RJ45) port
IEEE 802.11b/g/n/ac
5GHz: Up to 450 Mbps
2.4GHz: Up to 300 Mbps
LAN: Up to 100 Mbps
64/128-bit WEP, WPA-PSK / WPA2-PSK
AC (directly in a wall outlet)
1 year
Wi-Fi With No Blind Spots
Does your wi-fi router struggle to cover all the rooms and house premises? NETGEAR may have a perfect solution for you. This wi-fi range extender covers up to 2100 sq. ft. and supports multiple devices for your comfort.
Finally you can enjoy video gaming while your kids are watching streamed shows – or otherwise. NETGEAR can be connected up to 35 devices simultaneously. PC or smartphone, IoT device or speakers, no device will interfere with another one – or get disconnected when you’re in a remote room.
With the above-mentioned range of up to 2100 sq. ft., this extender busts all blind spots and covers your house plus the perimeter with ease. Now you can stream from your garage or basement, check out your social media in the patio, or dive into your favorite game in the living room. If you’ve had problems with wi-fi-coverage before, NETGEAR makes you forget all about that.
This range extender offers an amazing, up to 1900 Mbps wi-fi speed for everything from gaming to streaming shows in HD. No annoying interruptions in the middle of an action scene – or failed levels due to the game freezing up in the worst possible moment.
Set It Up in a Flash
Setting up this range extender is miles easier than installing a cable solution. No drilling holes around your house; all you need to do is find the perfect spot for the device, and you’re good. NETGEAR connects to your router with a single button press, and the entire setup process should take no more than 5 minutes.
Moving around the house a lot? NETGEAR lets you use the existing SSID network name so as to rule out the annoying disconnections. Enjoy seamless wi-fi connection anywhere, inside or outside, and don’t worry about losing the signal.
What if you need to connect wired devices? This extender features 5 Gigabit Ethernet ports for linking in your favorite console or a streaming player. Once again, the boosted speed and stable connections will be a very welcome bonus with NETGEAR.
But that’s not all. If you install the NETGEAR wi-fi app, you can control what your kids access online. There’s even an option to set schedules if you don’t want them to stay up late or swap their lessons for an online gaming round.
To sum up, NETGEAR is exactly what it says on the tin: an upscale wi-fi range extender for your home, premises, and multiple devices.
Additional Info
| Last updated price | $0.00 |
| Stock | In stock |
| ASIN | B00R92CLD6 |
Covers an Entire Stadium
The TP-LINK AC2600 is all about its ridiculous coverage area. Using the 4 external built-in antennas, the model extends the WiFi coverage by up to 14,000 square feet. Naturally, with a range like that, this is one of the very few models on the market and the only extender in this review that will be able to cover a large office or the largest houses. The antennas do not just create a signal that is equally strong and reliable but also minimize dead spots, so you will be receiving a stable and solid signal in any corner of your house or the office.
While we're still on the subject of coverage, it wouldn't hurt to mention the Beamforming technology. Just like most high-end and middle-of-the-road routers and extenders from TP-LINK, AC2600 utilizes the latter technology to further improve and extend its already ridiculous range. As some of you may already be aware at this point, Beamforming works by detecting the direction of the WiFi connections and focusing the wireless signal towards them. This way, it helps strengthen the wireless performance of your office or place of residency.
Speaking of things that are always present in TP-LINK products, this WiFi extender is also compatible with the TP-LINK Tether application. Using the latter, you will be able to set up and manage your wireless network. With its intuitive user interface, you'll get to quickly assign guest privileges, schedule the network, and manage the device.
Long-Term Investment
Aside from the range, the model in question is defined by all of the network technologies. For instance, there's the usual MU-MIMO, a technology that allows the extender to communicate with multiple devices simultaneously over the same WiFi band. This type of communication is particularly great at maximizing the performance of every device involved, regardless whether they're running at the same time or not.
There's also the far less common Intelligent Processing Engine, a solution that works by balancing the demands of every device in order to keep every WiFi connection as fast and smooth as possible. It sounds like one of the most complicated technologies but, in reality, the engine simply directs the WiFi traffic to dedicated processors. After that, the engine just leaves it to the model's powerful dual-core CPU to take care of everything else.
Finally, we would like to give some attention to the simplicity of the setup. The extender utilizes a couple of LED lights. The blue one symbolizes a weak connection and the red one indicates a bad one, so it won't be difficult to find the perfect spot for the device.
Taking all of the above into account, the TP-LINK AC2600 (RE650) is easily the best WiFi extender on the market for people who would like to cover the largest possible area with a strong and reliable wireless signal. It's a bit more expensive than most but the range makes it a great long-term investment.
Additional Info
| Last updated price | $96.06 |
| Stock | In stock |
| ASIN | B01MR90E3A |
What customers say about this product
Key Specs(4.7)
Size & Weight(4.8)
Features(4.7)
Smart and Seamless Roaming
We really aren't the biggest fans of the term "smart" as it pertains to technologies and electronics. Especially considering the fact that the term has been thrown around so much lately that it is beginning to lose most of its meaning. That said, this is still the word we would use to describe AC2200, the mesh WiFi extender from NETGEAR.
There are a couple of reasons for that. First, there's the device's Smart Roaming system. As the name suggests, the technology will allow you to freely roam around the home without worrying about being disconnected at one point or the other. It does so by automatically handing off your connection between the router and the extender.
By the way, it doesn't have to be a house. As the model boasts a coverage area of up to 10,000 feet, this is an equally suitable device for an average office. It may not give you enough range to cover the largest office out there but the extender will most certainly be able to keep the most sizable house connected via a strong wireless signal.
Another point in the extender's favor is the universal compatibility of this model. Simply add it to your network and sync to the existing router. AC2200 is compatible with just about any router, gateway, or rented ISP gateway.
Improved Communications
One thing that we always liked about NETGEAR's network solutions and the model is no exception is the ability to combine all of the visible WiFi networks into a single entity. This way, you can have it all under one WiFi name and security password, which is a lot more convenient than what you'd usually get from a different company.
Of course, the WiFi extender isn't devoid of the usual technologies that aren't inclusive to NETGEAR. For instance, the device incorporates MU-MIMO, a technology that improves the router's "communication" with multiple devices over the same WiFi band. In layman's terms, the technology maximizes the performance of every device connected to the network.
There's also the Smart Connect, a system that operates in a different way but brings the same solution to the table. Again, without diving into the technical mumbo-jumbo, this technology intelligently chooses the most optimal WiFi band for every device connected to the network. Thanks to the latter, you won't end up in a situation where one gadget is pulling more data than necessary and the other isn't getting enough.
But, considering what it has to offer bandwidth-wise, the WiFi extender should be able to cover all of your devices, with a 5 GHz channel that offers a maximum speed of 1733 Mbps and a 2.4 GHz channel that caps at 450 Mbps.
Again, we don't really care that much for the "smart" title when it comes to consumer electronics, but the NETGEAR AC2200 deserves it more than any other WiFi extender. The model isn't just impressive from a technological standpoint but also much more convenient and practical than most of its peers.
Additional Info
| Last updated price | $149.99 |
| Stock | In stock |
| ASIN | B01D6JEMWS |
What customers say about this product
Key Specs(4.4)
Size & Weight(4.4)
Features(4.3)
Set Your Wi-Fi Straight
Dead wi-fi spots again? Eliminate them with the powerful TP-Link wi-fi extender and enjoy seamless connection in any corner of your home.
TP-Link lets you cover the entire house plus premises with an impressive, up to 2000 sq. ft. outreach. The 3 antennas plus the wireless AC technology deliver strong, instant connections anywhere within the stated range. Whether it’s your house basement, a remote garage, or a living room, TP-Link will easily cover them all.
This wi-fi extender allows you to connect as many as 32 devices, wired and wireless, for your comfort. From PC or Mac, to Xbox, to your smartphone – anything goes. What’s more, none of the connected devices will interfere with each other or lose signal. You can stream in 4K while your kids are gaming and older family members enjoying some relaxing music in the garden.
As for the wired devices, TP-Link comes with the Gigabit Ethernet port that spreads the boosted wireless connection right to them.
This extender is compatible with any type of router or access point. Even if your network changes or expands with time, it has got you covered.
One-Stop Connection Manager
Setting up TP-Link is no big deal at all. Yes, the instructions could be more precise, but thankfully, you don’t need to relocate your router or drill holes for a cable extension. Your main task here will be to find the perfect spot to place this device.
And here’s where the smart signal indicator light will come in handy. Check out what it says and experiment a bit. The rest of the process will be a one-touch setup with the RE button. The entire routine should take up no more than 5 minutes, and you won’t even have to use your password.
You can also install the TP-Link Tether app (iOS and Android) to conveniently manage your wi-fi. Assign guest privileges, make schedules, or control the connected devices right from your smartphone.
If you’re a proud smart home owner, this extender will help you with such voice assistants as Alexa or Echo. Expand the coverage – and stay connected to your domestic helper anywhere around the house. Now you make the rules as to where and when you’re using it.
Overall, TP-Link wi-fi extender does a great job of boosting your connection range – and lets you enjoy any online activity with maximum stability and speed.
Additional Info
| Last updated price | $0.00 |
| Stock | In stock |
| ASIN | B010S6SG3S |
What customers say about this product
Key Specs(4.4)
Features(4.4)
Size & Weight(4.3)
Effective Extender in a Compact Body
The NETGEAR AC750 provides a reliable solution for your average households looking to extend the range of their wireless coverage. Equipped with 2 external antennas, this model will be more than enough to expand the coverage area of the WiFi router so that you'll be able to enjoy the strongest possible signal in any corner of your home.
It may not be the most impressive option on the market as far as speed and range are concerned but we actually like it quite a lot. For the most part, it is the device's practicality and convenience that makes the case for the extender.
By practicality and convenience, we mean a couple of things. First, there's the size of the model. Since the whole thing adds up to precisely 7 x 5.6 x 3.9 inches in overall dimensions, this wireless solution device from NETGEAR is noticeably more compact than the bulk of its competition. You can just plug it in directly into a wall outlet and its small and discreet frame will effortlessly blend into your home décor.
Another thing that makes this WiFi extender really convenient is its compatibility with NETGEAR’s WiFi Analytics application. Before you install the extender, you can use the latter to test the strength of the wireless signals in all rooms throughout your house. This way, you will be able to identify where the coverage is at its weakest.
After you set the booster up, run the WiFi Analytics program again. Now, you can apply its analytical prowess to check how and how much your network speed has been able to improve.
Establish a Pecking Order
Like we've said earlier, it isn't the most impressive extender in terms of the coverage area. But it should be able to eliminate virtually every dead spot in your average house. And if you put the app to good use, you might even be able to extend the wireless signal all the way to your backyard.
As far as speed is concerned, the dual-band booster will be able to provide combined speeds of up to 750 Mbps. It should be enough to cover the needs of every member of your family. Of course, we all have different needs bandwidth-wise, and the engineers at NETGEAR recognize that.
Using the Fastlane technology, you will be able to establish one high-speed connection that will allocate the specified bulk of the traffic to a single device. The technology is particularly suitable for streaming HD content and online gaming.
All in all, if you happen to live in an average house that is neither too large nor too small and would like to expand the coverage area of your WiFi, this extender from NETGEAR is the best bang for your buck.
Additional Info
| Last updated price | $26.00 |
| Stock | In stock |
| ASIN | B00R92CL5E |
What customers say about this product
Key Specs(4.3)
Size & Weight(4.4)
Features(4.4)
Infographics
What Is a Wi-Fi Extender?
Nowadays you can get a Wi-Fi signal almost anywhere in a city: malls, offices, cafeterias, hotels, shops and even in public transports. The connection there may understandably vary from good to no signal at all. But even at your own house, you are not safe from getting into a dead spot, where you cannot pick up even a single bar from your Wi-Fi router. Concrete walls, reinforced panels, weak output signal – these and many other things may become a barrier for the Internet access.
Wi-Fi extenders are the excellent solution to cover your entire house with a stable signal. As it comes from the name, they extend the existing Wi-Fi coverage by taking a signal from a router and retransferring it to the nearby area. In some cases, an extender simply boosts your router with additional antennas, in others, it creates a new network with a common router as an access point.
But right before we'll go further into details, you might want to take a look at our review of the best wireless routers with a thorough guide on how to get a Wi-Fi router best suited for your needs.
What Features to Compare
Designated Area
First of all, think about where you are going to use. Wi-Fi extenders sometimes are called repeaters and have a designated area of use. You can find models that are recommended but not limited to small houses or offices. The device amplifies a signal so that it could reach the farthest corners of an apartment, like when you have thick concrete walls in your building with a router's signal cutting through only one or two of them. For a cottage or an office, you might require a more powerful extender. In that case, we recommend taking a closer look at a Wi-Fi repeater that has adjustable external antennas with the gain power at 3 dBi or higher. If antennas are detachable, they can be replaced with more powerful or directional antennas in the future, but in most cases, you can simply point them in the required direction.
Bandwidth and Maximum Speed
Without a doubt, bandwidth and maximum speed are important as well. You want to buy an extender to get better coverage and speed in the first place, right? If those numbers mean nothing to you, just try to buy an extender with the same maximum speed as your Wi-Fi router. Check them in a manual and in contract to your ISP. Search for numbers like Mbps or Mb/s. Below, we've compiled devices that range from 300 up to incredible 1300 Mbps, so that you could choose the one that would suit your ISP traffic plan and walls layout best.
Setup and Controls
Setup and controls are mostly done only once by connecting a device to your computer’s Ethernet port to set a Wi-Fi password. Normally, extenders work right away, but sometimes they have a CD with a special software to program an extender. Basic options like resetting or turning the device on-off usually have designated buttons on the body. If you prefer gaming but your family loves watching online video or downloading large files, an ordinary extender might not be enough, as the streaming video and big files take a lot of Internet traffic and can cause lags. Therefore, you might want to get an advanced model with an option to prioritize connections.
Design
As for the design, most of the time, extenders are simply plugged into a socket and look like compact boxes with or without antennas. However, there are models that have an external power cord and can be placed on top of the shelf or just sit on your table. That way you will always have them within hand's reach.
Data Interfaces
Finally, take a look at the supported data interfaces. There’re repeaters that have output LAN ports to connect them to other devices that have no Wi-Fi module, like a TV or desktop PC. Some extenders work with a power-line technology. It allows you to transfer Internet signal via the electrical wiring of your house. You will need 2 or more of such power-line adapters. After they've been plugged in the sockets, one of them will pick up a signal from the router via Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi, while the other one can receive it and retransfer further to other devices. Please note, that in most cases Internet signal can’t pass through electric transformers or power monitors.
You might also come across such specifications as supported network standards or access protection protocols, however, they are mostly interoperable only with many routers, so you might need this info only if you are going to install very specific routers in your office and need to protect confidential data. Still, common routers, extenders, and adapters are designed in accordance with Wi-Fi standards which oblige manufacturers to have the means for data protection. Set passwords, keep them to yourself and worry not - your information will be safe and sound.
Now, let's take a closer look at the Wi-Fi extenders we've selected for you.
Sources:
1. Dong Ngo Networking buying guide, CNET. November 20, 2015.
2. WiFi Range Extender Best Setup Guide RouterGuide.
3. Wireless repeater, Wikipedia. July 3, 2016.
4. Dave Greenbaum Choose Powerline Adapters for Distance, Wireless AC for Speed, Lifehacker. October 16, 2014.
5. WiFi Boosters, Repeaters and Extenders, RepeaterStore.
6. What is a Powerline Adapter, About. June 24, 2015.