Types of WiFi Extenders

 5 Types of WiFi Extenders

There are plenty of different devices out there that get labeled as WiFi extenders of some sort. Not all of these fit neatly into the above wireless extender vs. WAP definition. Let's look at some of the more popular options.

Single-band WiFi Repeaters

Single-band WiFi repeaters are the most basic example of a wireless extender. They will either support 2.4 GHz or 5.0 bands. They generally must use the same WiFi frequency and channel to communicate with clients and routers. As a result, single-band repeaters can be very susceptible to the throughput reduction and network congestion issues we covered.

Single-band repeaters are also generally low-cost. If you're looking for a low price point extender, a single-band WiFi repeater may do the trick. Make sure to confirm the extender is compatible with your router's specifications.

Dual-band WiFi Repeaters

Like dual-band WiFi routers, dual-band WiFi repeaters support both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi frequencies. By supporting two separate bands, some dual-band repeaters can dedicate one for backhaul traffic to the router and the other for clients. This can reduce some of the performance tradeoffs associated with single band repeaters. However, it isn't a given that a dual-band repeater will support dedicating a band to backhaul. Be sure to look for the wireless extender to call out "dedicated backhaul" or similar if that is a feature you want. Additionally, technologies like beamforming and MU-MIMO (multi-user multiple-input multiple-output) can help improve performance.

In most cases today, if you're going to invest in a wireless extender, you'll probably want to go dual-band. It gives you more flexibility and a broader range of support.

Wired WiFi Extenders/WAPs

What many of us know as wireless access points are sometimes referred to as wired WiFi extenders. If the device uses a wired connection for backhaul to the router and creates a new WLAN, it falls in this category.

As a rule of thumb (at least until 5G and WiFi 6/6E become more prevalent), when looking into WiFi extender solutions:

If you can run a cable and can't afford any performance degradation, you should probably just run the cable.

Powerline Adapters

Powerline adapters aren't WiFi extenders per se, but you will sometimes see them marketed as a comparable solution. A powerline adapter transmits network data over the existing electrical system in a building. Some powerline adapters support WiFi access in addition to wired connections. While there are some usage caveats, these adapters can prove useful in getting WiFi to otherwise hard to reach spots.

Mesh Networks

WiFi mesh systems have seen a recently rise in popularity. Solutions like the Google Nest, Dell's Eero, and Netgear's Orbi are three popular examples of WiFi mesh systems. Under the hood, these systems work similarly to a WiFi router and wireless extenders. They are a network of access points that send a wireless signal back and forth between one another, to clients, and to the upstream router.

At a high-level, this means WiFi mesh systems have the same tradeoffs as using traditional WiFi repeaters. However, the mesh system's upside is that all the mesh access points are designed to work together to provide optimal coverage in a given area.

The idea is that mesh should provide a lot of the upside wireless extenders can deliver while minimizing the downside. While the devices' positioning is still important, mesh can take many of the configuration and management hassles out of the equation. As a result, mesh systems can provide an advantage over more traditional router and extender configurations, particularly for less tech-savvy users.