Pairing a plug-in range extender with your home network is as easy as pressing the WPS button. Stay tuned for exciting new products and more. (Just note that I'm testing from home and working with a limited sample size of devices -- once I'm able to test more, I'll update this post accordingly.). Better still, I didn't have multiple networks and extension networks to jump between. Let’s keep it simple by calling it 'Range Extender 2.4GHz' and 'Range Extender 5.0GHz'. Find out whether a wireless range extender, powerline adapter, or 4-in-1 access point will best suit your needs. In the end, each one was able to maintain my connection in that back bathroom without dropping me, but only TP-Link and D-Link were able to sustain upload and download speeds that were fast enough for full internet usage. Software woes aside, the hardware seems pretty good with this range extender, and since it's not quite the newest model from D-Link, there's a good chance you can find it on sale somewhere. You've got more options than ever these days, including our top overall pick, Google's Nest Wifi, as well as three-piece mesh network setups from Eero, Netgear Orbi and TP-Link that cost $250 or less. The TP-Link app also includes a ‘location assistant’ feature that can help you to find the best location for the range extender. Any of those would likely outperform a standalone router paired with a plug-in range extender like the ones tested here. At the start of the set-up process, the range extender’s Wi-Fi network was called TP-Link_Extender on both the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands. We’ll go with this RE650 extender from TP-Link, which is a fast and affordable plug-in option for around $120/£80/AU$180. All four were serviceable, but the TP-Link RE220 was the only one that didn't present any issues with my internet connection. Most, including all four that I tested, support Wi-Fi Protected Setup, or WPS, which is a universal protocol that wireless networking devices can use to connect with each other. © 2020 CNET, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. We now need to select the router’s 2.4GHz network so that the app can link the router and the range extender together. Again, the features make for slim pickings, but you can check signal strength or turn on High-Speed Mode, which dedicates the 2.4GHz band for traffic from the router to the range extender, leaving the 5GHz free for your normal network traffic. You will receive a verification email shortly. You shouldn't expect much, but most will at least make it easy to change the extension network's name or password. However, the set-up process will be similar for desktop models as well. I'll have a better sense of range once I'm able to resume full testing at our lab and at the 5,400-square-foot CNET Smart Home -- but for now, all of that is enough for me to call the RE220 the clear winner here, especially considering that it's the least expensive option I tested. The plug-in models are really convenient, although a desktop model may have additional features, such as Ethernet ports, which can come in handy as well. From the construction materials of your home, to alarm systems, microwaves, and cordless phones - there’s a lot that can interrupt your Wi-Fi connection. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer, We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices. Now take a look at the range extender’s app. The TP-Link RE220 (right) did a great job of boosting speeds. At about $50, that's just too many negatives for me to recommend it. Sure enough, my average speeds plummeted in that back bathroom, the farthest room from the router. For instance, I had a three-piece TP-Link Deco M5 mesh router on hand, so I set it up and ran some speed tests alongside the range extenders. Both offered steady speeds throughout my entire home, including average download speeds on the 5GHz band of at least 75 megabits per second in every room I tested, along with strong upload speeds, too. A Wi-Fi Range Extender detects the Wi-Fi signal from your router and expands it throughout your home. If you move into a room that can’t pick up the Wi-Fi from the router then you can switch to the Range Extender network to improve reception. In 2021, we'll start seeing routers that support Wi-Fi 6E, which adds in exclusive access to the newly opened, ultra-wide 6GHz band. The Netgear EX3700 wasn't powerful enough for the price. As the name suggests, a range extender can boost the Wi-Fi from your existing router, helping it to reach upstairs bedrooms, or out into the garden. Speeds were strong throughout the rest of the house, as well, which suggests that the TP-Link RE220 offers the best range of the four, too. Simple! You’ll also need to repeat the process for the 5GHz band as well. Check here for restocks at Walmart, Amazon, GameStop and Target, Walmart's Black Friday sale is live: $50 Google Nest Hub, $49 Instant Pot, top video games as low as $15, Discuss: The best Wi-Fi range extender for just about everybody, Best Wi-Fi range extender for almost everybody, Read more about improving your home's Wi-Fi, The 3 fastest VPNs we've tested: NordVPN, ExpressVPN and Surfshark compared. The device also dropped my connection at one point during my speed tests. Powerline adapters use your home wiring like an Ethernet cable, sending Internet signal from your router to any active power outlet. That mode actually wasn't as fast as sharing the 5GHz band like normal when I tested it out, because those incoming 2.4GHz speeds are limited, but it still might be a useful option in some setups. With my trusty laptop in hand, I moved from the living room where the router is located to the adjacent kitchen, then a hallway bathroom, then my bedroom, and finally, a bathroom in the very back of the house. TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Receive mail from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors? At the moment, we’ve got the range extender positioned about halfway between our main router and our home office where the Wi-Fi signal tends to be a bit weak. Regardless of which room you plan to use it in, you’ll start the set-up process with the range extender being plugged in and sitting as close as possible to your main router. It's also worth making sure that your range extender includes at least one Ethernet jack. Check out our Privacy Policy if you'd like to learn more. Nothing else I tested was able to match that level of performance, which makes the RE220 a steal at $28. Setup was just as simple as what I experienced with TP-Link, too. There's an app you can use instead, but it's only available on Android devices. Just plug the signal booster in, press the WPS button, and then press the WPS button on your router within two minutes. The RE220 never once dropped my connection, and its speeds were consistent across multiple days of tests during both daytime and evening hours. A before and after in my back bathroom, where it's often difficult to maintain a strong Wi-Fi connection. Visit our corporate site. Most were underwhelming, which isn't too surprising when you're talking about a hunk of plastic that costs $30 or $40. This is called ‘roaming’ as it allows you to automatically switch between the router and the range extender, depending on which one is closer and provides the strongest Wi-Fi signal. Make that 50Mbps if you want to stream in 4K. A mesh router with its own, dedicated range extenders will do an even better job of spreading a speedy Wi-Fi signal throughout your home. Now that we’ve connected our smartphone to the range extender, we can launch the TP-Link app. When I tried using the TP-Link range extender to make a FaceTime call, I was able to move throughout my entire house without seeing any dips in the call quality. Harness the power and stability of a wired connection without running wires across your home. Experience a stronger Wi-Fi signal. The app will probably start with the 2.4GHz band, and you can see our 0606 Hyperoptic 2.4GHz router network right at the top of the list. Sign up to get breaking news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more, plus the hottest tech deals! Most plug-in range extenders only offer basic features at best, but the TP-Link RE220 also includes a signal strength tester and a High-Speed Mode in the app.