WiFi Ultra Boost: How to extend your WiFi signal

13th July, 2021 | Home / Blog / Broadband speed / WiFi Ultra Boost: How to extend your WiFi signal

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We’ve all experienced using WiFi that is on the edge of the router’s range.It’s the dreaded buffering and disconnecting every few seconds.

Ever wishfully wondered if moving rooms will cure your connection issue? Stop right there.

This is your ultimate guide on how to extend your WiFi signal. A mesh WiFi system gives you up to x4 faster internet speeds – they’re designed to extend WiFi access to everywhere in your home.

We’ve got 2 fast fibre broadband packages available – and we’ll give you at least x1 free WiFi 6 mesh router when you sign up. Did you know that some providers will charge an installation fee for fibre broadband? But we don’t. We offer broadband with no upfront costs.

Package informationFibre 500Fibre 900
Download speed500 Mbps900 Mbps
Upload speed100 Mbps200 Mbps
UsageUnlimitedUnlimited
Contract length18 months18 months
Download range400-500Mbps800-900Mbps
Installation cost£49 (used to be £99)Free (used to be £99)
Monthly cost£55£75
Package detailsx1 FREE Linksys WiFi 6 router inc (RRP: £250).
Half-price installation.
x2 FREE Linksys WiFi 6 routers (RRP: £500) inc. Free installation.

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What are the benefits of a mesh WiFi system?

Enjoy 4X faster speeds with WiFi 6 technology

Ultrafast speeds throughout your entire home

Gain 4X more capacity

No matter how many devices everyone in your home uses to stream, game, and stay connected

Eliminated WiFi 6 interference from nearby networks

  • Always have the strongest, clearest signal to your device
  • Look sleek, more so than a traditional router
  • Update security features when not in use
  • More efficient than a traditional router
  • Quick to set up
  • Smooth guest WiFi networks access
  • Good access to parental controls

We’ve answered some commonly asked questions and compiled some expert recommendations, including the use of a mesh WiFi system.

Questions about how to extend your WiFi signal

 

 

How does does WiFi reach?

2.4 GHz routers can usually reach 150 feet (46m), and older 5Ghz routers may reach around 50ft (17m).

However, this range can be decreased by obstacles such as thick walls inside a home. Another example is external areas – if you need to extend WiFi to garage, or are looking for the best way to extend wifi signal to a garden, you might need a mesh WiFi system.

How does Mesh WiFi work?

Mesh WiFi systems and range extenders are the two most common ways to extending wifi range in a home, but they are subtly different.

The best analogy to explain their main differences is to think about broadcasting a speech to a large crowd.

A mesh system is like using speakers hooked up seamlessly to a main microphone. Whereas, a range extender is like using several people placed through the crowd shouting out the speech as they hear it.

What’s the difference between range extenders and mesh WiFi systems?

Range extenders work by extending WiFi range with a second router and relay their information through the main router. Whereas, mesh systems use nodes to expand the main network across a much larger area.

Range extenders create separate networks. So, your device will stay connected to the network it is on, even on the edges of its range where the signal quality is lower.

This means you need to manually switch between networks, which can be frustrating.

Range extenders are ‘half-duplex’. This means they can’t send and receive information simultaneously, causing a small lag in browsing on an extender network.

Will I benefit from a mesh WiFi booster?

You may have the question: “Do I need a mesh WiFi booster?”

If you live somewhere with any of these, you’d definitely benefit from a mesh WiFi router:

  • three stories
  • unusual layouts
  • large floor plan
  • interior brick walls
  • particularly old walls
  • an extending shed or garage.

What are mesh WiFi boosters like to use? A Case Study

We asked one of our customers who has recently installed a mesh system how she has found the experience.

Mrs Blackburn has a three-story house. Under her old system with a single router on the first floor, she frequently found the connection to the top and bottom floors wasn’t good enough for work.

So, she bought and installed a mesh system to improve WiFi upstairs:

“I don’t even think about it now.” she explained. “Before, it was always buffering in the kitchen or upstairs, but now the house has the same speeds all over.”

We asked if she had any tips on how to set up a mesh network:

“Oh, plug-and-play. I plugged in the tower and two babies, set it all up with an app, and it was working! The best part is I can turn my son’s off at night.”

She adds, jokingly. “It’s a great way to solve one of life’s little frustrations instantly.”

If you want a better quality connection, why not see if you can join Airband’s network for a superfast and super reliable service?

Find out if you’re in range now using our broadband coverage checker.

If your broadband speed isn’t the problem (remember, you only need 2-3Mbps for streaming on catch-up players) find out how much broadband you need here.

It’s likely that the range of your WiFi router may not be quite strong enough to reach the room you’re in.

If you want to know how to extend WiFi signal at home, use these 8 ways!

8 Alternative ways to extend your WiFi Signal

  1. Boosters

We’ll start with boosters. As you look at your router, you’ll notice a little antenna screwed into the box itself. That’s the piece of equipment that provides the signal around the house.

You can very simply and very easily replace this with a bigger antenna; or a more directional one which you can position exactly as you need to.

If you find that you could do with boosting the wifi signal in all directions, for just a few pounds, you can buy an improved generic antenna.

This will improve the signal in all directions. With most antennas, it’s usually just a case of unscrew the old and screw in the new.

  1. Extenders

Extenders are great little pieces of equipment that essentially ‘catch’ the signal and then re-broadcast it (like an extra router). They’re a little bit more expensive and a little trickier to set up than a booster.

Once you’ve set it up, you can plug it in as far away from the router (within range) as you can get it and it’ll extend the range for you. The trickiest part of this is firstly, connecting it up to the network and secondly, finding the furthest position from the router possible.

  1. HomePlugs

HomePlugs are a really great way to extend your WiFi range; they’re a little bit more expensive than extenders and boosters but they really are just ‘plug in and go’.

They work by using the electric wiring of the house to carry the signal that they pick up and are a great piece of equipment. You must be aware that a lot of household appliances can interfere with the signal including light bulbs, so consider carefully where you plan on putting the HomePlug.

  1. Change channels

One simple way of improving the signal in the home is to change the wireless channels. On a new router the wireless channel is predetermined and in crowded residential areas often this can cause interference.

A tool called inSSIDer (which you can download from the web) can scan the area (picking up the channels most used in the area) and then show the least used channel.

The channel can then be changed on the router which is really easy to do.

  1. Router update

Routers are essentially mini computers and they run software. A lot of the time updating this can help eradicate any issues with connectivity and more often than not help with security. Firmware can be checked by using the router interface.

  1. Move your router

The wireless signal from a router can only transmit so far but thick walls can hinder the signal. Having the router in an attic or in the corner of the house can reduce the signal and bandwidth.

The most ideal position for a router is in the middle of the house. This ensures that the router can pick up every device in the home.

  1. Purchase a new router

Purchasing a new router might solve it, but it’s a more costly solution. But a router from 2009 or before would certainly need replacing as new standards for wireless technology have been launched and newer devices can handle the demands for online gaming and video streaming.

  1. Use a repeater

Most wireless router manufacturers also make repeater devices that forward on the signal to a larger area.

Sometimes they are a bit difficult to set up but the offer boosted signal in the area of that device. They generally are used to cover the “dead zones” in a house.

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