Wi-Fi connection from a router has a certain coverage area up to which you will get strong signals. As you go away from the router, the signals become weak, and the internet connection becomes poor. That is when we need to amplify the Wi-Fi signal and increase the coverage area and to do this, Wi-Fi repeaters and extenders come into the scene. Many people consider a Wi-Fi extender and repeater as the same, but they are quite different in many parameters. This article comprehensively illustrates the working and difference between these two devices.
What is a Wi-Fi Extender?
A Wi-Fi extender is a Wi-Fi signal boosting device that extends Wi-Fi signal for further coverage. However, it is quite different from a Wi-Fi repeater as it connects to the router via Ethernet or coaxial cable. It is very similar to adding another router in the region where the Wi-Fi signal is close to dead. From that dead zone, it extends the Wi-Fi signal for a wider coverage area.
How Does it Work?
A Wi-Fi extender works by connecting to a router through Ethernet or coaxial cable. It does not amplify or strengthen the Wi-Fi signal. It only extends the coverage area of the Wi-Fi signal by getting connectivity directly from the router. It broadcasts its own signal through external antennas present. It is not rebroadcasting, and hence, it is more like having another router at your place. Since it transmits its own signal, it has its own Wi-Fi network name(SSID).
In a Wi-Fi repeater, the disadvantage is the reduction in bandwidth by 50%. However, with Wi-fi extender, there is no such reduction in bandwidth as it connects to the router via wire. As a matter of fact, there is also no more weakening in the transmission of signal from router to extender due to the presence of thick walls or wave interference. However, it is true that the latest extenders may not require a wired connection, but there are distinct advantages of a wired connection, as stated previously.
What is a Wi-Fi Repeater?
A Wi-Fi repeater is a Wi-Fi signal boosting device that extends the coverage range of Wi-Fi signal. It comes with antennas that get Wi-Fi signals from your router and rebroadcasts them over a wider coverage range. You have to place the Wi-Fi repeater at a place where you have a strong enough Wi-Fi signal. If you place it in an area where the Wi-Fi signal is weak, it will not be able to rebroadcast.
Not just that, the repeater has to be compatible with the router. Most of the routers comply with 802.11 or 802.11aa protocols. The repeater has to comply with the same protocol for perfect compatibility. On top of that, the security encryption needs to be compatible for seamless functioning. As an example, an old repeater having WEP or WPA encryption signal will not be compatible with a modern router having WPA2 encryption signal.
How Does it Work?
To make a Wi-Fi repeater work, you have to plug it in an outlet where you are getting Wi-Fi signal from your router. The signal strength has to be at least 50%. The more the signal strength, the better will be the rebroadcasting of the signal, and the greater will be the coverage area.
A Wi-Fi repeater works by creating a second network other than the network that is already created by the router. However, in the process of creating a new network, it cuts the network’s capacity in half.
While rebroadcasting, it is receiving and retransmitting data frames, and hence, double the amount of data frames are in use. This is cutting the bandwidth of the network by nearly 50%. Therefore, the connection can get very slow when you use the network to transfer large files due to the halving of existing bandwidth already.
Wi-Fi Repeater Vs Extender: Comparison Table
Even though the purpose of both the devices appears to be the same, their working process is different, and we have already illustrated it. You need the devices to get a wider coverage area for your router’s Wi-Fi signal. You connect the Wi-Fi repeater to the router wireless, whereas the Wi-Fi extender needs a wired connection. You have to place the repeater at a place where the existing Wi-Fi signal has 50% strength. In contrast, you can place the extender in a dead zone where the signal strength of the existing Wi-Fi signal from the router is weaker. Here is the list of all the differences between a Wi-Fi repeater and Wi-Fi extender.
| Parameters | Wi-Fi Repeater | Wi-Fi Extender |
| Purpose | Boosts Wi-Fi signal strength | Boosts Wi-Fi coverage range |
| Signal Amplification | Yes | No |
| Bandwidth | Cuts down by nearly 50% | Stays the same |
| Connection | Wireless | Wired |
| Interference Effect | Yes | No |
| Working in Dead Zone | Not possible | Possible and Very effective |
| Configuration | Very Easy | Not Easy |
| Pricing | Less Expensive | More Expensive |
Which is Best for Your Home?
The first thing you need to do is select a router as powerful as possible to get a wide coverage range. If you have already bought the router, you need to check its coverage area and find out the dead zones. The dead zones are places where the signal strength is almost zero, and the internet connection is very slow.
Now, if you see that the Wi-Fi signal from the router covers most of the rooms of your home or office, a Wi-Fi repeater should be perfect for covering the rest of the area. Moreover, if you find that the dead zones are not very far from the boundaries of your working premises where you need the internet, a Wi-Fi repeater should suffice.
However, if the coverage is not half of your home or office and you need to extend the coverage in different floors and rooms separated by thick walls, a Wi-Fi extender is a better option. As a matter of fact, if the dead zones are relatively far away from your working zones where internet connection is a must, you need a Wi-Fi range extender.
Apart from that, if you need higher bandwidth, you should buy a range extender as a repeater cuts down the bandwidth significantly. Therefore, under normal circumstances, your first preference should be a Wi-Fi repeater if the range extension needed is not very wide and there is very little interference. This is because a repeater is cost-effective and easy to set up. If a repeater does not suffice your requirements, a Wi-Fi extender should be your automatic choice.
The general observation is that a Wi-Fi repeater is perfect for homeowners unless the home is a mansion. The Wi-Fi extenders are more for offices and commercial workplaces.
Also Check: Eero vs Google Wifi
Conclusion
Hopefully, you have understood the differences between both network boosting devices. Many people call both the devices as Wi-Fi boosters as they know that their purposes are the same. There is no point in buying a Wi-Fi extender spending more money and time in setting it up when a Wi-Fi repeater can get the job done for you.
