When we have problems with the Wi-Fi connection, something we usually do is buy a wireless repeater. It is a simple device that we place somewhere in the house and connects to the router to later distribute the signal to other devices. If you do a search, you will find a wide variety of devices. They are all going to promise the same thing: improve coverage and make the Internet go faster. However, not all of them will really work equally well. Therefore, we are going to explain to you what you should avoid when buying a repeater.
As with many other devices, having a poor quality Wi-Fi repeater can be a major problem. We may have limitations in connecting devices, having good speed and stability. It is always a good idea to check very carefully which one we are going to buy and install it correctly.
Maximum speed limited
The mistake is to buy a cheap wireless repeater, but not taking into account the maximum speed. Some may have a really limited speed, which will prevent you from connecting devices to the network and reaching something adequate, both downloading and uploading. For example, it is common to see repeaters limited to 300 Mbps, but there are even those with lower speeds.
What’s going on with this? Maybe you have a much higher contracted rate. You may even want to connect the devices by cable and you will find that they are limited to a maximum of 100 Mbps, since they are Fast Ethernet and do not have Gigabit Ethernet support. This is a problem to really take advantage of the contracted connection.
Therefore, it is a mistake to buy a Wi-Fi repeater without taking a good look at the maximum speed it offers. Something basic is that it be double bandso that you can use both the 2.4 GHz and the 5 GHz. The latter is the one that offers the highest speed, although it is the first that has the most coverage.
You have to look at the maximum speed it offers wirelessly, but also in case you connect via LAN cable. In the latter case, it is advisable to have Gigabit Ethernet port, since that means it will offer up to 1 Gbps speed. You will be able to make the most of your fiber optics, without restrictions.
Place the device well
Beyond avoiding buying a repeater that has a limited speed, it is advisable place it correctly. It is essential that you place it in a place where you will really take advantage of it. Otherwise, you may not even improve the signal and you will have problems connecting devices to the network.
Keep in mind that the repeater needs to connect to the router, so it is not a good idea to place it too far away. If the distance is very large, the signal will be too weak and you will not be able to connect correctly with your computer, mobile phone or any other device that you are going to use to browse.
It is interesting that you distance it from possible interference. For example, it is not a good idea to have other devices that use Bluetooth nearby. The reason is that, by also using the 2.4 GHz frequency, there may be conflict between them. It is best to place it in an isolated area, where it can distribute the signal well without interference.
As you can see, choosing the right Wi-Fi repeater is key. Don’t make the mistake of buying one with a very limited top speed. You would have problems using the connection in your daily life, for example to watch streaming content, download or use the cloud. You can see the differences between a Wi-Fi repeater and amplifier and choose what suits you best.
