Furthermore, while most devices that can work as universal repeaters are single-band only, the 920R is a dual-band AC1200-class product, so it will have an easier time dealing with the backhaul traffic (which really likes to halve the bandwidth). The DrayTek VigorAP 920R is one of the latest outdoor wireless access points from the Taiwanese manufacturer and it is part of a new series of devices which promises a high level of protection against the elements (it is IP67 certified), a point-to-point connectivity of up to 1.8 miles, a centralized management system which can monitor and configure multiple APs and routers and it offers multiple types of operating modes, including the Universal Repeater which makes it suitable for our current needs. One important element that you need to understand is that a range extender may halve your bandwidth if you use a single-band extender, but this problem can be alleviated to a certain degree having more bands available – you also have to take into account any walls in between these devices, as well as any outdoors-type interference (the access point connects to the router using a cable, but I doubt many would prefer to have cables running throughout the yard). So, I had a look at some ‘more universal’ solutions that could qualify as the best outdoor WiFi range extenders and I found that you should expect a rugged look (no more elegant designs with glossy finishes and internal antennas – instead, you’re most likely going to get larger, industrial-looking hardware with multiple external antennas), a better built quality, which should ensure the device’s survival in harsh external conditions (and, naturally, to have some sort of rating to justify it – such as IP67) and, quite possibly a higher cost (once again, because of the rugged exterior).įurthermore, I also noticed that some of these devices aren’t pure range extenders, but also function as access points or even as fully-fledged routers. UPDATE : The Mikrotik NetMetal ac2 has been added to the best wifi extender list. Sure enough, Netgear does offer a cool way to extend the signal from your house to your yard using the Orbi Outdoor Satellite, but this will keep you inside Netgear’s ecosystem (not that there’s anything bad about it, since the Orbi is a great WiFi system. ![]() In 2021, you get a plethora of options to cover a larger area with WiFi for both the consumers and the SMBs, which means that the dedicated wireless extender (or repeater) has lost some of its value and it was either swallowed by the access points or by the router which can now run in this specific mode if the user desires so.īut, while typically, you could go with a WiFi mesh system to remove any WiFi dead zones, since we’re talking about outdoors, things get a bit more complicated and there aren’t that many options available. Higher-end extenders won’t require this so it’s something to look out for.An outdoor WiFi range extender is a networking device which, as the name suggests, assumes the role of detecting an existing WiFi signal and extend it, so it can reach those difficult areas that your router is simply unable to cover. Some lower-end extenders require you to create a separate Wi-Fi network - like “Smith_EXT” - that you have to manually connect to every time you walk through that part of the house.Some models allow you to plug in an Ethernet cable and connect it back to your main router, which is the best possible option as long as your home allows for it.You can alleviate some of this with a “tri-band” extender - like the Netgear EX7500 - which dedicates an antenna to communicate with your router (which is known as “backhaul”).The extension of the signal takes a bite out of its speed, in other words. “You have signal where you need it, but it can be half (and sometimes less) the speed you think you have,” explains Dionicio. And depending on the extender, the wireless signal solution comes with a few downsides: namely, the signal might be slower. Should you get a wireless range extender?Ĭompared with mesh Wi-Fi setups (which we’ll get to below), extenders are a bit more clunky to set up since they don’t integrate as seamlessly with the router. Instead, the extender just repeats the signal, acting as a middleman between your router and your computer, smartphone, TV, or whatever else you’ve got on your home network. ![]() “The router isn’t aware of the range extender.” “A range extender regenerates a signal from your router,” explains Rowell Dionicio, managing director of Packet6 and a Certified Wireless Networking Expert. You’ve probably heard of range extenders before: they’re those little plug-in devices that help broaden - or extend - the coverage of your home network. Shopping How to buy an indoor plant - and keep it alive What is a Wi-Fi range extender?
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