A WiFi repeater is used whenever you want to increase the range of an existing WiFi network or prevent disruptions. WiFi repeaters offer a simple, fast, effective, and cost-effective solution for this purpose. In many cases, you can easily plug them into an electrical outlet and start using them immediately through automated installation and connection to the router. WiFi repeaters are available starting from 20 euros, and more expensive repeaters offer numerous additional features.
Even powerful WiFi routers can quickly reach their limits due to environmental factors such as thick walls, ceilings, furniture, or metallic interference. If you want to surf the internet in another floor or in the garden and encounter a weak or unstable signal, a WiFi repeater can provide a solution. Ideally, the repeater is installed halfway between the router and the end device. Repeaters with an external power supply have the advantage of being positioned independently of the power outlet in the ideal location, such as on a piece of furniture, allowing for range extensions of 100 meters or more.
To fully exploit the advantages of a WiFi repeater, it should be placed approximately in the middle between the WiFi router and the end device. In a three-story house, for example, this would be the first floor if the router is usually located on the ground floor, and you still want a good and secure internet connection on the second floor. Additionally, you can connect additional phones with different numbers to a repeater if you have VOIP numbers available. The repeater option is clearly preferable to the effort of laying cables throughout the house for logistical reasons alone. The ideal location can also be determined by measuring the radio waves. It is important that the repeater still has a sufficiently good reception to process and securely transmit the signal.
Although a WiFi repeater can usually double the range in the right location, it is important to be aware that transmission rates are halved because it cannot simultaneously send and receive on a frequency band. However, this problem can be mitigated, for example, if both the router and the repeater can transmit on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, allowing both channels to be used simultaneously. In multi-family homes or large cities, it may be useful to use the less crowded 5 GHz frequency band to achieve faster transmission rates.
For those who want to optimize their WiFi repeater, automatic installation can be skipped in favor of manual setup. Although it takes a bit longer, it ensures that all the functions of the device can be used well, as more expensive WiFi repeaters can usually do more than just extend the range. For installation, you initially need the IP address of the repeater, which is either pre-assigned at the factory or distributed by a DHCP server. By entering this address in the browser, you gain access to the repeater. It is crucial that not only secure encryption of data between the router and the WiFi repeater exists but also that the WPA2 standard is set for the connection between the repeater and the end device. Additionally, the SSID, the device identification, should be replaced with a unique name, as it is usually identical to the manufacturer's device number by default. Hackers can easily exploit this, gaining access to the network through the WiFi repeater. The same applies, of course, to the WiFi router. The new SSIDs of the router and repeater should not be identical to avoid unintentional connection to the router instead of the repeater by the end device, causing unwanted interference due to the weak signal.
As there is a wide price range for WiFi repeaters, they also have different features. Cheaper models usually do not have an external power supply, as manufacturing costs would otherwise increase. However, if there are no major interference factors in your house, you can confidently opt for the budget-friendly option that easily plugs into a free power outlet. More expensive WiFi repeaters also have a digital display, making setup and configuration easier. If you don't need that, you can perform installation and other settings easily via the PC.
By the way, almost all WiFi repeaters have the so-called RJ45 socket, through which devices without WiFi functionality can be integrated into the WiFi network via an Ethernet cable. If multiple devices can be connected through a switch, the repeater even acts as a WiFi bridge. The small WiFi repeaters are indeed versatile. The decision for the price range ultimately depends not only on the budget but also on the requirements imposed by both yourself and the existing environmental conditions on the device. However, both expensive and inexpensive WiFi repeaters equally fulfill their purpose of significantly extending the range of the WiFi network. The investment is worthwhile and can save a lot of frustration during relaxed internet surfing.