A Wi-Fi signal booster can significantly enhance the range of your wireless network. In this article, I present the best ones available in the market right now.
If your home wireless network has blind spots, where there is no Wi-Fi signal, what you need to install is a signal booster. Even if you want to extend the range of your wireless network, beyond its existing limits, the best way of doing so, is installing the range extender.
Choosing One
There are hundreds of wireless range extenders, for you to choose from. The question is, which one should you choose and why. What should you look out for when choosing an extender? Ensure that the booster is compatible with your existing computer setup and wireless networking equipment, including the router. Opt for a wireless ‘N’ range extender, which provides the highest data transmission speed. Extra Ethernet ports, indicators to determine optimum range position, and warranty offered are the other features you should look for.
These boosters are signal repeaters or amplifiers. They receive the signal from Wi-Fi routers, amplify it, and retransmit it further. Installing them is one of the best ways to boost Wi-Fi signals and combat dead zones. Let us now take a look at the best products in the market.
Best Signal Boosters
While choosing the best Wi-Fi range extenders, I have looked for products, which have an excellent combination of features, are easy to use, and are reasonably priced. Here are the three that caught my eye.
ERB9250 11N 300MB 11N Range Extender Removable Antenna
Providing a phenomenal 300 MB data transmission speed, this wireless signal booster from EnGenius technologies is one of the best and most reasonably priced products in the market. Providing substantial range improvement, this booster comes with a single Ethernet port for easy download. Compatible with wireless 802.11 n/b/g standard based equipment, this one provides the latest WPA2 encryption. With all these features, the ERB9250 will cost you only USD 47.88. The price offers one more reason to prefer this product, over all others.
Hawking HWREN1 Hi-Gain Wireless-300N Range Extender
Known to double the existing range of any wireless network, the Hawking HWREN1 range extender is one of the top products in the market. Compatible with Wireless 802.11n/b/g networking equipment, it’s the best solution, if you are looking to eliminate dead spots in your home or office network. The Hawking HWREN1 will cost you USD 68.99, if you buy it on Amazon.
Netgear Universal Wi-Fi Range Extender
With a discounted price of USD 69.99 on Amazon, this Netgear signal booster is one of the best products in the market, with strikingly positive reviews from users. It is based on the 802.11n wireless networking standard and is backward compatible with routers based on earlier standards.
It comes with four Ethernet ports and can be connected with routers and gateways to boost signal strength and extend range. It comes with a real time link rate LED, which helps you choose the best spot for maximum coverage range. It provides WEP and WPA2 encryption, like a router, which ensures secure communication. The installation of this piece of equipment is very easy and it’s a highly recommended product. Here are some that you might want to check out:
- D-Link DAP-1360 Wireless N Range Extender (USD 69.36)
- Cisco-Linksys Wireless-G Range Expander WRE54G (USD 89.95)
- Hawking HiGain Signal Booster version 2 – HSB2 (USD 66.98)
Using any one of these boosters, you can easily extend the range of your existing wireless network. With the booster installed, you can say goodbye to Wi-Fi blind spots and weak signal problems. Go for 802.11n wireless networking standard based boosters, which provide you with high data transmission speeds and strong signal power amplification. Choose one which perfectly fits your budget and requirements.