The RE220 never once dropped my connection, and its speeds were consistent across multiple days of tests during both daytime and evening hours.
#Usb wifi booster download#
Both offered steady Wi-Fi speed throughout my home, including average download speeds on the 5GHz band of at least 75Mbps in every room access point I tested, along with strong upload speeds. Plug it in and press the WPS button to pair it with your home network, and it'll begin broadcasting its own networks on the 2.4 and 5GHz bands. And, as of writing this, it costs even less than I paid for it - down to just $20 (just make sure to check the box that applies a coupon for an additional $2 off). This Wi-Fi extender is fast, it's reliable, it works with just about every Wi-Fi router out there, and it's easy to use. My only real criticism is that the RE505X creates its own, separate "EXT" version of your Wi-Fi network rather than melding in for a unified experience (unless you're using a TP-Link Archer A7 router) - but if that's a deal breaker, keep reading for a solid Wi-Fi network alternative.Īt $35, the TP-Link RE220 was the least expensive range extender during my first run of tests in 2020, but that didn't stop it from outperforming everything else I tested at every turn.
#Usb wifi booster full#
All of that Wi-Fi coverage - the fast download speeds, the sturdy upload speeds, the low latency - held true regardless of whether I was running my tests on an iPhone 12 Pro with full support for Wi-Fi 6 or on a dusty Dell laptop from 2015 with an aging Wi-Fi 5 radio.Ĭombine that with an idiot-proof setup and a wide roster of additional features in the app, and you're looking at my overall top range extender pick. I didn't see any ping problems, either, as latency stayed low throughout my tests. Average upload speeds in that dead zone sat comfortably above 50Mbps, too, which is fast enough for HD video calls and anything that involves a lot of uploading. The RE505X is about as consistent a performer as it gets, and powerful enough to offer average download speeds no lower than 140 megabits per second in any part of my home, where I have incoming fiber internet speeds of 300Mbps and a dead zone in the back where speeds typically plummet into single digits.
There's a growing number of those on the market and in our homes, so for most of us, Wi-Fi 6 is worth prioritizing at this point. Let's get right to them.Ĭurrently available for just $50, the TP-Link RE505X is one of the most affordable Wi-Fi range extenders that includes support for Wi-Fi 6, which means it supports faster, more efficient speeds for current-gen devices with the latest Wi-Fi radios. In the end, I found three clear range extender winners that outperformed the rest. Besides, if you're thinking of spending more than $100 or so on a fancier, tabletop wireless extender, you should really be thinking about replacing your router instead - more on that below. I've focused on plug-in range extenders because that's the most popular (and most affordable) style. Over the past year, I've tested 10 different range extenders here at my home in Louisville, Kentucky, and their performance has definitely varied. And if your home network demands the latest and greatest, you're in luck - our picks for the best Wi-Fi range extenders include models that support Wi-Fi 6, the newest and fastest generation of Wi-Fi.ĭon't start thinking these range extender things are interchangeable, though. In most cases, a wireless range extender doesn't even need to be the same brand as your router in order to work. They're easy to set up, too: Just pick a good spot, plug one in and press the WPS button to sync it with your main router. Wi-Fi range extenders give your network a boost by receiving the wireless signal from your router and rebroadcasting it farther into your home. In a pinch like that, a good Wi-Fi range extender might be what you need.
And if you're trying to connect from a back room, basement or anywhere that sits beyond your router's range, you know how much of a drag the dead zones can be.
It goes without saying that a dependable Wi-Fi connection is essential if you're working from home, gaming online, binging Netflix or keeping up with friends and family via video chat.
0 kommentar(er)
