Antenna Handbook

How to Make Your Wi-Fi Suck Less While Working From Home ?

 Here are some tips on how to make your Wi-Fi suck less while working from home, with images:

  1. Place your router in a central location. This will help to ensure that the signal is strong throughout your home.
  2. Avoid placing your router near metal objects or appliances. These can interfere with the signal.
  3. Update your router's firmware. This can help to improve performance and security.
  4. Use a Wi-Fi extender or mesh system. This can help to boost the signal and extend the reach of your Wi-Fi network.
  5. Connect to a 5 GHz network. 5 GHz networks are faster and less crowded than 2.4 GHz networks.
  6. Use a wired connection if possible. A wired connection is always faster and more reliable than a wireless connection.

Here are some additional tips that may help:

  • Check for other devices that may be interfering with your Wi-Fi signal. This could include cordless phones, microwaves, and baby monitors.
  • Try changing the channel on your router. This can help to reduce interference from other routers in your area.
  • Use a VPN if you are working with sensitive data. A VPN can help to encrypt your traffic and protect it from unauthorized access.

I hope these tips help you to improve your Wi-Fi performance while working from home.

How we picked the best Wi-Fi booster ?

 When we picked the best Wi-Fi boosters, we considered the following factors:

  • Speed: We wanted to find boosters that could deliver fast speeds, even in areas with weak Wi-Fi signals.
  • Range: We also wanted to find boosters that could extend the range of Wi-Fi networks, so that more devices could connect to the internet.
  • Compatibility: We made sure to choose boosters that were compatible with a wide range of routers and devices.
  • Ease of use: We wanted to find boosters that were easy to set up and use, even for people who are not familiar with networking terms.
  • Price: We wanted to find boosters that offered good value for money.

Based on these factors, we selected the following Wi-Fi boosters as our top picks:

  • TP-Link RE705X AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Range Extender: This is a great option for homes with large areas to cover or for those who need the fastest possible speeds. It supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology and can deliver speeds of up to 3 Gbps. It also has a built-in Ethernet port for wired connections.
  • Asus RP-AX56 AX1800 Wi-Fi 6 Range Extender: This is another great option for homes with large areas to cover. It supports Wi-Fi 6 technology and can deliver speeds of up to 1.8 Gbps. It also has a few extra features that some users may find useful, such as a built-in VPN server and support for AiMesh, which allows you to create a mesh Wi-Fi network with other Asus routers.
  • Netgear Nighthawk X4 AC2200 WiFi Range Extender: This is a more affordable option that is still a good choice for most homes. It supports the older AC Wi-Fi standard, but it can still deliver speeds of up to 1.3 Gbps. It also has a few extra features, such as a built-in power outlet and a signal light that shows you the strength of the signal.
  • Linksys RE7000 Max-Stream AC1900+ Wi-Fi Range Extender: This is a good option for homes with thick walls or other obstacles that can interfere with Wi-Fi signals. It has a powerful signal booster that can extend the range of your Wi-Fi network by up to 1500 square feet.

These are just a few of the many great Wi-Fi boosters on the market. When choosing a booster, it is important to consider your specific needs and budget.

How do Wi-Fi extenders work?

Here is an illustration of how a Wi-Fi extender works:

The Wi-Fi extender (shown in blue) has two antennas. One antenna receives the signal from the router (shown in green). The other antenna rebroadcasts the signal, extending its range.

The devices (shown in red) that are connected to the Wi-Fi network will connect to the extender, which will then connect to the router. This way, the devices can still access the internet even if they are in a location where the signal from the router is weak.

The Wi-Fi extender is usually placed in a location that is halfway between the router and the area where the signal is weak. This will help to ensure that the signal from the extender is strong enough to reach all of the devices that need to connect to the internet.

Here are some of the factors to consider when choosing a Wi-Fi extender:

  • The size of your home or office
  • The number of devices that will be using the Wi-Fi network
  • The type of Wi-Fi technology that your router supports
  • Your budget

It is also important to place the Wi-Fi extender in a central location that is in range of your router and the devices that need to connect to the internet.

Here are some of the benefits of using a Wi-Fi extender:

  • Improved Wi-Fi coverage: A Wi-Fi extender can extend the range of your Wi-Fi network, so you can get a better signal in areas that are currently weak or dead zones.
  • Reduced buffering: A Wi-Fi extender can help to reduce buffering when streaming videos or playing online games.
  • More devices can connect: A Wi-Fi extender can allow more devices to connect to your Wi-Fi network at the same time.
  • Less interference: A Wi-Fi extender can help to reduce interference from other devices, such as microwaves and cordless phones.

Here are some of the drawbacks of using a Wi-Fi extender:

  • Can slow down the network: A Wi-Fi extender can slow down the network, especially if it is not located in a central location.
  • Can add latency: A Wi-Fi extender can add latency to the network, which can make it feel slower.
  • Can be complicated to set up: Some Wi-Fi extenders can be complicated to set up, especially if you are not familiar with networking terms.

Overall, Wi-Fi extenders are a great way to improve the coverage and performance of your Wi-Fi network. However, it is important to choose the right extender for your needs and to place it in a central location.

The 10 Best Wi-Fi Extender and Signal Booster

 Here are the 10 best Wi-Fi extenders and signal boosters in 2023:

  1. TP-Link RE715X AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Range Extender: This is a great option for homes with large areas to cover or for those who need the fastest possible speeds. It supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology and can deliver speeds of up to 3 Gbps. It also has a built-in Ethernet port for wired connections.
  2. Asus RP-AX56 AX1800 Wi-Fi 6 Range Extender: This is another great option for homes with large areas to cover. It supports Wi-Fi 6 technology and can deliver speeds of up to 1.8 Gbps. It also has a few extra features that some users may find useful, such as a built-in VPN server and support for AiMesh, which allows you to create a mesh Wi-Fi network with other Asus routers.
  3. Netgear Nighthawk X4 AC2200 WiFi Range Extender: This is a more affordable option that is still a good choice for most homes. It supports the older AC Wi-Fi standard, but it can still deliver speeds of up to 1.3 Gbps. It also has a few extra features, such as a built-in power outlet and a signal light that shows you the strength of the signal.
  4. Linksys RE7000 Max-Stream AC1900+ Wi-Fi Range Extender: This is a good option for homes with thick walls or other obstacles that can interfere with Wi-Fi signals. It has a powerful signal booster that can extend the range of your Wi-Fi network by up to 1500 square feet.
  5. TP-Link RE605X AX1800 Wi-Fi 6 Extender: This is a budget-friendly Wi-Fi 6 extender that can deliver speeds of up to 1.8 Gbps. It is a good option for smaller homes or for those who are looking to save money.
  6. Google Wifi Wi-Fi System: This is a mesh Wi-Fi system that can provide whole-home coverage. It is easy to set up and use, and it can deliver speeds of up to 5 Gbps.
  7. Eero Pro 6E Wi-Fi System: This is another mesh Wi-Fi system that is designed to provide whole-home coverage. It supports the latest Wi-Fi 6E standard and can deliver speeds of up to 10 Gbps.
  8. Netgear Orbi RBK852 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh System: This is a high-performance mesh Wi-Fi system that can deliver speeds of up to 4.2 Gbps. It is a good option for large homes or for those who need the fastest possible speeds.
  9. TP-Link Deco X60 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh System: This is a budget-friendly mesh Wi-Fi system that can deliver speeds of up to 2.4 Gbps. It is a good option for smaller homes or for those who are looking to save money.
  10. AmpliFi Alien Wi-Fi System: This is a high-end mesh Wi-Fi system that is designed for gamers and other demanding users. It can deliver speeds of up to 5.4 Gbps and has a dedicated gaming band that can reduce lag.

The best Wi-Fi mesh system: Eero 6

 The best Wi-Fi mesh system is subjective and depends on your individual needs and budget. However, the Eero 6 is a great option for many people. It is a high-performance mesh Wi-Fi system that supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard. It is designed to provide fast and reliable Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home, even in large or complex layouts.

Here are some of the pros and cons of the Eero 6:

Pros:

  • Fast and reliable performance
  • Supports Wi-Fi 6
  • Easy to set up and manage
  • Good range and coverage
  • Secure
  • Parental controls
  • Guest network

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • No Ethernet backhaul
  • No built-in Zigbee hub

Overall, the Eero 6 is a great Wi-Fi mesh system that offers a lot of features and performance. However, it is also one of the more expensive options on the market.

Here are some other great Wi-Fi mesh systems to consider:

  • Google Nest Wifi: This is a mesh Wi-Fi system that is easy to set up and manage. It offers good performance and coverage, and it also includes a built-in speaker.
  • TP-Link Deco X60: This is a budget-friendly mesh Wi-Fi system that offers good performance and coverage. It is easy to set up and manage, and it also includes a few advanced features, such as parental controls and guest networking.
  • Asus ZenWifi XT8: This is a high-performance mesh Wi-Fi system that offers excellent coverage and performance. It is also easy to set up and manage, and it includes a few advanced features, such as support for VPNs and traffic prioritization.
  • Netgear Orbi RBK852: This is a high-performance mesh Wi-Fi system that is designed for large homes. It offers excellent coverage and performance, and it also includes a few advanced features, such as support for voice control and parental controls.

The best mesh system for you will depend on your individual needs and budget. Consider the factors that are important to you, such as performance, coverage, ease of setup, and features, when making your decision.