Whole Home Wi-Fi: Utilizing Repeaters, Extenders or Mesh

The good news is that you’ve got options for your current setup. Here's a closer look at repeaters, extenders, and mesh, and how to set them up—plus some additional tips and tricks for boosting your Wi-Fi.

Wi-Fi repeater vs. extender: What’s the difference?

Though the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, there are actually a couple of differences between a Wi-Fi repeater and a Wi-Fi extender. Depending on what you actually need your device to do, there are a few different things to look for in a Wi-Fi repeater vs. extender.

Wi-Fi repeater

Also referred to as a network repeater, a Wi-Fi repeater connects to your home Wi-Fi network wirelessly and then rebroadcasts the signal throughout a larger area. Wi-Fi repeaters connect to your Wi-Fi network just like any other device, such as a mobile phone or laptop would. So, they’re an option if, say, a guest network on your Wi-Fi won’t quite reach a guest room and there is no way to move your router to get a better signal.

Though Wi-Fi repeaters are generally a cost-effective solution, one drawback is the fact that they will also reduce the overall bandwidth of your network since they are also using data. This could mean that speeds for other devices are reduced, which could mean some lag in video games or buffering on streaming video. The good news is that setting up a Wi-Fi repeater is a pretty simple process.

How to set up a Wi-Fi repeater

Setting up a Wi-Fi repeater is relatively straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

Plug in the repeater
- Make sure your router is up and running.
- Find an electrical outlet midway between your router and the area where you need the boost and plug. (Ideally, it should be within 20 feet of your router). Make sure there’s no obstruction between the repeater and the router for the best connection.
- Plug the repeater into the outlet.
Power on the repeater
- Once plugged in, turn on the device (if there’s a power switch). You should see some indicator lights—typically, a power light will turn on first, followed by a Wi-Fi signal light.
Connect to the repeater’s Wi-Fi network
- On your phone, tablet, or computer, open the Wi-Fi settings and look for the repeater’s network.
Access the repeater’s setup page
- Select the repeater’s network (likely the brand name or something like “EXT”), connect to it, and follow the prompts.
- You may be asked to log in with a default username and password. This information is usually in your manual or printed on your device.
Select your home Wi-Fi network
- The repeater setup page will prompt you to choose your home Wi-Fi network from a list of available networks.
- Select your network and enter your Wi-Fi password. This will allow the repeater to connect to your router.
- After entering your settings, save the changes.
Test the connection
- Test the Wi-Fi signal strength in the areas where you were having issues, and make sure the repeater is improving the signal. You should notice a stronger connection in the areas that were once Wi-Fi dead zones.
Re-position the repeater, if needed
- If you’re not happy with the signal strength, try out different locations until you get the best coverage.

Wi-Fi extender

A Wi-Fi extender works similarly to a Wi-Fi repeater. It picks up a signal from your router and re-broadcasts that signal across a larger area than a standard router can cover. However, range extenders rebroadcast on a different channel than the channel used by your home Wi-Fi router. And while Wi-Fi extenders can rebroadcast wirelessly, many can also hardwire to your router using an ethernet or coaxial cable. While wired connections have their obvious drawbacks, this may be a solution if you have an area in your home where a wireless repeater can’t boost the signal enough to stream or game.

A few other drawbacks: wireless extenders sometimes cost more than Wi-Fi repeaters, plus they are a bit more difficult to set up and configure since you need to create a new network, whereas a repeater simply rebroadcasts the signal.

There are also long-range Wi-Fi extenders, which work in the same way the above devices do. However, a top-of-the-line long-range Wi-Fi extender will give your signal a much bigger boost than a standard one, as it can be mounted to a pole outside your home. It connects to your home router via ethernet cable and then rebroadcasts Wi-Fi signal over a much wider area—for areas like a separate workshop, guest house, pool house or any out-building that you’d like to connect to without buying a second plan and new hardware. While setting up a Wi-Fi extender is slightly more difficult, it’s still a pretty straightforward process.

How to set up a Wi-Fi extender

The steps for setting up a Wi-Fi extender are a little more in-depth than a repeater, but with the right instructions, you can get it up and running quickly. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Plug in the extender
- Make sure your router is up and running.
- Find an electrical outlet halfway between your router and the area with a weak signal (just like with the repeater). The extender needs to be close enough to the router to receive a stable signal but far enough to extend that signal to the dead-zone area.
- Plug the extender into the power outlet.
Power on the extender
- Turn on the extender (if it doesn’t power on automatically). Wait for the lights to stabilize. You should see a power light, and maybe an indicator showing that it’s trying to connect to your network.
Connect to the extender’s network
- On your phone, tablet, or computer, go to the Wi-Fi settings and select the name of the extender’s network (likely the brand name or something like “EXT”).
Access the setup page
- Once connected, follow the prompts to continue setup in a browser.
Choose Your Wi-Fi network
- On the setup page, you will see a list of available Wi-Fi networks. Choose your home Wi-Fi network from this list.
- Select your network and enter your Wi-Fi password. This will allow the repeater to connect to your router.
Configure extender settings
- At this stage, you’ll have options to either use the same Wi-Fi name as your main network or create a new name for the extender’s Wi-Fi network (e.g., “Carlos Wi-Fi EXT”).
- After entering your settings, save the changes.
Test the connection
- Test the Wi-Fi signal strength in your trouble areas. If it’s in a good spot, you should see better speeds and fewer dropped connections.
Move the extender, if needed
- If you’re unhappy with your signal, experiment with different spots until you get better coverage.

Mesh Wi-Fi

Like extenders and repeaters, a mesh system is another option for the “bad signal” problem, but it works and performs differently. Mesh Wi-Fi actually replaces the single-router setup and instead utilizes multiple “nodes” (access points) around your home to give you better coverage and eliminate dead zones and buffering. The nodes communicate with each other wirelessly, letting your devices connect to the access points with the strongest signals, delivering more consistent and reliable coverage.

Plus, instead of just repeating or extending a signal, mesh automatically reroutes traffic to avoid congestion and boost performance. It’s particularly good for homes with multiple levels, as well as larger homes (3,000+ square feet) or homes that just have a lot of obstacles affecting their Wi-Fi signals. Mesh also offers a more flexible setup, as you can add or remove nodes as your coverage needs change. Another benefit: you no longer have to deal with multiple networks with different names and passwords.

How to set up a mesh system

If you’re a T-Mobile 5G All-In Internet customer, your gateway and mesh access point are optimized to work together, so you only download one simple app, the T Life app, to set it up. The app will also help you find the perfect location for your access point. From the app’s home page, scroll down to your home internet settings to begin.

If you’re buying and setting up your mesh system on your own, you may need to download and use multiple apps (one for the mesh router, one for the mesh node) and try to figure out the best spot to put it all. Here are some helpful steps to follow:

Decide how many nodes you need in advance
- This will depend on your home size, setup, and the number of floors you have, as well as the mesh system you purchase, since coverage varies from system to system. Here’s a very rough estimate based on your home size:
  - 1,000 square feet or less = 1 mesh router
  - 1,000 to 2,500 square feet = 1 mesh router + 1 mesh node
  - 2,500 to 3,500 square feet = 1 mesh router + 2 mesh nodes, and so on.
Plug your mesh router into your modem and power it on.
Download your manufacturer’s app and follow the instructions.
Find the right location for your node(s).
- This will be an area between your router, and the weak Wi-Fi signal area. It also needs to be near a power outlet. Make sure it is in an open space and away from obstructions. Choose areas that are:
  - Away from devices that may cause interference.
  - Not behind TVs and monitors.
  - Not behind walls or obstructions.
  - Not behind heavy-duty appliances or electronics such as microwave ovens and baby monitors.
  - Not behind metal fixtures, enclosures, cabinets, reinforced concrete, or pipes.
Test your coverage
- Walk around your home with a device to check that you're getting good coverage in all areas.
Re-position node(s), if needed
- Move your node (or nodes) to different places around your home until you find the best coverage.

Other ways to maximize your Wi-Fi signal

If you’re not sure whether you need a Wi-Fi repeater, extender, or mesh, there are a few things you can do to boost signal to your home before purchasing a new device or system. Here are a few ideas:

Run a speed test

Make sure you’re getting the internet speeds you pay your provider for. If you think your internet is slower than it should be, there are plenty of free websites that can conduct quick, easy upload and download speed tests.

Use the correct frequency

When you look at your Wi-Fi network, you might see a 2.4 Ghz and a 5 Ghz option. These numbers actually have different purposes. While a 2.4 GHz connection travels farther at lower speeds, 5 GHz frequencies provide faster speeds at shorter ranges. So, if you need to use your laptop on the second or third story, choosing the 2.4 Ghz might make the most sense. However, if you need to stream movies from the same location, lower internet speeds might interfere with your streaming experience.

Move your router

Though it can be tempting to hide your router behind books or under a desk, doing so can actually interfere with the reach of your signal. A Wi-Fi signal is limited by distance but also by obstacles, like thick walls, floors, bookshelves, and other obstructions. If it is at all possible, experiment with different router locations until you find a better signal.

Update firmware

Just like browsers, apps and operating systems have to be updated and restarted every now and then for new security features and upgrades to service. Routers should also be manually updated every now and then. Since routers usually don’t update automatically, it’s very possible for some to be years out of date, which can affect performance and the strength of your signal. To update your firmware, log into the control panel or use your router’s mobile app (if it has one) to find details, then check regularly to keep your router up to date.

Break up with your internet provider

If you've tried everything and you're still not getting the internet speed you need—it may just be time to shop around for a new internet service provider that better fits your home's connectivity needs.

T-Mobile is America’s fastest growing Home Internet provider. Find out if it's available in your area and then try it out for 15 days to see if it works for you. Want to save even more money? Bundle Home Internet with a phone plan on America’s largest 5G network and get both at a great price.

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