Wi-Fi repeater

In short: A Wi-Fi repeater receives the signal of a Wi-Fi network and retransmits it to extend the range.

In more detail: It is placed between the router and the poorly covered area and connects wirelessly to the existing Wi-Fi. Devices in that area then connect to the repeater instead of the router. For the general principle see repeater.

In Depth

• Placement: where a good signal still arrives (for example halfway), not in the dead spot itself.
• Speed drawback: a repeater with a single radio must both receive and transmit. The data rate often drops to about half, and latency rises.
• Better solutions: a wired access point, a mesh system or powerline adapters.
• Convenient: setup is easy (often with a WPS button) and no new cable is needed.

See also: Wi-Fi amplifier, Wi-Fi