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Tom's Guide
7 days ago
- Tom's Guide
Linksys RE7350 review: a simple yet slow, app-free Wi-Fi extender
Wi-Fi Spec: AX1800Number of Antennas/Removable: 2/NoPorts: NonePeak 802.11ax performance: 203.7 Mbps (10 feet from extender)Range: 110 feetSize: 5.2 x 3.9 x 1.8 inchesEstimated Annual Electricity Cost: $8.80 While its speeds couldn't match the best in the business, the Linksys RE7350 is an inexpensive way to extend a wireless network to fill in Wi-Fi blank areas. It goes the extra Wi-Fi mile with excellent range and more customization choices than many of the best Wi-Fi extenders but lacks access to the 6 GHz band as it only supports Wi-Fi 6. Rather than a convenient app, the RE7350 requires using a connected browser to set it up and make changes. Still, it could be an effective way to cover your entire house with Wi-Fi on a budget. See how it matches up with the best. With a list price of $130, the Linksys RE7350 can be had for as little as $70 at a variety of online stores, like Amazon. That's about one-third the price of some of its competitors. It's been designed to add coverage for 2,000 square feet to a network. The monolithic Linksys RE7350 is a dead ringer for the previous RE7310 model, although it's been significantly upgraded. At 5.2 x 3.9 x 1.8 inches, it's shorter and thicker than the TP-Link RE655BE and is available only in white. The back's two-prong AC plug goes right into a wall outlet and the unit leaves room for an additional plug. Alternatively, it can sit on its own with power coming from an extension cord. There isn't an on/off switch but the RE7350 has buttons on the side for resetting the device and starting up the Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) procedure for a quickie installation. On the bottom is a gigabit per second Ethernet port for connecting a computer, printer, storage device or other networked appliance. It's a lot slower than the RE655BE's 2.5 Gbps port and the extender does without a USB port for a connected storage drive. The RE7350's front is dominated by an LED bar that shows its status and connections. Using Linksys Spot Finder technology, the light glows blue when it's connected and working fine. If it turns orange, it means that the extender is offline. There's no way to turn the light off though. Using our real world testing protocol and the Keysight IxChariot networking benchmark set up to simulate 10 data-hungry users, the RE7350 proved to be a reliable way to extend a Wi-Fi 6 network in my 3,500 square foot home. It was able to push a connection from the Netgear Nighthawk RS600 router into previously uncovered areas of the house. That said, the RE7350's overall performance lagged behind the others I tested although it had excellent range. With the Nighthawk RS600 router 40 feet from the RE7350 and the Acer Swift Edge 16 Wi-Fi 7 notebook next to it, the extender yielded a throughput of 203.5 Mbps, about half what other Wi-Fi 6 extenders deliver. At the more reasonable distance of 10 feet, the throughput rose slightly to 203.7 Mbps. Good, but well below competitors like the Wi-Fi 7 RE655BE's 719.5 Mbps result or the Wi-Fi 6 RP-AX58's 490.2 Mbps. When the repeater was set up at 40 feet from the router, the extender only exchanged 80.6 Mbps, well at the back of the pack. It had a 110 foot range that was only beaten by the RP-AX58 extender. Asus RP-AX58 Linksys RE7350 Netgear EAX17 TP-Link RE655BE 10 feet 490.2 Mbps 203.7 Mbps 383.1 Mbps 719.5 Mbps 40 feet 201.1 Mbps 80.6 Mbps 197.9 Mbps 376.7 Mbps The RE7350 was able to send emails, stream 4K videos and play music on connected devices but it lacks power-conservation settings to cut its 6.3 watt power draw. This translates into an annual power bill of roughly $8.80 if it's left on 24/7 and you pay the national average of 16 cents per kilowatt hour of electricity. Over two weeks of daily use, its passive cooling worked well, with the RE7350 never getting over 96.3 degrees Fahrenheit. The hot spot was at the top. Rated to handle Wi-Fi 6 transmissions, the dual-band extender uses 2x2 streams to move data over the 2.4 and 5 GHz data bands. It carries an AX1800 throughput rating, although it lacks the ability to tap into 6 GHz networks or 320MHz data channels. The RE7350 can work as an access point or extender and takes advantage of the Wi-Fi 6 to the fullest. In addition to using beamforming, the extender works with 1024 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) and MU-MIMO. It can connect up to 20 clients at a time. Unlike other networking gear, the RE7350 does without a setup and configuration app. Instead, there's the choice between the WPS button on its side and tapping into the RE7350's internal user interface, which was anything but quick and easy. I started by connecting to the extender's default Wi-Fi network ('Linksys Extender Setup – 393') and typing ' into Chrome's address bar. The opening page has the Linksys license terms and auto firmware update prechecked. I set it for wireless range extender instead of access point and picked the 2.4 and 5.0 GHz LANs to extend separately. I entered the passcode for each. The extender had trouble connecting over the 5 GHz band although it worked on the third try. I finished up by adding an administrative password and reminder hint. The process took 13 minutes – double what it should. All that time and effort actually pays off with good customization options. The main page is for basic settings showing network names, passwords and connection status. Under each network is an advanced section for channel width details. Unfortunately, the extender is limited to a maximum of 80Mhz data channels, which limits the extender's throughput. In addition to QOS, there's a unique Spot Finder. Here, the extender visually tells you if you're too far, too close or just right for a prime connection. Finally, its statistics page provides excellent networking data, although in tabular and not graphic form. There are places for things like data packet count. There's no place to turn the LED off. Like most extenders, the RE7350 comes with a one-year warranty and lifetime support. That's not as good as TP-Link's two years of coverage but better than Netgear's standard 90 days of support, unless you pay to upgrade. The text-only support pages for the Linskys RE7350 may not be as pretty as its competitors, but it has what's needed to help get the extender online and working. The FAQ section is very deep and the extender has a basic manual but the site lacks helpful setup videos. A reliable way to fill a house with Wi-Fi, the Linskys RE7350 extender comes up short compared to the competition in terms of speed but had excellent range. Based on Wi-Fi 6, it can't use the 6 GHz high performance data band or 320MHz data channels and its 1 Gbps Ethernet port can't compare to the 2.5 Gbps ports that are starting to show up on extenders. Plus, unlike the others, it lacks an app for setting up and configuring the extender. That said, the RE7350 offers a good combination of price at $70, reliable operation and an excellent assortment of setup choices available. In fact, it's for those who care less about raw speed and more about tweaking and configuring the network.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
FBI says these 13 old internet routers are vulnerable to attacks. Is yours on the list?
The FBI has issued a security warning urging owners of old internet routers to replace their equipment, lest they become victims of a cyberattack. The flash notice, issued May 7, said that "end-of-life" (EOL) routers, or those made so long ago that their software is no longer supported by their manufacturers, are being targeted by bad actors due to their age. With no patches or regular software updates to address security weaknesses, the outdated equipment becomes exceptionally vulnerable, allowing cyberattackers to access it remotely and install malware. The targeted routers come pre-loaded with remote management software that threat actors know how to tap into, advised the notice. Once they do, they may install malicious software or set up a botnet − a group of internet-connected devices compromised and controlled by a third party that can then use them in an orchestrated manner to carry out activities such as stealing data, sending spam or committing denial-of-service attacks. Cybercriminals may also use compromised devices to sell proxy services, which entails selling access to these devices to other bad actors who then use them to hide their locations and identities. This specific notice concerns known attacks associated with 5Socks and Anyproxy, services known for selling these proxies to shady figures that were recently seized by the FBI. The vulnerable routers in question will be familiar to early internet users, as many are Linksys brand, one of the most popular and iconic at-home networking suppliers of the 2000s and 2010s. E1200 E2500 E1000 E4200 E1500 E300 E3200 WRT320N E1550 WRT610N E100 M10 WRT310N The remote administration feature that comes pre-installed on these routers is the major source of vulnerability, explained the FBI warning. Cybercriminals have become familiar with accessing outdated remote management software, allowing them to install their own software that gives them perpetual access to your device. Even if the remote administration feature of your router is password protected, threat actors can still easily get in. The installed malware then allows them to communicate with the router periodically, ensuring continued access. Because the malware is router-based, said the FBI, it can be more difficult for users to notice when something is wrong. While the agency suggests replacing any router from the above list altogether, the FBI did provide a list of file names you can check for that are associated with these attacks. If you have a router from the above list, it may likely have been struggling already to keep up with the demands of a modern digital home. The best course of action is to replace it with a more modern model, advised the FBI notice, and one that is new enough that it is still being serviced with regular software updates. Users can also disable remote administration and reboot their routers to cut off this primary access point. If you believe your router or another device in your home may have been compromised or the subject of suspicious activity, the agency asks that it be reported to your local FBI field office. Field offices can be located and contacted at This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: These 13 internet routers are vulnerable to attacks, FBI says
Tom's Guide
08-05-2025
- Tom's Guide
FBI warns you should upgrade your old router now — here's why
Routers are one of the easiest ways for hackers to exploit networks and break into a system – rarely updated and often overlooked, they're a common hole that can be abused. The FBI has recently issued an alert warning against using older model routers that have reached end-of-life and have stopped receiving security patches and software updates from their manufacturers. According to the FBI, routers that date before 2010 or earlier are likely to be an easy target for cybercriminals as they can be hacked via known vulnerabilities. The law enforcement agency recommends that these routers should be replaced as soon as possible with newer models. In particular, the department has noticed hackers launching coordinated attacks against thirteen older device models, several of which appear to be Linksys models that have reached end-of-life support: Other recent router hacking campaigns have used variants of TheMoon malware to gain access to vulnerable devices. This malware strain lets threat actors install proxies on routers in order to conduct fraud and other cyber crimes anonymously. First found on compromised routers back in 2014, TheMoon doesn't require a password to infect routers, but will simply scan for open ports then send a malicious command and wait for instructions from the hacker-operated command and control server. A proxy server is basically a system that acts as a gateway to reach the internet; its IP address is exposed to the servers to which it sends requests. That means when hackers have access to a user's router, they can hide their IP address behind the user's IP address to conduct malicious activities. Hackers will often then sell these compromised routers as a proxy service to others so they can commit online crimes like stealing cryptocurrency or offering or contracting illegal services. The most vulnerable routers are ones with remote administration turned on, which means hackers can access the web administration panel from the internet. This makes deploying malware very, very easy. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. If you own one of the affected router models, the FBI's recommendation is to replace it right away with one of the best Wi-Fi routers instead as they will receive frequent software updates and patches from their manufacturer. If you haven't already applied all available security patches and firmware updates, you should definitely do that as well while also making sure that you're using a strong and unique password with at least 16 characters. To make things easier, you can always use one of the best password managers to generate and then securely store the password for your home network. Additionally, you can disable remote administration and reboot the device. If you suspect that your router has been compromised, you should contact the FBI's IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center) at to file a complaint. It's also a good idea to make sure that you're using one of the best antivirus software programs – many of these will offer additional security features such as a VPN that can help protect you when you're online. Security aside, you're getting a significantly worse online experience when you use an outdated router. From slow internet speeds to difficulties handling the increased number of connected devices in your home, you owe it to yourself and to your devices to use a faster, newer router instead. If you want the latest and greatest Wi-Fi and have the budget for it, one of the best Wi-Fi 7 routers will provide you with the best experience possible. However, if you don't mind not having access to the faster 6GHz band, one of the best Wi-Fi 6 routers will still be a major upgrade. By using a new router with frequent security updates, you're essentially adding an extra layer of protection for all of the devices on your home network. Just like with outdated software, an old router could also be putting you at serious risk online which is why you should take the FBI's recommendations here seriously.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Yahoo
Best Wi-Fi Extenders of 2025
: We think you should be aware that TP-Link routers are under investigation by the US government over security concerns and could be banned in the US this year, according to multiple news reports. The TP-Link Archer RE605X was previously named our best overall choice for Wi-Fi extenders. While our evaluation of the hardware hasn't changed, out of extreme caution for our readers, we decided to pause it as our top recommendation until we learn more. Read CNET's reporting for more information. Even the best Wi-Fi routers will struggle to connect every corner of a multi-story home. When that happens, you have two choices: Swap out your router for a mesh system or add a Wi-Fi extender to your existing router. For as little as $20, a Wi-Fi extender will boost your internet signal to a specific area without you having to buy a whole new setup. Installation is as simple as plugging the extender into an electrical outlet and connecting it to your Wi-Fi router. If that sounds too good to be true, it kind of is. CNET's testing has found that Wi-Fi extenders can be a decent solution if you're looking to improve the connection in a single room, but you'll probably be disappointed if you're hoping to boost the speeds to an entire floor or wing of your home. For that, you're better off upgrading to a full-fledged mesh system. The best Wi-Fi extender for most people is the Linksys RE7310. While it's slightly more expensive than other models at $100, it delivered significant speed boosts in every room I tested, and it offers full support for Wi-Fi 6 speeds. If you're looking for something more affordable, there are plenty of options for under $50, although not all of them have Wi-Fi 6 support. I've spent the past few years regularly testing them out to find the best of the bunch. After countless tests, my data identified the range extenders that reigned supreme. Let's get right to them. In the CNET Smart Home, where we have a fiber internet plan with uploads and downloads of up to 150Mbps, the RE7310 returned average Wi-Fi 6 downloads throughout the entire multistory house of 132Mbps. As for the uploads, Linksys finished with an average whole-home speed to my Wi-Fi 6 test device of 124Mbps. The RE7310 finished in a virtual tie with the TP-Link RE605X on Wi-Fi 6 devices, but was slightly less impressive with earlier-gen Wi-Fi 5 devices, particularly with respect to upload speeds. Still, the performance was solid across the board, and strong enough for me to take video calls in the Smart Home's basement dead zones, something I would have struggled with using just the single router I ran my tests on. It's a bit bulky-looking, but the RE7310 is the best Linksys range extender I've tested yet, and it's an especially great pick if you can catch it on sale. See at Amazon TP-Link makes some of the most popular picks in the range extender category, with a fairly wide variety of options to choose from at various price points. If you're buying one in 2025, the TP-Link RE605X should be right at the top of your list (government investigation notwithstanding). At $64, it's far from the most affordable extender on the market (keep reading for the value picks), but with a highly capable AX1800 design, full support for the latest Wi-Fi 6 speeds and features, adjustable antennas and a helpful, easy-to-use control app with strong reviews on both Android and iOS, it's about as well-rounded as range extenders get. The performance is particularly sharp too. In my tests at the CNET Smart Home, an RE605X in the basement was able to extend the router's signal from upstairs just fine, giving my upload and download speeds a significant boost in every room I tested. Throughout the entire 5,800-square-foot-home, among all the extenders I tested, the RE605X delivered the fastest average upload speeds to both Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 devices, the fastest average download speeds to Wi-Fi 6 devices and the second fastest average download speeds to Wi-Fi 5 devices. By default, the extender puts out its own separate network when you first pair it with your router, and that network will use the same password as your original network, and the same SSID with "-EXT" added to the end. That's better than extenders that put out an unsecured network by default -- and if you use the app to delete that "-EXT" bit, it'll automatically sync up with your original network and work invisibly to keep you better connected, which is ideal. All of that makes this extender an easy recommendation. See at Amazon The TP-Link RE220 was the least expensive range extender during my first run of at-home tests, but that didn't stop it from outperforming everything else I tested at every turn. As Wi-Fi extenders go, it's fast, it's reliable, it works with just about every Wi-Fi router out there, and it's easy to use. And, as of writing this, it costs even less than I paid for it initially -- down to $15 on Amazon. 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 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. Both offered steady Wi-Fi speeds 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. The RE220 never once dropped my connection, and its speeds were consistent across multiple days of tests during both daytime and evening hours. It's a little long in the tooth at this point, and it won't wow you with Wi-Fi 6 speeds, but the strong ease of use and the steady, dependable level of performance it offers mean it's still an absolute steal. It's not as fast as the top models I've tested in the years since, and I haven't had a chance to retest it at the CNET Smart Home just yet -- but it's still a great choice if you want to boost the signal from the Wi-Fi router to a back room that sits beyond the router's reach, but you'd like to pay as little as possible to get the job done. See at Amazon Another strong model from my tests, the D-Link DAP-X1870 is an excellent performer that does a great job of creating a single, unified network as soon as you pair it with your router. That keeps things easy, but at a retail price around $85, it feels a bit too expensive here in 2025. I'd probably stick with the $15 TP-Link RE220 if I were just looking for the best value pick. I'll keep an eye out for any other good sales and update this post as I spot them. See at Amazon Last year's top pick, the RE505X is just a slightly less powerful version of the RE605X that costs a bit less. I wasn't able to retest it at the CNET Smart Home yet, but I'll update this post when I get the chance. For now, I think performance-minded users will be glad they spent up for the better upload speeds of the RE605X or the Linksys RE7310, and value-minded users will likely be better served with the less expensive TP-Link RE220. That leaves the RE505X as a bit of a middle child at this point, but it was an extremely capable and consistent performer in my earlier tests. At $57, it's one of the cheaper Wi-Fi 6 extenders you'll find. See at Best Buy Also called a Wi-Fi signal booster, a range or Wi-Fi extender is a compact, plug-in device that is simple and hassle-free to implement. Wi-Fi extenders use built-in Wi-Fi radios and antennas to pair wirelessly with your router. No Ethernet cable is required. Plug in one near the edge of your router's wireless range and pair it with the network, and it'll start rebroadcasting the signal farther out for significantly faster internet speeds throughout your home. Wi-Fi extenders are great options when you have a single room that you want to give a speed boost. Wi-Fi extenders are generally less expensive than upgrading to a full-fledged mesh router with its own mesh Wi-Fi systems and range-extending satellite devices. Plus, they are generally a cinch to set up, they'll work no matter what brand of router you're using, and you can typically use the same SSID and password as your original router. That creates a single, seamless connection that will give you the best Wi-Fi range available with your current setup -- all without you needing to think about it too much. However, signal boosters can't extend your Wi-Fi signal to an entire floor or side of the house like a mesh router can. An extender is also only as good as the router it's connected to, which means you won't see huge improvements if your router is failing, outdated or in the wrong spot. In 2022, I was able to resume tests at the CNET Smart Home, a 5,800-square-foot multistory home in the outskirts of Louisville, Kentucky, that served as a living lab for our product tests. It's a much better environment for testing wireless devices at range than my somewhat cramped, shotgun-style house -- and with more ground to cover, it offered a much bigger challenge for these extenders. The CNET Smart Home has a fiber internet connection with matching upload and download speeds of up to 150Mbps. That's a far cry from the gigabit connections" target="_blank more and more of us have access to (not to mention the new, blazing-fast multi-gig internet plans" target="_blank emerging in some parts of the country). However, it's in line with the average internet speed in the US, which makes it a great place to test how home networking products will work for the average consumer. For my purposes, I started by setting up a router in the Smart Home's laundry room, which is where the modem is set up. I went with the Netgear R6700AX" target="_blank, a perfectly decent model I reviewed last year. It offered reliable performance but limited range when I tested it -- and that's exactly what I wanted for these range extender tests. Sure enough, the router was able to deliver strong speeds on the home's main floor, but as soon as I headed down to the basement level, speeds started to fall. That includes single-digit upload speeds in the bourbon room and the mud room. (Yes, the Smart Home has a bourbon room that the previous owners used to age their own barrels. We don't have any barrels of our own, but it smells amazing in there. Kentucky, folks!) With my control speeds established, it was time to start adding in the range boosters and seeing which ones improved things the best. Pairing each one with the router only required me to plug it in nearby and press the WPS button on both devices -- after that, I relocated them downstairs, to the basement rec room, which was the farthest point from the router that still had a decent signal and speeds. Whenever you're using a Wi-Fi range extender, that's typically the best place to put it: just shy of the edge of your router's range, where it will still receive a strong enough signal to put out a strong signal of its own. The best way to find that spot? Grab your phone or laptop and run some speed tests" target="_blank. In the end, I ran a total of at least 96 speed tests for each extender, two rounds of 24 tests to find its average speeds to a Wi-Fi 5 client device (an iPad Air 2 from 2015) and another two rounds of 24 tests to check its speeds to a Wi-Fi 6 client device (a 2021 Lenovo ThinkPad laptop). In each case, I started the first round of tests with a fresh connection in the laundry room, closest to the router, and then started the second round of tests with a fresh connection in the mud room, farthest from the router. With each test, I logged the client device's download speed, its upload speed and the latency of the connection. Ready to see how the range extenders did in terms of upload and download speeds? Let's take a look. On the left, this first set of graphs shows you the average download speeds by room for each extender I tested. On the right, you're looking at the average upload speeds. All of these speeds are to my Wi-Fi 6 test device, a Lenovo ThinkPad laptop from 2021. So what jumps out? First, all five of these extenders did a decent job of boosting speeds in those last four rooms, down in the basement. With all of them, I had a faster connection throughout the house than I had when I connected through the router alone. The D-Link EaglePro AI struggled a bit with upload speeds in the basement, but still kept things above a minimum of 20Mbps or so. That was with a Wi-Fi 6 device, though. How did the performance look with an older Wi-Fi 5 device from several years ago? Things get interesting here -- you can see a greater gulf between download and upload performance, as well as some more distinct weak spots and dead zones throughout the house. Each of the five extenders struggled to keep uploads speedy in the upstairs dinette, for instance. With Wi-Fi 6, we barely saw any issues there at all, save for the Netgear Nighthawk X4S. Meanwhile, in the basement, our top picks from TP-Link and Linksys (as well as the high-performing Asus RP-AX56) were each able to keep download speeds above 100Mbps, which is great. Uploads were another story, as all of the extenders struggled. None of them failed to deliver a usable upload connection outright, though the D-Link EaglePro AI came close with single-digit upload speeds in the basement's farthest reaches. Another key takeaway from these tests is that Wi-Fi 6 delivers some of its most noticeable speed boosts on the upload side of things. If you're looking to make lots of video calls, upload lots of large files to the web or anything else requiring sturdy upload performance, then upgrading to Wi-Fi 6 hardware should be high on your list of priorities (assuming you haven't already made the jump). For my first batch of range extender tests a few years back, I tested four bargain-priced models to see which one offered the most bang for the buck. It was the start of the pandemic and people were scrambling to bolster their home networks -- I wanted to be sure we could point them to a good, budget-friendly pick that would do the best job as a signal booster offering an extra room's worth of coverage in a pinch. In the end, the aforementioned TP-Link RE220 was the runaway winner. Currently available for $15, it remains a solid value pick. I've separated these models from the other six because the test setup was different in my initial tests and it wouldn't be fair to make direct comparisons with those results. You've already read about the TP-Link RE220, but here are my takeaways from the others I tested: D-Link DAP-1620: This was the only range extender that ever managed to hit triple digits during my tests, with an average speed of 104Mbps in my bedroom during evening hours. Setup was just as simple as what I experienced with TP-Link, too. I was able to stream HD video, browse the web and make video calls on the extender's network without any issue. Network speeds were inconsistent though -- and much slower in daytime hours, with a bigger dropoff than I saw with TP-Link. The device also dropped my connection at one point during my speed tests. On top of that, the app was too finicky for my tastes, refusing to let me log in and tweak settings with the supplied device password, something that ultimately forced me to reset the device. That's too much hassle for me to recommend outright, but if you can grab it on sale for less than $30, it could be a decent alternative to the TP-Link RE220. Netgear EX3700: It's a dated-looking device and it wasn't a strong performer in my tests. The 2.4GHz band was able to sustain workable speeds between 30 and 40Mbps throughout most of my home, which was strong enough to stream video with minimal buffering, or to hold a quick video call with a slight delay. But the 5GHz band was surprisingly weak, often dropping into single digits with only a single wall separating my PC or connected device from the range extender. I wasn't a fan of the web interface, as it seemed more interested in getting me to register for the warranty (and opt in to marketing emails) than in actually offering me any sort of control over the connection. WPS button-based setup lets you skip all of that, which is helpful, and some outlets now have it listed for less than $30, but even so, this is one you can safely pass by. Aside from my speed tests, I made sure to stream video on each extender's network, and I made several video calls while connected through each one. I also spent time playing with each extender's settings. You shouldn't expect much, but most will at least make it easy to change the extension network's name or password. Some include app controls with extra features, too. My top pick, the TP-Link RE605X, makes it easy to tweak settings via TP-Link's Tether app on an Android or iOS device. Again, the features make for slim pickings, but you can check signal strength or turn on High-Speed Mode, which dedicates the 2.4GHz band for traffic from the router to the range extender, leaving the 5GHz free for your normal Wi-Fi network traffic. That mode actually wasn't as fast as sharing the 5GHz band like normal when I tested it out, because those incoming 2.4GHz speeds are limited, but it still might be a useful option in some situations. It's also worth making sure that your range extender includes at least one Ethernet port (almost all of them do). If you can directly connect your wired device (like a smart TV), then you'll enjoy speeds that are as fast as possible. Plug-in range extenders like these can help boost your speeds when you're connecting far from the router, but they can only do so much. The actual speed boost will depend on a multitude of different factors, including the layout of your home, the type of router you're using, the type of device you're trying to connect with and your internet plan's speeds. If your home's internet connection offers top speeds of 100Mbps or higher, then a decent, well-placed range extender should be able to boost your download speeds in a dead zone or when you're in range by at least 50Mbps, if not 100Mbps. That's enough to browse the web or stream video online. Upload boosts are typically a little lower, but should still be enough to ensure that you can make a video call or upload a file to the cloud. Most range extenders will put out their own separate network -- usually the name of your original network with "_EXT" added to the end or something like that. Having a separate network like that under the same roof as your main network could potentially cause a small amount of interference, but I haven't seen any noticeable slowdowns on my main network during any of these tests. And, in most cases, you can rename the extender's network and password to match your main network, at which point you'll have a single, seamless network that automatically passes your connection back and forth as you move throughout your home. That said, keep an eye out for client devices (phones, laptops and so on) that automatically connect to whichever network offers the best signal at the time. If you've used a device like that on both your main network and the extender's network, then it's possible that your device will jump from one to the other without you realizing it. For instance, if your laptop is on your main network and you move a bit closer to the extender than the router, then your laptop might lose its connection and jump over to the range extender's network for the stronger signal strength, even though the speeds on that extender network might be slower. There is no functional difference between a Wi-Fi signal booster and a network extender. Manufacturers use different terms to describe the same products, and all of these devices work the same way -- by re-broadcasting your router's signal through a wired connection (your power outlet). A Wi-Fi repeater is slightly different. It connects to your router wirelessly and re-broadcasts the signal in another room. In most cases, no. If you're living in a larger home or if you need speeds that are reliably faster than 100Mbps at range, then it's probably worth it to go ahead and upgrade to a mesh router with its own range-extending satellite devices. You've got more options than ever these days, and just about all of them would likely outperform a stand-alone router paired with a plug-in range extender like the ones tested here. Wi-Fi extenders are better suited for situations where you've just got a single room or maybe two where you'd like speeds to be slightly higher. They won't work miracles, but in a situation like that, they'll get the job done. The best approach is to plug the extender in somewhere close to the dead zone you're trying to fix, but not within that dead zone. That's because you need the extender to have a decent connection with your router in order to put out a worthwhile signal of its own. To find a good spot, grab your phone or laptop, connect to your home network and run some internet speed tests in various spots that are adjacent to the dead zone in question. Once you've found a spot near the dead zone that still hits usable upload and download speeds (preferably at least 50% of whatever you're able to hit up close to the router), then you're probably in a good location. Setting up a Wi-Fi extender is about as painless as it gets. Most models support Wi-Fi Protected Setup, or WPS, which is a universal protocol that wireless networking devices can use to connect with each other. Just plug the extender in, wait for it to boot up, press the extender's WPS button and then press the WPS button on your router within 2 minutes. Voila, connected. Most Wi-Fi extenders cost well under $100, and our runner-up pick, the TP-Link RE605X, is priced just below that at some retailers. If you're looking for an ultra-affordable model, the TP-Link RE220 costs under $20 and outperformed almost every other extender in our initial tests. It's a little outdated at this point -- you won't get Wi-Fi 6 support, for example -- but it still gets the job done for a very low investment.
