WiFi signal amplifier: Antenna, Repeater or Powerline?

The location of the WiFi signal amplifier is very important, as their improper positioning will harm the result you expect. This is a more important factor for repeaters, since transmission over WiFi is more susceptible to interference.

You should avoid placing the router and the repeater at the edges of the environment, as the signal is radial, much of the signal will be sent to your neighbors.

You should also avoid installing too close to devices that cause greater interference such as microwaves and cordless phones, as this factor occurring very close to the device has the potential to significantly impair the signal.

Therefore, ideally, you should place your WiFi signal amplifier in a central and high area of ​​your environment. This second factor contributes to the better propagation of the WiFi signal, as there is less interference in higher places.

Another must-see tip for you: using apps that analyze the WiFi signal strength. With them, it will be much easier for you to identify the best place to install your WiFi signal amplifier.

Choosing the right amplifier, your house will have a WiFi signal more powerful than this statue in Silicon Valley:

Purchase criteria: Compare the different models of WiFi signal amplifiers

There are some essential aspects that you need to analyze before making your decision when purchasing a WiFi signal amplifier:

• Type
• Environment
• Specifications

Next, we will detail these three factors.

Type

As we explained earlier, the two main types of WiFi signal amplifiers are the repeater and the Powerline. Below we will detail them in greater depth.

Repeater : it is the most common and cheapest type of WiFi signal amplifier. They are responsible for receiving and “repeating” the signal emitted by your router, creating, from the place where it is allocated, a second signal zone.

For its best operation, it is important that you install it not so close to the router, because although this helps you to receive a good signal level, its range will be similar to that of the router itself, because of the short distance.

It should also not be installed too far from the router, because although it guarantees a better range of action than in the previous scenario, the signal received will be small, which will cause the distribution of this to be even worse, since in the repetition process, it loses also speed.

Powerline : The coverage is greater, because once connected to the electrical network, it will deliver a WiFi signal with greater speed. Because of this, you don’t have to worry about the range of action as in the case of the repeater.

With this device you will be able to distribute internet to your entire home (as long as it is connected by the same electrical network) efficiently and quickly. Which is certainly a great advantage for larger homes and offices.

However, as this technology is delivered through the sockets, it is necessary to complement it with the repeaters, which receive the signal through the electrical network and distribute the signal.

Most Powerlines are accompanied by 1 or 2 of these repeaters, which may not be enough if your house is too big and with more than one floor, for example, so it is necessary to complement it with extra repeaters.

Environment

Probably the main factor that will influence your purchase is the environment where you want to install the WiFi signal amplifier.

Factors such as location size, walls (and thickness) and appliances (and their placement) are very important for you to choose the type and the best allocation of your WiFi signal amplifier.

All the factors mentioned above have a negative influence on signal propagation, since they are limitations (size of the site), barriers (walls and plumbing, for example) and interference (devices such as microwaves and cordless phones).

Therefore, if you need to improve the signal in a small environment, the repeater will certainly be sufficient to meet your needs.

Regarding the Powerline, you should pay attention to your electrical network first. It is important that this is in good condition as it is directly linked to the speed at which the WiFi signal will be distributed.

If your internet needs are for a large environment, with a greater number of barriers and devices, the powerline should be a more efficient investment.

Specifications

For more basic needs, such as a smaller environment, fewer appliances and natural barriers, this is one of the factors that will least influence your purchase.

This is due to the fact that most of the most basic WiFi signal amplifiers are capable of delivering higher speeds than what is offered by internet operators.

However, if you need higher performance, multiple devices and larger environments, paying attention to the specifications will also be important. And the main factors are:

Speed : measured in Mbps (megabits per second), it is the unit of measurement of data transmission. So the bigger the better.

Protocols : you may have heard of the 802.11 protocol, which is the reference for WiFi signal. This code is accompanied by letters such as: “AC” and “N”, which represent the frequency at which the routers transmit signal.

The AC protocol is the fastest, but this is not just a matter of speed, but of compatibility, where the router and the WiFi signal amplifier must be aligned.

To avoid worries, paying a little more, you can opt for a Dualband device, which is capable of processing and transmitting both frequencies.

Antenna : this last factor is directly responsible for the range covered by your WiFi signal amplifier. Give preference to more powerful antennas for better coverage.