Powerline adapters are usually made up of two units. These use your home's mains electrical system to send a broadband signal around the house. Just bear in mind that it's not always as simple as plug and play. No need to be afraid, there are plenty of how-tos available online.

Solving this issue will involve a deepish dive into your router settings. By default, your devices will view it as a separate network, albeit with the same name.

If the signal it picks up is very weak, it's a very weak signal it'll be re-broadcasting.Īnother thing to note is there are some special set-up steps you'll need to take in order for your mobile devices to treat the extender as if it's your home router. Be aware that in order for wifi extenders to work they do need a decent wifi signal to be there to start with. It will effectively take that signal and re-broadcast it, helping it reach areas it didn't previously. You simply plug it into the mains in an area where your wifi signal is still ok. Wifi extenders amplify weak signals from your router, creating a stronger network signal throughout the house. Something to note is that wifi extenders and powerline adapters tend to re-broadcast wifi networks under a different name to your router, so it may mean simply re-connecting devices in different parts of the home. There are a number of different types of broadband signal boosters and they work in different ways. Despite big improvements in home routers, it remains a problem that often in big houses or in houses with thick walls, you get stuck with poor or zero connectivity in certain parts of the property. We'll also talk you through a few other ways to improve your home wifi before you go shelling out on a new piece of tech.Ī broadband signal booster, also called a wifi booster or wifi extender, is a device that increases the reach of your home wifi network. In this guide, we'll look at wifi extenders, powerline adapters and mesh networks – where to get them, how they work and how to work out which one to choose. But what exactly is a signal booster and will it really improve your wifi? One such way is to invest in a broadband signal booster, also known as a wifi extender or wifi repeater. There are a number of things you can do to boost connectivity around the house. If you're struggling with slow, intermittent or unreliable wifi at home, don't despair.

Internet signal booster