Difference Between WiFi Extender and WiFi Booster

Getting a stable internet connection throughout a home can be a tricky affair, particularly when the WiFi signal is weak. The best options are to look for a suitable WiFi Booster or WiFi Extender. 

While the two devices are designed to solve the network problem for a seamless reception of signals, they utilize distinct mechanisms that users should understand before purchasing either of them.

This denotes a device that people connect to their wireless router with the intent of enhancing an existing signal. When setting up a high-speed internet connection in their home, users purchase a router and a modem. Like mentioned earlier, at some point, they find that the signal broadcasted by the router is weak in some places particularly far off rooms, which is where WiFi Boosters come in handy.

The booster works by picking up signals that are broadcasted by the router and subsequently amplifies them. This ensures that the signal covers a greater distance.

WiFi Boosters are ideal for large flat spaces with multiple devices located in different positions.

A WiFi extender functions like an additional router that users can connect to their main one via an Ethernet cable. The cable carries the information from the router and broadcasts it wirelessly to other devices.

With this gadget, homeowners can extend their WiFi coverage to the farthest corners of their house, or even to the patio or backyard.

The WiFi booster is arguably the most reliable signal enhancer; once set, users are guaranteed to receive internet signals as long as the primary router is working.

Sometimes, people use the terms WiFi extender and WiFi Booster interchangeably. This is a huge mistake; although they have similar functionality, they are technically different.

Here are the main differences between the two devices:

Installation and Connection

After purchasing a WiFi booster, homeowners are required to plug it in a power source and turn it on. With regard to their working mechanism, the installed boosters will pick up signals from the main router and rebroadcast them to other devices.

The ideal location for installing a WiFi booster is somewhere half-way between the wireless router and the computer. The location must be within the range of the main router. The booster connects wirelessly to the primary router and users should install it in a clear line of sight. This means that there should be minimal obstacles between the booster and the main router.

Conversely, setting up a WiFi extender requires users to use an Ethernet cable to physically connect it to the main router and plug the device in a power source. The extender will communicate with the main router via the wire and subsequently broadcast the information wirelessly.

This mechanism gives the extender a higher advantage over the booster as users don’t need to create a clear line of sight between the router and the extender. The Ethernet cable allows the router and the extender to communicate without interruption from other wireless devices or blockage from such things as walls.

We Recommend: To connect devices like printers, phones, and computers to the extender, users need to disconnect the device from the main network and connect it to the broadcasted connection.

Mode of Operation

There is a considerable difference in the working mechanism of WiFi extenders and boosters. The former must be linked physically to the main network via a wired connection to provide users with faster and stronger coverage.

Extenders receive the wired signal and convert it into a wireless wave. Subsequently, they transmit the signal to other areas; they essentially work like a secondary router that gets data from the primary source.

Extenders create a different network when transmitting signals to diverse areas, which means that they can broadcast on a dissimilar frequency from that of the primary router.

The main advantage of this working mechanism comes in the form of less interference, plus it allows the connected devices to operate on different bands. Also, connecting the extender to the router via an Ethernet cable essentially stabilizes the signals and reduces interruptions from other devices, especially those using 2.5GHz waves. Such devices include microwaves and wireless telephones. In simpler terms, WiFi extenders go a long way in enhancing the performance of a home’s network.

A WiFi booster, on the other hand, works by establishing a connection between the router and the other devices. It essentially operates like retail stores that get products from the manufacturer and bring them closer to the consumer. In essence, if the internet signal is weak in some areas of a home, users can purchase WiFi boosters and install them strategically throughout the house to boost the connectivity.

Unlike the extender that’s connected to the router via an Ethernet cable, WiFi boosters receive wireless signals. They subsequently broadcast them in the same manner as the primary router. 

The Purpose of the Device

WiFi booster and extenders are basically used for a similar function, which is to improve a home’s internet connectivity. However, their applications are somewhat dissimilar. An extender is used to prolong the range of an existing wireless network.

It allows the devices in the furthest corner of the house to access the internet without the need to move the router. A WiFi extender can be used to help the signal cross over large obstacles like walls or floors. However, WiFi extenders are known to cut the bandwidth in half.

On the other hand, WiFi boosters are preferably used in large properties where wireless signals are too weak to facilitate faster internet access. This is particularly true in the presence of multiple walls between the router and devices that need to be connected.

Basically, WiFi boosters work best for amplifying a signal through multi-story buildings or vast premises like apartments. They are also suitable for classrooms and cafes.

While both WiFi extenders and boosters are quite useful in enhancing network connectivity in homes and offices, they are not entirely similar. Just like their names suggest, WiFi extenders are ideally used in areas without a connection while boosters are best utilized in places with weak signals.

A WiFi extender prolongs the coverage and enhances the strength of an existing signal. WiFi boosters, on the other hand, eliminate dead spots in a building by boosting the network signals wirelessly.

By the end of the day, both devices can be used for bringing dead spots to life with WiFi connection or boosting weak signals and increasing their speeds. This means that whichever device a homeowner chooses, they will enjoy improved signal in all areas of their home.