Having reliable and strong WiFi connectivity throughout your home is crucial these days. We rely on WiFi for everything from streaming movies and TV shows to video calls, online gaming, and general web browsing. However, WiFi signals can degrade over distance and be obstructed by walls and other barriers. This often leads to "dead zones" in parts of your home where the WiFi is slow or nonexistent.
The best solution is to install a mesh WiFi system, but these can be expensive. A cheaper and easier alternative is to build your own DIY WiFi range extender to boost your existing router's wireless signal into those dead zones. With the right components and a bit of technical know-how, you can build an extender that will significantly improve your home's WiFi coverage.
What You'll Need
Building a WiFi range extender requires just a few key components:
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Wireless router: This will provide the existing WiFi network you want to extend. It must have wireless capabilities (i.e. 802.11ac or 802.11n).
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WiFi repeater/extender: This device will connect to your router wirelessly and rebroadcast the signal further. Choose one that supports your router's WiFi generation.
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Ethernet cable: To connect the extender to your router if they are close enough. This is faster and more reliable than a wireless connection between them.
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Power outlet: To plug in the extender. Pick a location between your router and the dead zone you want to improve.
Optional items:
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Directional antenna: Can be added to the extender to help focus the boosted signal in a particular direction.
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WiFi analyzer app: Helps map your home's wireless coverage to find dead zones. Also identifies crowded channels.
How to Set Up Your Extender
With your components ready, setting up the extender is straightforward:
1. Place the Extender
Ideally, you'll want the extender placed between your wireless router and the area with bad WiFi coverage. The closer it is to the router, the better signal it will receive. Elevated locations are best to allow wide dispersal of the boosted signal.
2. Connect Extender to Router
There are two options for linking the extender to your router:
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Wireless: The simplest option. Just power on the extender and connect to your existing WiFi network through the extender's software.
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Wired: Use an Ethernet cable to connect the extender directly to a LAN port on your router. This is the preferred method, as it provides faster and more reliable data transfer between the router and extender.
3. Configure Extender Settings
Once connected to the router, log into the extender's software interface to complete setup:
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Give the extended WiFi network a new SSID (network name) and password. Make a note of these.
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Set the extender's transmission channel to avoid interference from nearby WiFi networks. Channels 1, 6, and 11 are commonly recommended.
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Save your settings and power cycle the extender to apply them.
4. Connect to the Extended Network
The extender will now be broadcasting your router's WiFi signal under the new SSID you configured. Connect your devices in the problem area to this extended network to benefit from the boosted signal. Expect significantly faster speeds and a more reliable connection.
Optimizing Your Extended Network
To get the best performance from your DIY WiFi extender, keep these tips in mind:
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Minimize obstructions between the router, extender, and connected devices. Keep them in open line of sight if possible.
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Use 5 GHz band instead of 2.4 GHz to reduce interference from other home devices like cordless phones, microwaves, etc. Not all devices support 5 GHz though.
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Choose non-overlapping channels for router and extender to avoid interference between their signals.
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Restart devices periodically to force them onto the best available band or channel.
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Consider extending with multiple repeaters if coverage is still spotty. But minimize wireless links between them.
Troubleshooting Connectivity and Speed Issues
If your extended network develops issues, here are some steps to resolve them:
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Check extender placement - Is it too far from the router? Is the signal obstructed?
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Test speeds over wired backhaul - If slow, switch to wireless or upgrade your router.
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Verify distances to extender - Devices closer to router may connect there instead. Adjust extender location.
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Scan for interference from neighboring WiFi networks. Change extender channel if needed.
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Reboot devices and extender - Clears up any software/performance issues.
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Reset the extender to factory settings and reconfigure if problems persist.
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Replace faulty extender - Some may have defective hardware. Buy a better quality unit.
Summary
Boosting your home's WiFi coverage with a DIY range extender is fairly cheap and easy. Strategically place the extender, connect it to your router via Ethernet or wireless, configure its settings, and connect your devices to the new extended network. Adjust locations and channels to optimize performance. With this simple upgrade, you can banish WiFi dead zones for good.