WiFi Range Extender vs. WiFi Mesh Network: Understand the Difference

What Is a WiFi Range Extender?

• Installation: For a WiFi extender to do its job, it needs to be installed in the right place. Ideally, you want a WiFi extender to sit near the edge of the imaginary sphere of coverage provided by your WiFi router. This way, the extender won’t have any issues communicating with the router, and you’ll be able to extend your network as far as possible. To find out where the ideal place for a WiFi range extender is, use a WiFi tool like NetSpot to perform a WiFi site survey.

• Use: Once installed and activated, most extenders copy the SSID (name) of the original network and append “EXT” or the number 2 behind it to distinguish the new network from the original one. The new network may or may not have the same password as the original one, but it doesn’t really matter because WiFi devices still need to reconnect every time they move from the sphere of coverage of one network to the other one.

• Performance: Because WiFi range extenders can’t send and receive information at the same time, don’t expend to max out your internet speed when connected to one. Signal latency will increase as well, potentially making online gaming and real-time voice or video conversations problematic.

• Configuration: In most cases, you can leave your WiFi range extender on the default settings unless there’s a specific setting you want to change. If there is, most WiFi range extenders give you a handy smartphone app that you can use to access and modify all available settings with a few simple taps.

• Price: One undisputable advantage of WiFi range extenders is their price. You can buy a capable extender for less than $50 and use it to cover a remote part of your house with a strong signal.

What Is a Mesh WiFi System?

• Installation: Despite their relatively complex nature, most mesh WiFi systems are surprisingly easy to install. The most difficult part is figuring out the best location for each individual unit, but that’s something a WiFi analyzer like NetSpot can help you with.

• Use: Mesh WiFi systems are extremely easy to use because they broadcast a single WiFi network, making it possible for your devices to move freely from room to room without you ever having to connect to a different network.

• Performance: As far as performance goes, you can’t beat a good mesh WiFi system. Some mesh WiFi systems these day are equipped with three different radios, broadcasting two 5 GHz networks and one 2.4 GHz network at the same time to achieve the highest data transfer speeds possible.

• Configuration: Forget web-based admin control panels. Mesh WiFi systems are typically configured using a smartphone app, so the entire process is straightforward and ease enough even for those who have no previous experience with WiFi networks.

• Price: Unfortunately, mesh WiFi systems tend to be very expensive, usually costing several hundred dollars.