Both devices can give you Wi-Fi further away from your router.
But a Wi-Fi extender and wireless access point aren’t the same thing.
Understanding the difference can save you from buying another device that doesn’t actually solve your Wi-Fi problem.
Wi-Fi Extender
A traditional extender receives your existing Wi-Fi signal and rebroadcasts it.
They’re inexpensive and easy to install.
The catch?
The extender needs a decent signal in the first place.
Put it somewhere your Wi-Fi is already terrible and you’re effectively asking it to repeat a poor connection.
Wireless Access Point
A wireless access point can be connected back to the network using Ethernet.
Instead of depending on the wireless signal from another room, it gets its network connection through the cable and creates Wi-Fi where it’s installed.
For larger homes, this can provide a much stronger network design.
Which One Should You Choose?
For a small coverage problem, an extender may be enough.
For a larger property, double-storey home or network where reliability matters, we’d normally investigate access points or a properly designed mesh system.
Wi-Fi Installation Melbourne
Aussie Vision provides Wi-Fi access point installation, UniFi installation and network cabling across Melbourne.
If you’ve already bought two extenders and still have bad Wi-Fi, buying a third probably isn’t the answer.
It’s time to look at the network itself.
