Review options before buying Wi-Fi range extender

Q: I’m having trouble getting a wireless signal into the far end of my house. Do Wi-Fi range extenders really work? - Max

A: Wi-Fi networks in a typical home are prone to weak or nonexistent signals in some parts of the house. Without any obstructions, Wi-Fi signals can theoretically reach 300 to 500 feet, but unless you live inside of a warehouse with no walls, you’re more likely to see a decent signal in the 75- to 150-foot range.

Wi-Fi networks use a weak radio signal that can be blocked or weakened by any number of construction materials: cinder block, concrete, metal and even wood and drywall. The more barriers between your wireless router and your computer, the weaker the signal will likely be, which also translates into slower connection speeds.

Before you invest in any more technology, you can try a couple of simple tests to see if your signal will improve. Start by moving the router around, if possible. Moving it around the room it’s in or moving it to another room can sometimes make a noticeable difference.

In general, the best location if you want coverage throughout the house is as close to the middle as possible, or on the second floor if you live in a two-story house. Keep it off the floor and away from walls and large metal objects like filing cabinets.

Range extenders (or wireless repeaters) can be useful, but they come with a downside: slower speeds. In most cases you will get half of the throughput or less compared with connecting directly to your wireless router. So don’t expect the same type of performance.

If you are simply surfing the Web and checking e-mail, the speed difference shouldn’t be that noticeable. If you are into gaming, you probably won’t like the lag created by the additional overhead of the extender.

The range extender must also be located within signal range of your wireless router; the stronger the signal, the more it has to boost. So you will need to experiment with placement.

They work best in situations where you have a weak signal in the desired location and boost it by installing the extender halfway between the remote computer and your wireless router.

If the location that you are trying to reach is currently showing no signal, a range extender may get you a signal, but it won’t be like the signal and speeds at the other end of the house.

For the best results, buy range extenders (or access points that can be used as wireless repeaters) of the same brand as your wireless router. Before making any buying decision, check with the manufacturer’s Web site for advice on the best combination based on what you already have.

Another option, especially if you don’t need to be mobile while connected to your home network, is to make use of your home’s electrical outlets through the installation of power-line adapters.

Power-line (or power-lan) adapters simply plug into electrical outlets near your router and remote computer and use the electrical wires as a network cable. As with range extenders, you will not achieve maximum speeds connecting this way, but it’s a cheap and reliable way to get on your home network. Power-line adapters are available from most of the major home networking companies, such as Linksys, Netgear and D-Link.

Ken Colburn is president of Data Doctors Computer Services and host of the “Computer Corner” radio show, which can be heard at www.datadoctors.com/radio. Readers may send questions to evtrib@datadoctors.com.