How does a TP-Link extender work?

Wi-Fi extenders are network devices used to extend the range of the coverage area of your Wi-Fi network for better connectivity in longer distances where your Wi-Fi signal does not reach or in areas that have weak signals. TP-Link is among the manufacturers who make suitable extenders to solve your connectivity issues. Let us expound on how a TP-Link extender works.

Majority of the time, when you find yourself with poor connection in a different room aside from where your router is placed, the first thing you would want to do is to reboot your router. However, the most advisable solution would be for you to purchase a Wi-Fi extender to meet your network needs. Network devices such as range extenders have been designed to sort out your connectivity issues. An example of these, would be the TP-Link extenders which work by repeating the wireless signals that are coming from your router to expand the range which its signal should cover.

To begin with, why should you consider purchasing a TP-link Wi-Fi extender?

Sometimes, physical distancing of rooms in your household may tamper with the ability of the Wi-Fi signal from your router to reach the other rooms. Sometimes, when multiple users log onto your Wi-Fi, you notice that the Wi-Fi connection is often slow and experiences frequent lagging or maybe your Wi-Fi signal does not really reach the outer part of your household such as the backyard or patio.

You should consider settling down for a TP-Link extender if you have multiple stories in your house with rooms where your Wi-Fi signal does not reach, if your internet speed is slow when you switch rooms or when you are unable to access internet from the outdoor parts of your home.

So, how does a TP-Link extender work to extend your Wi-Fi coverage area?

You can solve connectivity issues such as connection lags or an intermittent signals in your home and office by making use of a Wi-Fi extender. An extender simply strengthens your connection and allows for similar throughput speeds around all the rooms around your household.

TP-Link Wi-Fi extenders come in two designs; that is, the desktop type and the plug-in type. The desktop range extenders have a design that is almost similar to a small router and they are used to boost higher internet speeds. They come with various Ethernet ports that allow you to maximize your internet speeds by directly connecting your smart devices.Contrary to this, plug-in extenders require you to plug them in directly to your wall socket therefore it doesn’t really need to be placed on a separate surface. They come with a power-thru and a single Ethernet port that allows you to use the electrical socket even when the extender is connected.

TP-Link Wi-Fi extenders work by using electric power from a power outlet to increase the strength of your Wi-Fi signal. This action transmits the boosted signal across all the Wi-Fi ‘dead spots’ and areas with poor signal in your household. These Wi-Fi range extenders come with two antennas. One antenna is used to receive the Wi-Fi signal from your router and the other one is used to transmit the signal to your devices in the areas where the network couldn’t connect before.

Additionally, a TP-Link extender connects to your network through a wired connection. You can either connect the extender through your already existing coaxial cables that you also use for your internet and cable TV or you can make use of Ethernet connection.

To understand this better, once you have established a connection between your router and your internet connected device.A TP-Link extender simply takes hold of the existing network signal and then it starts to re-transmits it on a different channel from its position. This way it becomes a bridge that is used to relay your network connection. This action is what widens the range of wireless signals in all the areas within your household.

For maximum performance of your TP-Link Wi-Fi extender, you need to find the right location to place it. You need to put in an area that is near your router so that it can easily grab the signal but it also needs to be at a significant distance away from your router in order for it to be able to rebroadcast the already existing signal to the parts of your home where you are in need of stronger Wi-Fi.

How do you set up a TP-Link extender?

To set up your TP-Link extender, you need to plug it into your wall socket then follow the instructions that have been provided for in the TP-Link user guide to install it. Afterwards, you should log into the TP Link Wi-Fi extender app and then follow the set up instructions. While in the app, you should check for the SSID, Encryption type, Passphrase and LAN IP.

When your extender is plugged in and working efficiently, you need to connect your smart devices to it from the available networks section. As you switch through the rooms of your home, your devices should be able to automatically connect to the network that is stronger in that particular area at the time.

What are some of the TP-Link range extenders and what are their features?

The TP-Link extenders extend your network coverage through different ranges and they each operate with a different speed bandwidth. The table below show a few selected examples of TP-Link Wi-Fi extenders and their different features.

Model	TP-Link RE650	TP-Link RE200	TP-Link RE450
Throughput speed	800 Mbps + 1733 Mbps	300 Mbps + 433 Mbps	450 Mbps + 1300 Mbps
Frequency band	2.4 GHz and 5 GHz	2.4 GHz and 5GHz	2.4 GHz and 5 GHz
Range	Up to 14,000 square feet	Up to 2,000 square feet	Up to 10,000 square feet
Wi-Fi rating	AC2600	AC750	AC1750
MU-MIMO and Beamforming Technology	Yes	No	Yes
Standard compatibility	Universal	Universal	Universal
Availability	Check price	Check price	Check price

Conclusion

For your TP-Link extender to work efficiently, you need to follow its set up instructions to the letter. When the LED lights of your extender turn blue, it means there is good connection with the host router or WPSconnection and when it turns red it signals a poor connection.

FAQs

Does using a TP-Link range extender create a new SSID that is separate from your main network?

Generally, the TP-Link range extenders provide you with the option to choose whether you would want to clone the SSID of your already existing router or if you would want to create a separate SSID. You can change that using the Customize option on the web browser setup method.

Do I need to plug in my TP-Link extender close to my router?

When setting up your TP-Link extender it should be close to your router, however, you can relocate it to the room which you would want the Wi-Fi signal to reach but this should entirely depend on the recommended range coverage area of your extender in its manual.