NETGEAR Extender vs. Access Point – Which is better suited to match your internet needs?

NETGEAR, which operates as a computer networking company, offers digital canvas, power line, USB adapters, cable modems, switches, extenders, Wi-Fi routers, and so many other networking devices, with a focus on ease-of-use and reliability. 

Over the years, Wi-Fi technology has greatly improved and there has been an increase in the manufacture of various network devices to meet your various internet needs by different network companies. One of these most popular network companies is NETGEAR, which manufactures and operates multiple network devices, such as the Wi-Fi routers, wireless access points, and range extenders. In this write-up, we will focus on the NETGEAR range extenders and wireless access points.

Generally, NETGEAR range extenders are popular in homes and small offices with limited users. The NETGEAR wireless access points, on the other hand, are found in large offices and buildings with heavy traffic. Let us take a look at how these two compare to deduce which is the best Wi-Fi solution for your internet needs.

Before all else, what is an extender? 

Have you ever been in a situation where your Wi-Fi connection is strong and stable in certain places around your house and extremely poor in other areas of the room? You may find yourself in this situation often if you are heavily invested in uploading and sharing heavy files and documents across your network, online gaming and 4K video streaming.

That is where the NETGEAR range extenders come in. These, which are also known as wireless repeaters, have been designed to take the signal from your already existing Wi-Fi router and creates a second and more stable network that you can connect to. Your network is then rebroadcasted into a different wireless channel. However, you should note that extenders need to get a significant amount of signal strength from your Wi-Fi in order to rebroadcast it wherever it is needed. Otherwise, it will not work.

That said, we can simply say that wireless range extenders from NETGEAR are designed to accommodate the needs of homes and other small spaces around us, but are not the best option for large commercial use.

The table below highlights the advantages and disadvantages of NETGEAR extenders 

 What is an access point?

NETGEAR wireless access points are hardware devices that have been designed to enable your Wi-Fi devices to connect to a wired network. These are often used in offices and large buildings, such as malls and other story buildings. They simply connect to your already existing wired router through an Ethernet cable and project the Wi-Fi signal in the chosen area. If you do not have a router in the room which you are in and would like to access the internet, all you need to do is install an access point and connect it to the main router in your house via an Ethernet cable.

To add on that, NETGEAR wireless devices can handle more than 60 connections simultaneously. So, if you are within an environment with high traffic, you can maintain a Wi-Fi connection with no disruptions when you use a wireless access point.

The table below highlights the advantages and disadvantages of wireless access points from NETGEAR

 What are the differences between NETGEAR extenders and Wireless Access Points? 

Despite the fact that NETGEAR extenders and wireless access points fall in the same category of network devices and perform a few similar functions of boosting your Wi-Fi network, there are significant differences between them. The table below highlights these differences. 

Verdict: Which one is better suited to match your internet needs- NETGEAR extenders or NETGEAR wireless access points? 

NETGEAR range extenders are the most ideal and most efficient devices designed to expand and improve your home wireless network. So, if you live in a small to medium-sized home and are constantly experiencing Wi-Fi dead spots, the best thing to do would be to purchase NETGEAR range extenders. However, if you are looking for a suitable solution to improve the wireless network in large homes with multiple floors, large office buildings and other high traffic buildings, then the NETGEAR wireless access points may be a better option for you.

FAQs

1. How effective are NETGEAR Range extenders?

As we mentioned in this write-up, NETGEAR range extenders have been designed to boost your internet speeds and expand coverage. However, they can only do so much. That said, their effectiveness is determined by factors such as your internet plan speeds, they type of router you are using, the general layout of your home, and the type of devices you are using to connect devices.

2. Do wireless access points reduce my internet speeds?

No, they do not. They aren’t designed to decrease or increase the internet bandwidth, meaning that they do not have much impact on your internet speeds.