Are you constantly battling pixelated images and endless buffering, turning your anticipated movie nights into frustrating experiences? Tired of being tethered to that one corner of your house where the WiFi signal is strong enough for streaming your favourite shows?
It’s time to kick those streaming woes to the curb and transform your home into a streaming paradise (well, almost) with the right WiFi range extender.
WiFi range extenders, particularly those utilizing the power of WiFi 6 (and above) technology, ensure stable streaming around your home – even if you have more than one floor, and thick walls.
The task of picking the perfect WiFi range extender for seamless streaming can seem daunting, given the multitude of options available. That’s where I come in.
In this article, I’ll take a look at some of the best WiFi boosters, extenders and Mesh networks you can buy in the UK in 2023, and look at the things you need to know and check before buying.
Best WiFi Extender UK 2024
Best combination of good performance, good features, and a good price.
Best Value: WiFi range extender with great performance at a very tempting price
Solid performance and speeds, great price for WiFi 6 support
Excellent choice with great speeds on WiFi 6, but costs more
Another solid – and very cheap – WiFi range extender that’s a bit slower than the others
Table of Contents
Who Needs A WiFi Range Extender?
Isn’t My Broadband Router Enough?
When you subscribe to broadband service (via an ISP – Internet Service Provider – such as Virgin Media, Sky, etc), they supply you with a broadband router, which also serves as a WiFi access point.
The router connects to your ISP’s wires with a cable. Then, you can connect your internet devices (computer, Smart TV, etc) to the router directly with an Ethernet cable. But if you don’t want cables running around your house – or if those devices are on a different floor – you’re going to need a wireless solution.
Luckily, that same router also casts a WiFi net around your house – so you can connect your devices (including your mobile phone, laptop, tablet, or even a WiFi smart plug) to the internet without needing any wires.
The problem? The WiFi network created by your router can only go so far. Once you move too far from your router’s WiFi range, your broadband connection will start to fail – it’ll get slow, or you might suffer from constant disconnections, or not be able to connect at all.
The distance your router can reach depends on a lot of factors – first, it depends on how good the router you receive from your ISP is. (Personally, I’ve had good results with Virgin Media’s Hub) But the WiFi network’s quality also depends on things like electrical devices in your room (even a microwave can disturb the WiFi connection), the thickness of your walls, etc’.
How does all this affect streaming TV watching? Well, HD streaming video needs a lot of bandwidth. According to Netflix, an HD stream uses up to 3GB per hour, and 4K streams use up to 7GB/hour. This means that if you’re watching an episode of Stranger Things in 4K, your TV would have to download almost 7GB of data. If it’s connected via WiFi – and the signal is bad – the TV will struggle to get those 7GB in time for you to watch them smoothly – and you’ll encounter buffering.
What Is Buffering?
Streaming TV is being downloaded to your device in real-time. In order to prevent disruption in the middle of the programme/movie you’re watching, a small portion of it will be preloaded into your device. Then, while you’re already watching, the device will keep downloading the next chunk and the one after that, with you still watching the previous chunk that was already downloaded.
If your WiFi connection (or broadband in general) is too slow, the streaming device can’t keep up – you will ‘finish’ watching the preloaded part before the next one had enough time to download, and your programme will STOP, until the device can fill the buffer again – i.e., download the next chunk.
My WiFi Is Bad – What Can I Do?
If you want to carry your broadband connection further away from your router – these are your main options:
1. WiFi Range Extenders
Note: For simplicity, I’ll use the terms WiFi booster and WiFi extender interchangeably, although these used to be two different things.
So, what does a WiFi range extender do? Let’s say your router is on the first floor, and you want to use the internet on the second floor.
In this example, your ISP’s router only manages to hold a strong WiFi connection up to the middle of the staircase to the second floor.
And that’s where the WiFi booster comes in – it sits in the middle of the way – let’s say, near the staircase – where it “catches” your router’s WiFi signal at a place where it’s still strong. Then, the booster, well, “boosts” that WiFi signal – giving it an extra strong push, and extending its range up to the second floor.
In most cases, these devices are small boxes that connect directly to your power sockets. The easiest solution is to buy ones that keep the same network running around the house – which means you won’t need to connect to a different WiFi network when you go upstairs, for example.
It’s important to note that WiFi range extenders will never give you a perfect connection – even the best ones, will lose some of the speed your router is broadcasting, due to the process the signal has to go through when it jumps from the router to the extender and outwards. But generally speaking, the best WiFi extenders will give you a strong, stable connection – and, in most cases – fast enough for your TV streaming needs.
2. WiFi Mesh System
Sometimes, a signal WiFi range extender just isn’t enough. If, for example, you live in a particularly big house – or if your walls are particularly thick, and there’s a lot of interference in the air.
If that’s the case, then even with a good WiFi extender you might still get dead spots where the WiFi signal just can’t reach. That’s where the WiFi mesh systems come in.
WiFi Mesh systems consist of two – and often three (or more!) “special” WiFi range extenders, that create a big net – or, a mesh – around your house. When you connect two regular WiFi extenders, for example, they BOTH need to be close to your main router. So you can put them in different directions, but you can’t put one on the second floor, and then another one of the third floor.
With Mesh extenders, you can use each device as part of a WiFi relay-network. So for example, the first device sits near the second floor (but close enough to the router on the first floor), and that one “throws” the WiFi signal further away, for the SECOND mesh device – that sits near the third floor – to catch.
If it all sounds a bit confusing, just remember this – WiFi Mesh Systems give you better coverage around larger areas – but they’re also more expensive, so consider whether you actually need them.
Another thing to note, is that some WiFi Mesh Systems are also meant to replace your ISP’s router – which complicates things a bit. That’s why, in this article, the one Mesh System I picked for recommendation is one that works alongside your original router, without replacing it.
3. Powerline Adapter with WiFi
A regular powerline adapter is a device that lets you skip WiFi altogether – and send data via the power lines in your home. You connect the “base” device to a power socket near your router, and connect the router to the adapter’s Ethernet port with a cable.
Then, on the second floor (or wherever you need broadband), you connect the second powerline adapter, to a different socket – and then connect your computer (or any other device with an Ethernet port) to the adapter with an Ethernet cable.
- See my picks for the Best Powerline Adapters here
This is a great system for connecting specific devices to your router, but it’s not always perfect. First, it depends on your electrical wiring – some old house will have wires that are not a good match for this technology.
Second, you still don’t get WiFi on that second floor – you only get a specific, additional wired connection.
However, if you want to extend your WiFi and a regular range extender isn’t good enough – you can use a device that combines a powerline adapter with a WiFi extender.
So – you still connect the base unit to the router via Ethernet ports. And you connect the second unit to the power socket on the second floor (or wherever you need). Then, that device uses the data it gets from the electrical wires – to also create a second WiFi network, around the adapter.
Choosing The Best WiFi Range Extender: Things To Consider
The WiFi Range extender market is a bit of a digital wild west, with weird naming conventions, features you might want and features you shouldn’t really care about.
First, make sure the WiFi extender supports the 802.11ac networking standard – most extenders sold today already do, but older ones might not, so take note of that.
Other than that, here are the main points you SHOULD look at before you buy:
1. WiFi Speed and Range
No matter which extender you get, your broadband speed is going to get cut when you use it. By how much, depends on the device’s quality – and how far it is from the router.
Still, you should get an extender that offers decent speed – even if that’s not the speed you’re going to see in a real life setting.
Most boosters have an AC-Number in their name – and that number represents that maximum theoretical speed that WiFi extender can reach. It’s a confusing number, because it only means the maximum speed the device can use across ALL the channels it’s using (see ahead) – so really, it doesn’t mean much.
Still, if the WiFi extender is too slow, then it might struggle if you have several devices using it at once, especially if it’s far from the router. So I would recommend getting an extender with at least AC-1200, which means 1200 Mbps.
Range is also something that’s hard to measure, because it depends a lot on the circumstances in your home (walls, other wireless devices, etc’) – which is why most manufacturers don’t even specify a number, but instead write things like “Excellent” as opposed to “Great” (somehow no one writes “Rubbish Coverage”).
2. Frequencies Used (Single/Dual/Tri Bands)
WiFi extenders use frequency bands in the air to transmit the data. The common band, 2.4GHz gives a wide range, but is slower. Plus, because a lot of wireless devices use it, the air can get “crowded”, and speed will suffer for it. That’s why WiFi extenders started using another band – the 5GHz frequency, which is faster – but has a more limited range.
Most WiFi extenders sold today, support both the 2.4GHz frequency and the 5GHz frequency. Old ones only supported 2.4GHz, so take note of that.
Some of the more advanced WiFi extenders use two 5GHz bands (“Dual Band”) – you won’t get faster speeds, because your device is only going to use one band at a time – but these Dual Band extenders can be useful if you have a lot of devices that connect and use the WiFi network at the same time. (As in, several family members watching streaming video at the same time…)
3. Ease of Use and Installation
These days, setting up WiFi extenders SHOULD be easy – but that’s not always the case.
If your broadband router has a WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) button, and the booster supports it as well, then setting up basically means plugging the device, and pressing the button on both the router and the booster.
However, without WPS, you would need to go into the WiFi extender’s settings and setup the wireless network from there. The good devices offer an app for that – while with others, your only choice is to go to a web address and do it from there.
Additionally, take note of the LED lights at the front of the device. Some only have one – and if something goes wrong, you’ll have to dig up the manual to find out what that blinking light means. If they have several, it might be easier to identify problems.
4. What’s WiFi 6, And Do I Need It For My Range Extender?
As someone who’s been using WiFi extenders for years, I can tell you that WiFi 6 CAN be a game-changer – but only in certain use cases.
Officially known as 802.11ax, WiFi 6 is a more advanced WiFi standard. It offers significant improvements in speed, efficiency, and capacity over its predecessor, 802.11ac or WiFi 5.
The most notable features of WiFi 6 include:
- Faster speeds: WiFi 6 can deliver speeds up to 9.6 Gbps, compared to 3.5 Gbps with WiFi 5. It means faster downloads, smoother streaming, and more reliable connections for multiple devices.
- Better efficiency: WiFi 6 uses Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) technology, which allows multiple devices to share the same channel simultaneously, reducing latency and increasing overall network efficiency.
- Increased capacity: With features like BSS Colouring and Target Wake Time (TWT), WiFi 6 can support more devices simultaneously without compromising on performance, making it ideal for busy environments like offices, homes, and public spaces.
Now, let’s discuss whether you’ll need WiFi 6 for your range extender. In my opinion, it depends on your specific needs, existing network setup, and, of course, the size of your home.
If you’re using the latest devices, such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets equipped with WiFi 6, investing in a WiFi 6 range extender can help you fully take advantage of the enhanced features, especially if your router is already WiFi 6 compatible.
On the other hand, if your devices and router are still using older WiFi standards, then a WiFi 6 extender might not be your immediate priority, as you won’t have any devices that can actually utilise its improved performance.
Upgrading your router to a WiFi 6 model first might be a better option (but most UK ISPs don’t provide one, for now).
In conclusion, a WiFi 6 range extender can provide better performance and support for more devices, but its benefits will only be fully realised if your existing system is compatible.
Oh, and if you want some more confusion – there are now WiFi 6E routers and WiFi 7… but for regular home use, without special circumstances in the house – WiFi 6 should be more than enough for most people, for now.
5. Additional WiFi Extender Features
Ethernet Port: If you want to connect a device that doesn’t have WiFi (a desktop computer for example), and your router is far from that device, then a WiFi extender with an Ethernet port is useful. You won’t get the full speed you could get by connecting your device directly to the router – it is relying on WiFi after all – but it’s a decent workaround.
Passthrough Power Socket: WiFi range extenders need to be connected to a power socket, so that’s one socket gone. Additionally, some are rather big, so if you have two sockets that are particularly close to each other, you might “lose” two. So, a booster that has an integrated passthrough which you can use as a regular power socket, is useful if you have a shortage of those.
Size and Looks: Obviously, you’re not getting the extender as a furniture piece – but if you’re going to stick it in the middle of your living room, you might want it to look nice. Plus, some are small devices that plug directly to the wall, and some are larger “desktop” devices that are meant to be put on a table.
Best WiFI Range Extenders For 2024
Rank | WiFi Extender | Our Rating | Price |
---|---|---|---|
1 | TP-Link RE450 WiFi Extender | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | CHECK PRICES |
2 | TP-Link RE300 Extender | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | CHECK PRICES |
3 | Netgear WiFi 6 Extender | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | CHECK PRICES |
4 | devolo WiFi 6 Repeater 3000 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | CHECK PRICES |
5 | TP-Link RE200 Extender | ⭐⭐⭐ | CHECK PRICES |
Pros
- Stable connection and high speeds (1750 Mbps, Dual Band)
- Smart Signal light helps find good location
- Three adjustable external antennas
- Easy to connect and maintain with a dedicated app
Cons
- Rather large – might block adjacent sockets
- Some buyers report occasional dropped connections
- Setup via web interface gets fussy
Extra Features
- Speed: Up to 1750Mbps (450+1300)
- WiFi Coverage: Up To 1115m2
- Bands: 2.4GHz and 5GHz
- Setup:WPS, App and Web
- Ethernet Port:Yes
- LEDs: 4 (Both bands, Power and Location Signal)
Bottom Line
TP-Link is a name synonymous with wireless networking – and for good reason. The RE450 Dual Band WiFi Range Extender supplies excellent value for money, with high speeds, an impressive range and a couple of nice extra features – all at a very decent price.
As with most extenders these days, the RE450 is a dual-band device, casting WiFi networks on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz. As expected, you’ll get higher speeds on the 5GHz network, but it has a more limited range – so you can pick and choose which networks to use on which devices, depending on your needs.
Setting up the device and its encryption is easy if you have a router with WPS, but even if you don’t, the app is a breeze to use. The web interface, however, was a bit of a dud for some. The Location Light is a nice plus, and helps you choose where to put the device around the house – you get a blue light if the connection is strong enough, and a pink light if the router is too far.
All in all, the RE450 represents the best combination of good performance, good features, and a good price.
Pros
- Seamless whole-home coverage (with OneMesh compatibility)
- Dual-band Wi-Fi for increased stability
- Easy setup with WPS button and smart signal indicator
- Very cheap
Cons
- May not work with all routers in OneMesh mode
- No Ethernet port
- Some reported connection issues with certain routers
Extra Features
- Speed: Up to 1200Mbps
- Bands: 2.4GHz and 5GHz
- Setup: WPS, Web
- Ethernet Port: No
- LEDs: 4
Bottom Line
Designed to work with any Wi-Fi router or wireless access point, this extender operates in both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands, offering a more stable wireless experience.
Additionally, it’s compatible with TP-Link’s OneMesh routers, creating seamless whole-home coverage for a smooth Wi-Fi experience.
Setting up the TP-Link AC1200 is quite simple with the WPS button and the smart signal indicator. The indicator helps find the best location for optimal Wi-Fi coverage by showing the signal strength when you move it around your home.
However, it’s essential to note that some users reported issues with the extender not working in OneMesh mode with specific routers.
In conclusion, the TP-Link AC1200 Mesh Dual Band Wi-Fi Range Extender is a reliable and effective solution for eliminating Wi-Fi dead zones in your home.
And while it’s not as fast as some of the other options (and doesn’t support WiFi 6) – it provides incredible value for money.
Pros
- High speeds with WiFi 6 support
- Extends coverage up to 111 square meters
- Easy setup with the Nighthawk app or WPS button
Cons
- May have issues with tri-band routers
- Some users reported difficulty linking the app
Extra Features
- Speed: Up to 1600Mbps
- Bands: 2.4GHz and 5GHz
- WiFi Coverage: Up to 111 sq.m
- Setup: WPS, Mobile App
- Ethernet Port: Yes
- LEDs: 4
Bottom Line
Netgear is another well-known brand in the networking sphere, and their EAX12 WiFi 6 booster is a reliable and well-performing device.
The extended coverage is impressive, reaching up to 1,200 sq. ft. (111 sq. meters), so it may even reach your garden.
Setting up the extender is relatively straightforward using the Nighthawk app, though some people may prefer connecting via the WPS button on their router.
The AX1600 speed combined with WiFi 6 technology provides a stable connection for uninterrupted streaming (even in 4K), gaming, and video chats.
Pros
- WiFi 6 Supported with excellent speed
- Excellent range extension
- Simple configuration using the WPS button
Cons
- Setup can get confusing
- Occasional connection issues for some
Extra Features
- Speed: Up to 3000Mbps
- WiFi Coverage: “Fits medium to large homes”
- Mesh Network: Yes
- Setup: App, WPS
- Ethernet Port: Yes
Bottom Line
Another excellent WiFi 6 choice, from a reputable company.
Setting up the repeater should be quite easy thanks WPS function – just a push of a button on my router and the device, and it was good to go. However, devolo’s app can get a bit finicky at times – something I’ve noticed on some of their other devices as well.
The extender offers a Gigabit Ethernet port for wired connections with devices such as gaming consoles and smart TVs.
The Devolo WiFi 6 Repeater 3000 is a reliable extender for anyone looking to improve their home Wi-Fi coverage, at higher speeds than most of the other options in this roundup (you CAN get even higher speeds – but prices tend to then jump up).
Pros
- Excellent Price
- Smart Signal Light to help positioning
- Small, elegant design
Cons
- Slower speeds
- Limited range
- Web installation can be a bit of hassle
Extra Features
- Speed: Up to 750Mbps
- WiFi Coverage: N/A
- Bands: 2.4GHz and 5GHz
- Setup: WPS, Web
- Ethernet Port: Yes
- LEDs: 5
Bottom Line
Sometimes you just need the basics – and the TP-Link RE200 gives you exactly that – a solid, cheap, WiFi range extender that won’t be as fast as some of the others, and doesn’t have as many bells and whistles – but it works.
If you’re not using a lot of bandwidth-heavy devices at the same time (as in, watching a 4K movie on one device and playing an intensive online game on another), the speed might be sufficient – especially if you mostly use the WiFi network for internet browsing.
Setting up is fairly easy if your router supports WPS – but can get a bit confusing if you have to go through the web interface. All in all, this is a decent kit for an excellent price – as long as it meets your needs.