Mesh routers usually come in two or three components rather than a single router, and you connect them in different locations throughout the house. Because of this, routers that come with mesh technology are the best because, together, they deliver a strong and fast signal over a much larger coverage area than a typical router can do on its own. The major disadvantage of extenders is that they usually have their own SSID, so you need to change Wi-Fi networks when going from one end of the house to the other.Īnother alternative: Upgrade to a mesh network. You'll generally need to plug them in close enough to your router that they receive a solid, reliable signal, but are close enough to your home's 'dead zone' to fill in the gap. Restart your router to apply the new settings. Change the 802.11 mode to 802.11n or newer for the 5 GHz band and 802.11ax or newer for the 6 GHz band. Go to Settings and open the Wireless Settings tab. These are small, affordable devices that amplify the Wi-Fi signal and therefore extend the coverage area in your home. How to boost your Wi-Fi by switching your router to 5 GHz or 6 GHz: Log in to your router as admin. If you have an especially large house and your router isn't yet obsolete, you might want to add one or more Wi-Fi extenders. But if your router is limited to obsolete 802.11n or 802.11g standards, for example, you might want to look for an 802.11ac or Wi-Fi 6 router. Not only can a new router be expensive, but it's a lot of work to set up a new router and have your various devices join the network. Replacing your router is always something of a last resort.

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