Many people use WiFi boosters to improve their WiFI signal coverage. But do they have an impact on your Internet speed?
If you are also asking the same question: Do WiFi boosters increase Internet speed, you’re on the right page.
As long as you know the cause of why you’re getting slow internet, you will be able to address that by using a WiFi booster.
So, does a WiFi booster increase your Internet speed? Let’s find out!
WiFi boosters increase Internet speed by extending the signal from the router to your device. They amplify your WiFi signal and harness speed for a better Internet connection. As a result, all corners of your home are covered.
Before we get into the details of how WiFi boosters increase Internet speed, here are a few things you must consider.
Things to Consider with WiFi Boosters and Internet Speed
WiFi boosters do more than just extend your WiFi signal’s coverage. By filling up dead spots, they also improve your Internet speed.
Since the WiFi signal is directly related to Internet speed, when your signal is strong, the performance of your Internet also enhances.
✅ The Number of Devices on the Network
When you connect a lot of devices on the same network, you can experience slow browsing speeds and latency.
✅ Obstacles Between Devices
Walls, doors, and large furniture can block your WiFi signal and reduce internet quality. Using a booster can resolve that.
✅ Distances Between Your Router and Booster
For your WiFi booster to improve your internet speed, you need to place it at an optimum distance to your router.
✅ Type of WiFi Booster
The type of booster you use also matters as they can make a difference in terms of how they speed up your internet connection.
While WiFi boosters are great, knowing other ways to increase your Internet speed is always good. But when do you decide to use WiFi boosters?
Full Details on Will a WiFi Booster Increase Internet Speed
It can be hard for a single router to cover an entire house with a fast, reliable Internet connection.
But with WiFi boosters supporting your routers, you can stream videos, play games, and browse the Internet in every corner of your home.
They also have extra features and advanced technology to help increase your router’s efficiency.
How Do WiFi Boosters Increase Internet Speed
The most important thing to note with your internet and WiFi boosters is that you can never go faster than your provider offers.
However, there are a lot of factors that can surely affect your WiFi speeds at home.
Do WiFi boosters and extenders improve your internet speed? Technically, no. They can’t get you beyond your published speeds.
However, if you’re experiencing significantly slow speeds due to a bad WiFi signal, a booster will surely speed it up.
Can WiFi boosters increase your speeds?
- They won’t go over your provider’s published speeds.
- WiFi boosters will improve your home’s coverage.
- Boosters and extenders can increase your actual speeds in low-signal areas.
- WiFi boosters can improve signal strength and quality, improving your speeds.
Note: If your internet plan is up to 500Mbps, WiFi boosters won't allow you to go beyond this.
What You Need to Know About Internet Speed and WiFi Signal
There are a lot of factors that can affect your WiFi connections. You need to fully understand the difference between internet speed and WiFi signal to know how boosters can help you with your problem.
Your speed is what your provider allows you when you connect to the internet.
On the other hand, the WiFi signal is your device’s connection to your router. Poor WiFi signal quality can cause your connection speeds to slow down.
The difference between internet speed and WiFi signal:
- Internet speed refers to the rate at which data travels to and from your device.
- WiFi signal strength is how strong the connection between your device and router.
- Internet speed is not the same as your WiFi signal strength and quality.
- Improved signal strength means better internet speeds, but only up to a point.
Note: Your overall WiFi signal strength and quality determine your device’s internet speed, but it’s bottlenecked by your provider.
What Does Your WiFi Booster Actually Increase
Now that you understand what actually causes your slow internet speeds at home let’s look at how you can increase it.
We need to know how your WiFi booster works and what it does that can greatly improve your speeds.
If you have noticed that the farther away you are from your router, the slower your internet gets.
It’s because the WiFi signals carry the internet to your phone, and if it’s not strong, it will affect the speeds.
Here’s what your WiFi booster increase:
- Increases the signal quality between your router and devices.
- Increase the signal strength between your router and devices.
When Do You Decide to Use WiFi Boosters to Increase Speeds
One of the telltale signs that you need a WiFi booster to improve your internet speeds is if you don’t get near your provider’s published speeds.
For example, you got a 500Mbps internet plan but are constantly getting only 200Mbps or less.
You’ll also notice this slowdown if you’re far from your router. This is especially true if you’re using your devices in an area that’s near a blind spot and doesn’t get excellent signal quality.
Here’s how to know that you need to use a WiFi booster:
- Go to an internet speed testing site like Speedtest.net.
- Check your internet speeds at different parts of your house.
- Take note of your WiFi signal as you test your internet speeds.
- Get a booster if you’re getting slower speeds in a lot of areas.
Note: Make sure you test in areas where you use your devices, like the bedroom, to see if the speeds match your internet plan.
Why Use WiFi Boosters Improve Internet Speeds
One of the main reasons why you want to use WiFi boosters is they can dramatically improve your internet speeds.
Now, it won’t go over the speeds set by your provider. However, it can offer you a more stable connection throughout your home.
You want to determine the primary cause of why your speeds are dropping.
If you are experiencing slow speeds due to a poor WiFi signal in parts of your home, it’s a sign that you need to use a booster to make it better.
Here are the main reasons why you want to use a WiFi booster:
- Boost WiFi signal for extended coverage area.
- Eliminate WiFi dead spots in your home.
- Increase internet speeds due to poor WiFi signal.
- WiFi boosters are easy to set up.
Pro Tip: Most WiFi boosters will work with your current router set up as they are compatible.
Best WiFi Boosters to Increase Speed
Now that we’ve talked about everything that you need to know about getting and using a WiFi booster to improve your internet speed, it’s time to get one.
Not all boosters are created equal. There are going to be models that will work well depending on your networking setup.
The main thing here is that you want to get a robust and dependable WiFi booster that is capable of filling out dead spots around your home so you can enjoy increased internet speeds that get close to what your provider offers.
Here are the best WiFi boosters you can get:
- TP-Link N300 WiFi Extender
- Netgear WiFi Range Extender EX6120
- TP-Link AC750 WiFi Booster
- D-Link AC1750 Plug-in WiFi Booster
- Xiaomi WiFi Booster and Amplifier
Note: These models will greatly differ in terms of signal boost range, price, ease of use, and performance.
Adding a WiFi booster to your network can greatly pay off if you have been suffering from slow internet speeds due to a poor coverage area.
Using a booster will fill up those dead spots and zones so you can enjoy a stable connection at optimum speeds wherever you are.
Now, if you still suffer from slow internet, you can always contact your ISP for assistance.
Bottom Line
Do WiFi boosters increase internet speed? Now that you know that using one can help you achieve faster speeds wherever you are in your home.
Eliminating signal dead spots in your home will get you a better overall connection so you don’t have to actively search for the best place to go in your home.
Read Next: Will a Wifi Extender Help With Buffering?
Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.