Explained: What is a Wi-Fi repeater and how does it work – Times of India

At least once, most of us have found ourselves in a situation where we are struggling with the range of Wi-Fi routers. This is quite a common problem. Nothing can be as frustrating as a disturbed Wi-Fi connection while streaming a movie, playing a multiplayer game or during conference calls. Sometimes it may be due to the internet package you have subscribed to, but in most cases it is due to the range of your Wi-Fi router range. A Wi-Fi repeater can help you get rid of this trouble. But What is a Wi-Fi repeater and how does it work? Here’s the answer to your questions.
What is a Wi-Fi repeater
A Wi-Fi repeater is also known by several other names such as Wi-Fi range extender or Wi-Fi extender. As the name suggests, Wi-Fi repeater is used to repeat the existing Wi-Fi signal to expand its range. This device takes an already existing Wi-Fi signal and rebroadcasts it to create a second network.
Wi-Fi repeaters help you to save your cost of getting another Wi-Fi connection and It is quite easy to install. Most of the Wi-Fi repeaters that are available in the market take up almost no space. In addition, it does not even require complex installation. Wi-Fi repeaters are generally used in offices, large offices, malls and several other places.
How does a Wi-Fi repeater works
A Wi-Fi repeater is placed at a place where it receives signal from the primary Wi-Fi router. It takes Wi-Fi signal from the router and amplifies it to transmit the boosted signal further. Although it is difficult to judge just by looking at it, a Wi-Fi router contains two wireless routers. One of the routers picks up the Wi-Fi signal and amplifies it before sharing it with the second router. The other router then broadcasts the amplified signal. It is worth noting that although the signal from the repeater will be of the same strength as of the primary router, latency and response time will inevitably increase.
As mentioned earlier, it is a relatively small device that can be simply plugged into the power socket without any assembling. Features offered by Wi-Fi routers depend on the price range it falls in. The affordable Wi-Fi repeaters come with built-in antennas while the high-end ones get adjustable antennas. Most of these devices sport status LED lights at the front. The premium repeaters can also be controlled via dedicated mobile apps.