Expanding Reliable WiFi Internet Access Throughout Your Home

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Want to add internet access to watch streaming movies but you don't have an ethernet port nearby to directly connect your TV to the internet, and your entertainment system to too far away from your WiFi router to get a strong enough signal? Want to boost your WiFi signal throughout your home for use on your laptop, Kindle, and cell phone? I recently solved this dilemma.

Expanding Reliable WiFi Internet Access Throughout Your Home

My house is not wired with Ethernet cable, which would be the best option to get fast and reliable internet access to all rooms in my home, but I bought a house built before Ethernet became standard wiring along with your cable and electricity. I'd love to be able to plug my equipment into a wall outlet, but I don't have that luxury.

You need to start with a good router. In 2018, I unloaded my reliable but late model Linksys Wireless-N Router. I had bought the "N" router about 7 years ago. This year I bought a new ASUS RT-AC68U Dual-Band Gigabit Router 802.11ac Wireless-AC1900. This router has been an excellent upgrade. I found my signal strength throughout the house was better and my wi-fi stream was noticeably faster!

In 2011, I came close to buying a high-end powerline/homeplug system which allows you to simply plug one unit into your wall near the router and one unit in the wall near your HDTV or desktop computer and attach ethernet cables.

A signal is then transmitted via the copper wiring in your walls. The more direct the wiring --- the better. I got the impression from my research that it would likely not work reliably in my case because my bonus room is on the second floor and in the furthest possible room from where my router is located. Also, my house has some crazy wiring.

In 2016, Zytel came out with a Powerline solution that took care of my problem. I bought the Zyxel Pass-Thru Ethernet Adapter AV2000 Powerline 2-port Gigabit 2-Pack [PLA5456KIT]. My HDTV upstairs is connected to the adapter that is not connected to the modem. Wow! All my Roku channels load faster and a lot more reliably.

Zyxel Pass-Thru Ethernet Adapter AV2000 Powerline 2-port Gigabit 2-Pack [PLA5456KIT]

In 2011, I bought a high-quality repeater, the Amped Wireless High Power Wireless-N 600mW Smart Repeater and Range Extender, Model SR10000 (shown at left). Amped Wireless also offers a shorter range repeater (the SR300). A repeater takes your current Wi-Fi signal, boosts it significantly, and retransmits it to other areas of your home and yard.

It took a little work to get the repeater working properly. Tech support was helpful (spent 90 minutes troubleshooting) and got me up and running smoothly. It's VERY impressive. The signal to my office is now 145.0 Mbps (almost a 300% improvement).

Between the ASUS router and the Amped Wireless Repeater/Extender, our Kindle Fire, laptops, and cell phones now get great Wi-Fi signals all over the house and most of the yard.

Repeater notes:

1. If you encrypt your Wi-Fi network, be sure to encrypt the repeater signal too. This signal easily reaches the road in front of my house as well as my deck and screened in porch out back.

2. Make sure your repeater is on the same channel as your Wi-Fi. Channel 6 is usually the default channel for Wi-Fi routers. You can use any channel from 1 to 11. Channels 1, 6, and 11 have no interference with each other. Pick a channel your neighbors aren't using.

3. A free android app called Wi-Fi Analyzer can easily identify all the wifi signals in your immediate area, as well as the strength of your signals anywhere you want to test them in and around your house.

4. Just as it's a smart idea to change your default SSID and password on your router, you should also change the default SSID and password on your repeater.

5. The repeater needs to be set up reasonably close enough to your current Wi-Fi router since you need at least a 70% signal to repeat well.

6. I understand the repeater is prone to reset and lose connection if there is a power outage or even a voltage fluctuation (common to rural areas). My solution is to plug the repeater into an entry level battery backup like the CyberPower 350. It provides battery backup, electricity smoothing, and line protection to keep your repeater running without interruption --- until the battery inevitably fails 3 to 7 years later and you eihter need to buy a replacement battery or a new unit.

Here are three related links which you may find helpful:

Replace Your Cable Internet Modem and Save The Monthly Rental Fees
Information to assist you in selecting, purchasing and setting up a cable internet modem which will save you from having to pay your cable company a monthly rental or leasing fee.

Connect and Watch Internet Content on Your TV
Greater detail on internet ready HDTVs and the why you should consider steaming internet content, like Netflix, on your TV.

Setting Up A Moderately Priced Home Theater Experience
Assistance in selecting and setting up a great moderately-priced home entertainment system.

Eliminate Your Landline Phone Carrier
Detailed information on how to replace your landline service with cell phone service and keep your home phone number.

Information is from sources believed to be reliable but cannot be guaranteed. The information presented is an opinion intended to assist site visitors on using a high power wifi repeater to boost their current WiFi internet signal throughout their house.

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