what's the difffernce btween a WiFi Extender and a WiFi adapter

ZakkyCole

The WiFi reception in the upstairs rooms of our house is poor, Is it best to purchase a WiFi adapter or a Wifi extender to use upstairs. What is the difference

Steve_KK

A WiFi adaptor would usually be a device to connect to a computer and/or laptop that doesn't have WiFi capabilities to your WiFi network. This could be a USB device/dongle, or an internal PCIe card for a desktop PC.

A WiFi Extender would be a stand-a-lone device that connects to your existing WiFi network and repeats the signals, thereby extending the range of the WiFi network. It sounds like a WiFi extender is the device you are after.

If you intend to use a computer upstairs for gaming be aware that a WiFi extender will add latency (the time the signal takes to travel between devices), as it has to go through the extender. This probably won't be an issue as we are talking fine margins, but a hardcore gamer would ideally want a hardwired ethernet connection.

Regards,
Steve

DoaM

If the WiFi reception is generally poor upstairs, then your WiFi extender will need one of the following:

1) Be placed in an interim location so it can get a decent signal from the main WiFi to be able to repeat it upstairs

2) Be connected upstairs via an Ethernet cable from the main router

3) Be connected via powerline adapters to the main router

Option 2 is best; option 1 is least cost; option 3 requires a powerline adapter near the router, and another one upstairs. (The one upstairs can be a combined powerline adapter/WiFi extender/access point).

neilmcl

If your router is capable of dual speeds (2.4Ghz and 5Ghz) then it may be worth getting a dual band wifi adapter, such as this or similar: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07KJTVT9R/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_wuRyCbS1DRXM5

I've always had issues with a bit of a blackspot in my office/spare bedroom upstairs, used a powerline adapter for a while but got fed up it constantly dropping out so bought the wifi adapter instead, get a near perfect signal now connected via 5Ghz.