Wi-Fi extender

A device that extends a Wi-Fi signal for greater coverage. A Wi-Fi extender picks up the signals from a specific Wi-Fi access point and, depending on the brand and model of the device, either boosts the signals under the same network name (SSID) or under a new SSID that must be created and configured. Newer extenders support both the 2.4 and 5 GHz frequency bands. See SSID, Wi-Fi and cellular network extender.

NETGEAR Wi-Fi Extenders

For 802.11ac speed and large homes, the Nighthawk extender (top) covers up to 10,000 square feet, while the 802.11n N300 plugs directly into a wall outlet (see 802.11). (Images courtesy of NETGEAR, www.netgear.com)