How to set up Wi-Fi extenders

Modern routers typically have enough Wi-Fi range to cover apartments or small homes, but they may not have enough range to cover larger homes or homes with a lot of obstructions or multiple levels. That’s where Wi-Fi extenders can help.

Wi-Fi extenders are devices that connect to your router and extend your Wi-Fi signal across large spaces. Generally, there are two types of Wi-Fi extenders: range extenders and mesh extenders.

Range extenders work by repeating your Wi-Fi signal to a second network. You have to manually connect to the extender with the strongest signal depending on where you are in your home. If you have an older router without mesh technology, you’d use a range extender.

Mesh extenders work together as part of a mesh network to communicate with your router and one another to deliver a strong Wi-Fi signal to devices across your home no matter where you are. If you have an Amazon eero from Frontier, your first eero becomes your router and additional eeros become mesh network extenders.

The placement of your extenders is important, especially if you live in a larger home. If you’re having problems with Wi-Fi dead spots, here are some tips that can help:

• Create a rough sketch of your house, marking the router's location and Wi-Fi dead zones (places where you have Wi-Fi issues) and power outlets.
• Locate a power outlet roughly halfway between the router and a dead zone.
• Plug in the extender and follow the manufacturer's instructions to link it with your router. Note: If you have an eero device from Frontier, you’ll do this in the eero app.
• Test the Wi-Fi signal in the dead zone and adjust the extender's placement if necessary.
• In some cases, you may need multiple extenders to cover all dead zones effectively.

By choosing the optimal placement for your extenders, you can mitigate common internet issues and improve your internet experience. If you do have issues with your internet, chat with us for more help.