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Wireless Router Signal Booster Types

Omkar Phatak
What is a wireless signal booster? What are its various types? Read to get all the answers.
One of the most crucial features of a wireless router is its coverage range. Due to physical obstructions and limited transmission power, your wireless network range can be significantly restricted. If your router's signal transmission range is found to be inadequate, then you can install a wireless booster to enhance it substantially.

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There are many factors that affect the reception of your router's signal. This includes physical obstructions, determined by the location of the router and geometry of its surroundings. Other than that, the router's transmission frequency, degree of noise on that frequency band, and its transmission power matter a lot.
If you are new to wireless networking and have recently realized that your router has limitations, you need to look for a device that can extend the range. They are the solution, if you want to remedy the router's inherent limitations.

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Working

There are many types of boosters. The basic principle of their working is quite similar. A router's wireless signal is essentially an electromagnetic signal that drops down in intensity, in inverse relation to the square of distance.
What most range extenders do is, they are transceivers that receive the wireless signal or retransmit it back again. Some devices boost the transmission signal strength and range of the router to extend its reach.

Types

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If you are looking for a signal booster, you could go for any of the following devices to increase the range. They are all available in any consumer electronics store.

Repeaters

A wireless signal repeater does exactly what its name signifies. They are devices that are installed to simply boost the signal to a longer distance. The signal transmitted by your router is received by the device and retransmitted with greater power.
Repeaters can work wonders in boosting the range of your wireless network. Purchase one to see your network's reach go beyond its existing limits.

Signal Amplifier

Using a wireless signal amplifier and installing it on your router itself, will boost the power of the transmission signal, which will automatically extend its range. The increase in the transmission power of the signal will ensure that it reaches further before it damps out.

Booster Antenna

Another option to boost the overall range of your wireless network, beyond its inherent limits, is to simply replace its antenna with a powerful one or go for multiple transmission antennas. This alternative is strongly recommended by experts.

Access Point

Most industrial settings opt for a wireless access point, which works in conjunction with a router, to boost signal strength and cover a wider area. They are widely used to provide wireless Internet access, in widely spread out networks.
You could use one of the many options mentioned here. All that you have to do is look for a signal booster that exactly matches your requirements.