
To connect to the Internet wirelessly inside a home, you need to have a wifi router. What usually happens, however, is that the quality provided by the signal from this device does not always meet our expectations for different reasons: the Connection is too slowthe signal quality is not the same depending on the site from which we connect…
This situation is solved through a WIFI amplifier, a device that also receives the name of extender. Those who participate in this comparison work by connecting to any electrical outlet in the home to amplify the signal of the home Wi-Fi network. Now, when choosing your location, you should consider different options because, depending on your location, you will receive the signal emitted by the router better or worse and then expand it.
What plug-in Wi-Fi amplifiers have we chosen?
The selected devices are: Devolo WiFi Repeater+ AC, D-Link DAP-1620, TP-Link TL-WA850RE Y Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi Range Extender Pro. These aspects have been assessed in their analyses:
- Design: how is the build quality of the amp.
- Wi-Fi signal: If the amplifier is compatible with Wi-FI AC technology, it is much better, especially since the connection speed it reaches is higher. It can also be used in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.
- Velocity: all amplifiers include a data transfer rate on their data sheet. This value is theoretical because in practice they work at a lower speed. How does this speed behave?
- Setting: if the process is easy or problems arise.
- Use experience: If the device meets our needs and provides good performance, how is the signal quality, does it also have one or more Ethernet sockets to connect other devices via cable?
Comparison of the best plug-in Wi-Fi amplifiers: this is how we have tested them
For testing in a house of about 120 square meters Divided into two floors, at least a week has been dedicated to each model. This has made it possible to check and compare with each other not only the setup process Y commissioning of the devicealso the range and quality of your signal.
The Wi-Fi plug-in amplifier TP-Link TL-WA850RE has obtained the highest rating. Although it can only be used in the 2.4 GHz band, guarantees high performance, so its coverage and quality is the best. Also, it has a elegant design and the quality of its manufacture stands out above the rest.
TP-Link TL-WA850RE Plug Wi-Fi Amplifier: our choice and the best value for money
With dimensions of 110 x 65.8 x 75.2 mm, it has a elegant design for such a device. In white, in the lower right corner it incorporates a blue LED indicator: it has the shape of a ring and informs about the signal intensity level that the extender receives from the home router; in this case, the manufacturer recommends that at least three of its five indicators be active.
Data sheet
- Buttons: Range Extender and Reset.
- Wireless standards: IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11b.
- Safety: WEP 64/128/152-bit, WPA-PSK / WPA2-PSK
- Dimensions: 110 x 65.8 x 75.2mm.
- Others: 2.4 GHz frequency, Ethernet port, Tether app, speed 300 Mbps.
Its pairing and configuration stands out for its simplicity Y speed thanks to its compatibility with WPS routers, although it could also be used with those that are not. Since the one used in the tests is, it was enough to press its WPS button and then click the button range extender of the amplifier that is inside the aforementioned LED indicator ring.
Provided with two internal antennas and with a maximum speed of 300 Mbps, operates only in the 2.4 GHz band. Both its range and power achieve good results. Meanwhile, in its lower part, next to the button resethave a ethernet port to connect it to other devices via cable such as a computer or a tablet.
The TP-Link TL-WA850RE plug-in wifi amplifier it can, on the other hand, be configured and controlled through the Tether app that is compatible with Android and iOS: for example, it is possible to activate the ‘Night Mode’ to turn off its LED indicators at night or consult information of interest to find the best place to put it.
The best, the worst and conclusions
- The best: design and performance.
- Worst: It does not operate in the 5 GHz band.
- Conclusions: offers the best design and performance, providing a signal that stands out not only for its stability but also for the coverage range it guarantees.
D-Link DAP-1620 plug-in Wi-Fi amplifier: the alternative
Like the Xiaomi model, its two antennas are external and foldable. In addition, at the design level it shares, in this case with the TP-Link TL-WA850RE device, another important and useful feature: it is a intensity indicator which, through LED lights, informs about the quality of the Wi-Fi signal that it captures and then amplifies it.
The Link DAP-1620 plug-in wifi amplifier On the other hand, it offers the advantage of using it in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands thanks to its compatibility with Wi-Fi AC technology, being able to reach Theoretical speeds up to 1,300 Mbps.
Their performance is positive and during the tests it has responded perfectly, both when configuring it through the WPS button of the router with which the tests have been done and through the D-Link Wi-Fi appwhich can be used in both android mobile devices What iOS.
Other information of interest are: Wi-Fi protected access (WPA/WPA2) and WPS (PBC), and the option to use it as a wired access point through its Ethernet port.
Devolo WiFi Repeater+AC plug-in Wi-Fi amplifier
dual band Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz and 5 Ghz) thanks to its Crossband Repeating functionalityintegration of two Gigabit LAN ports, combined speed transfer speeds up to 1,200 Mbps, built-in security (WPA, WPA2 and WPA3)… These are some of the features available in the Devolo brand proposal that, like other models in its class, works as access point Also, which is what happens with D-Link and TP-Link devices.
By having a discreet design it goes pretty unnoticed. Meanwhile, its size and weight make it easy, as expected, for it to be easily moved to any electrical outlet in the home. Its installation is not particularly difficult because it links to the home router through the WPS button that these devices incorporate.
However, there were a couple of times when this connection was lost and it had to be restarted again: this is known because the LED button that corresponds to the home network (it is located in the central part) lights up red and does not blank which is normal.
Users can, on the other hand, to complete is setting manually through the devolo Home Network app which supports both Android and iOS mobile devices. The indications provided by your assistant (both written and visual) are simple, so following the indicated steps there is no problem.
The experience with Devolo Repeater+AC Wi-Fi plug-in amplifier It is good, although on specific occasions it is perceived that both the stability of the connection and the transmission speed could give more of themselves.
Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi Range Extender Pro plug wifi amplifier
It has a toy-like design and dimensions of only 80 x 70 x 54 mm. With a cover letter like this it could go unnoticed, but the truth is that not because it is black. While, and unlike his opponents, only can be configured via a mobile app. In this case, the apps It’s Xiaomi Mi Home. You need to create a user account and follow the steps.
To pair it with the router at home, it can be done through Bluetooth or by marking the device itself from a displayed list. It is very important, in any case, that the repeater is as close to the router for the process to be completed successfully, otherwise it will have to be repeated.
It is known that everything is correct because the indicator light located at the bottom center of the amplifier (represented by a small dot) goes from flashing yellow to solid blue. The usability and manageability of this application, like the others, is simple and you quickly get used to it even if you haven’t used one. apps of this type before.
If we want to modify both the name and the password of the repeater we can do it. Despite its small size, the work carried out by its two external antennas It is good in general terms, both for the signal range as their stability. Of course, the Xiaomi Mi Wi-fi Range Extender Pro plug wifi amplifier It only operates in the 2.4 GHz band.
*All purchase prices included in this article are current as of January 4, 2023.
[Recuerda que si eres usuario de Amazon Prime, todas las compras tienen gastos de envío gratuitos. Amazon ofrece un período de prueba gratuito y sin compromiso durante 30 días.]
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