FRITZ!Repeater– the Wi-Fi extender

With FRITZ! it is child's play to extend the range of the home Wi-Fi network. In comparison with classic Wi-Fi extenders, a Mesh system consisting of a FRITZ!Box and FRITZ!Repeaters, automatically provides for the best connections in the entire home network. Simply connect the Mesh Repeater to the network – the Mesh technology takes care of the rest.

For pure Wi-Fi extenders (also called Wi-Fi amplifiers) without Mesh functionality, configuration is usually more elaborate, and the different Wi-Fi network names make it difficult to control devices and switch them from one access point to another. As a result, manual operation is often necessary during operation to adjust the Wi-Fi network to a changed environment (e.g. number of wireless devices and distribution of the bandwidth).

In a Mesh with FRITZ! the FRITZ!Box always automatically takes care of optimizing the Wi-Fi network. No manual intervention is necessary. This makes FRITZ! perfectly suited to newcomers and families. With fast configuration and intuitive operation via the FRITZ!Box and FRITZ!Apps, you can always count on everything working smoothly. But even for more demanding uses for working from home, streaming or gaming, FRITZ offers intelligent Mesh management and other configurations options as needed.

A Mesh Repeater is a device that extends the range of a Wi-Fi network. For this the Mesh Repeater is connected with the Wi-Fi network of the router and transmits the Wi-Fi network using the same name. The Wi-Fi signal of the router is ‘repeated’ by a Mesh Repeater, but not amplified – still, extenders are sometimes called ‘signal amplifiers’.

There is only one Wi-Fi network for the wireless devices, no matter which access point they connect to. Only one Wi-Fi connection need be configured in mobile devices and computers for them to access the home network and the internet directly via all Mesh Repeaters. Since a Mesh Repeater combines the individual Wi-Fi networks of the router and repeaters into a Mesh network, they can also be managed intelligently by the router.

In contrast, when a pure extender without Mesh is used, there are multiple Wi-Fi network running parallel with different names and access information. This means that no automatic control by the router is possible, configuration is more complicated, and connection problems may arise when switching between the Wi-Fi networks.

A Mesh system is especially useful in situations where the router's Wi-Fi network does not reach every last corner, or when many wireless device are used concurrently in the Wi-Fi network.

Larger flats or houses with multiple storeys benefit from one or more Mesh Repeaters to provide perfect Wi-Fi coverage in all spaces. A Mesh Repeater also helps in locations with problematic Wi-Fi environments due to thick walls (in old buildings, for instance) or other sources of interference. This provides for more stable Wi-Fi connections and better data rates even in the attic or basement office space.

Mesh Repeaters with a LAN socket can also be connected to the router via LAN cable. This means even longer distances can be bridged in order to provide stable Wi-Fi to even the the furthest room. In what's called a ‘LAN Bridge’ the extender is also part of the Mesh and automatically receives all settings from the router.

And if the Wi-Fi network is to be extended even further in a certain direction, cascading two Mesh Repeaters is the recommended option. For this the extenders are connected in a chain via Wi-Fi or cable. This way every dead spot can be eliminated in more complex Wi-Fi scenarios.

In contrast to pure Wi-Fi extenders, which work to amplify signals in the Wi-Fi network, a Mesh Repeater offers many advantages for the configuration, control and operation of Wi-Fi connections.

Advantages of a Mesh Repeater:

• the connection is established at the push of a button
• no complicated manual configuration needed
• it automatically receives ass settings from the router, for instance Wi-Fi network name and network key
• it forms a uniform Wi-Fi network with the router and other Mesh Repeaters
• switching channels or bands takes place automatically in the entire Mesh
• centrally managed by the router or via apps

Whether an extender or a powerline device is better for you depends on the Wi-Fi environment, the size of your home, and additional conditions in your housing situation. If you would like to extend your Wi-Fi network, you have to choose between devices. The goal of being able to use reliable Wi-Fi in every room can be reached in different ways.

With a Wi-Fi extender, in most cases a connection to the router is established via Wi-Fi, but a connection via LAN cable (‘LAN Bridge’) is also possible for FRITZ!Repeaters with a LAN socket. This circumvents problematic Wi-Fi environments where, for instance, thick buildings impair transmission.

In a small or medium-sized flat where one room still does not have good Wi-Fi coverage, a single extender is generally sufficient. In larger homes and multiple-storey buildings, multiple repeaters in a Mesh or cascaded produce the desired effect.

Powerline devices present an alternative, as they transmit the internet over the mains supply and then forward the signal to terminal devices via Wi-Fi or LAN. In this sense FRITZ!Powerline devices with Wi-Fi also work as Mesh Repeaters, for they automatically receive their Wi-Fi settings from the FRITZ!Box and transmit into the same Wi-Fi network.

Since powerline uses the home's own mains supply for transmission, this wiring also determines the stability and speed that can be used via powerline. Older or poorly shielded electricity cables can therefore compromise the bandwidth. In such cases FRITZ!Powerline automatically uses intelligent mechanisms to reduce the sources of interference as much as possible and get the best out of the connection.

It is also possible to combine these solutions by using extenders and powerline together. For instance, the internet signal from the router could be initially transmitted over the mains supply by FRITZ!Powerline, and then a FRITZ!Repeater connected to one of the FRITZ!Powerline devices by LAN cable. This way thick walls can be avoided, larger distances covere, and fast Wi-Fi realized at the desired destination.

Whether a Wi-Fi extender or a powerline device is suitable for your own scenario thus depends on your individual needs and the conditions on site. If desired, our sales consultants would be happy to assist you in making the decision.