It’s also worth trying out a few different wireless settings, such as switching radio bands, before you splash out on a new bit of kit. You might find that this gets you a better signal from your existing equipment and that there’s no need to buy an extender at all. What speeds can I expect?

Why we like it: A gorgeous design and vast functionality mean that Nest WiFi – Google’s offering – would be the best of the best, were it not for the vertiginous cost A skim of the Tenda’s technical specifications revealed the explanation. Alongside lightweight Wi-Fi hardware, the MW3 nodes also use 100Mbits/sec Ethernet ports, rather than the Gigabit type we’re accustomed to. That puts a hard speed limit of around 10MB/sec on all wired resources – including your NAS drive and your internet connection. None of this is particularly unique to TP Link. Most of the mesh networks I tested can do the same or similar things, but TP Link wins in terms of ease-of-use and accessibility.In theory you could hook up a chain of WiFi repeaters to be able to extend your signal to the ends of the Earth. In practice if you use more than one, you’ll probably lose so much signal between the two that the exercise would be pointless. The primary unit it working normally. On secondary units, this indicates a good connection to the primary unit. Solid yellow Take an Ethe rnet cable to connect your computer with one of the yellow LAN ports of the Tenda device. Whereas range extenders communicate with the router via the 2.4GHz or 5GHz radio bands, most Wi-Fi system satellites use mesh technology to talk to the router, and to each other. Each node serves as a hop point for other nodes in the system, which helps the nodes farthest from the router to deliver a strong Wi-Fi signal as they talk to other nodes and don't rely on one-to-one communications with the router. We test mesh Wi-Fi systems by setting them up just as you would in a regular home. The primary unit is connected directly to an incoming fibre broadband line, while the second is located according to the manufacturer’s recommendations – normally one or two rooms away. If there’s a third node, this will be placed in another room, creating either a star or daisy-chain topology.

Normally, we have 3 connection status: Disconnected/Connecting/Connected. When it says Disconnected, proceed with Part 4; Connecting, Part 5; Connected, Part 6. Whole Home WiFi sits between Google and TP Link in terms of functionality. It can do everything that its competitors can do, minus Google’s home control elements. Considering it is the cheapest of the three, you may not miss any of that. Right, let’s get specific. Here’s what I founded when reviewing the best WiFi extenders on the market, starting with my favourite... The best WiFi extenders 1. TP Link Deco AC1300 Whole-Home Wi-Fi System Read more: The best laptops for students and best external hard drives Frequently asked questions about WiFi extenders Do wireless extenders work?

The Tenda Nova MW3 is the cheapest mesh wireless kit we've come across, and it isn't half bad, either

Most mesh systems are designed to replace your existing router. If you’re currently using a combined modem router, you can normally set this into modem mode, allowing the mesh system to handle router duties. Powerline systems are often more expensive than repeaters but they’re a fuss-free way to extend a network connection into places that are otherwise hard to reach and can be simpler to set up. Might I be better off with a mesh Wi-Fi system? When shopping for a range extender, it's important to find one that matches your router's specs. For example, if you have a dual-band AC1900 router, get a dual-band AC1900 extender (or better). If your router supports Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) data streaming, which provides enhanced performance by sending data to compatible clients simultaneously rather than sequentially, look for an extender that supports this technology if you want to extend your MU-MIMO network. Most mesh Wi-Fi kits come with a smartphone app – for both Android and iOS – that walks you through the setup process. You can then continue to use the smartphone app to monitor and manage your mesh system. A web portal is sometimes available too, but it may not expose all of the available settings.

The downside of these speeds is that they involve a design that looks more like a small router with a separate power supply. However, this gives you more flexibility than a plug-in unit, helping you to get a better signal, while you can also use this repeater as a Wi-Fi access point. And, just like the Repeater 3000, it’s as simple as anything to set up. The WiFi 6 Repeater 5400 will be overkill for many people, but if you must get a high-speed connection to a distant corner of the house, nothing else out there comes close. The system’s strength lies in its ease of use – everything is managed via the excellent TP-Link Tether app – and its unusually broad selection of features. Not only do you get decent Wi-Fi coverage with the Deco X20 but it also comes with baked-in parental controls and antivirus protection for the whole of your network. The RE450 isn’t the cheapest Wi-Fi 5 extender, but it’s faster and more stylish than the budget competition. Don’t be put off by its age: it still deserves a place on anyone’s shortlist. Naturally, however, connecting devices to an extender via Ethernet won’t be as fast as a direct wired connection to the router because the signal still needs to travel from your router to the extender over the airwaves first. What other features should I look for? The cheapest of the mesh WiFi devices on this list and frankly, it shows. The nodes themselves are white plastic cubes with a textured top. They look and feel cheaply made.

How to choose the best mesh Wi-Fi router for you

The Magic 2 kit beats the old Magic 1 kit we had in this slot by giving you two high-speed 867Mbits/sec Wi-Fi streams for little more than the price of one, which comes in handy if you’re trying to network two or more devices. Advanced users will appreciate the companion app that shows connection diagnostics, so you can work out where to locate the plugs for the best performance. The web portal, meanwhile, lets you manage your wireless configuration, set up a guest network and apply an operating schedule so that (for example) the extended network is only available during office hours. The newer Wi-Fi 6 kits will give you even more performance if you have Wi-Fi 6 devices, but if not this is a great solution. Moreover, nearly all manufacturers offer web-based setup wizards and illustrated instructions that will help you configure basic wireless settings. Some (but not all) extenders are equipped with LED status indicators that tell you if the extender is too far from the router. Extenders can also offer advanced router-like features such as guest networking, access scheduling, and media server capabilities.

Depending on your needs, you may not need to invest in the fastest, most expensive kit you can find. Even a low-cost Wi-Fi 5 mesh system should be fast enough to deliver a connection of 40Mbits/sec or more around your home, which is plenty for working, browsing the web and even streaming 4K video. Please configure the DHCP server on the extender if the IP of the extender is any following three cases. The whole thing also syncs with Google Home control to do some cool stuff if you’ve got a lot smart technology in your home. Maybe you want the lights to switch on and the kettle to start boiling as you get in the house? Well, you could set a routine so that happens when your phone connects to WiFi. Or maybe you might want all the lights to turn off when you disconnect from WiFi? No problem.

Boost your home Wi-Fi speeds and kill dead spots with our pick of the best mesh Wi-Fi routers, including Prime Day deals

On the face of it, it’s business as usual. Setup is no different to the other mesh networks I’ve already described and the app is easy to use and offers you a lot of control over your WiFi.