Wi-Fi extender/repeater

How a Wi-Fi extender/repeater work and do you need it?

If you’re stuck in a space where Wi-Fi waves don’t reach, you may be tempted to open holes in your home and layout some Ethernet cables. However, a Wi-Fi extender is the fastest and most excellent way to extend the distance of your wireless network. In this article, we will explore Wi-Fi extenders, what they do, and how to use one.

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> Check out: Top Best Video Conferencing Software for 2020

What is a Wi-Fi Extender?

Wi-Fi extenders are sometimes called “repeaters” or “boosters” but the purpose is the same. A Wi-Fi extender stands between the wireless modem (router) and your computer by exchanging messages between them.

Of course, the way the Wi-Fi extender connects depends on the model. Generally, they are connected to the router initially in order to know where to transfer the internet. The extender must then be connected to a power source, an outlet between the router and the computer.

Once the extender is set to work, it creates its own Wi-Fi network where other devices connect. When you connect a device to it, all traffic passes through the Wi-Fi extender. When it receives traffic from the computer, it automatically passes it to the router where it was initially connected.

Use Wi-Fi expanders to cover long distances

In its most basic function, a Wi-Fi extender serves as a mediator for your computer and router. For example, if your computer is too far away from the router it will receive a weak signal that is displayed with a line in the Wi-Fi indicator. However, at the point where the repeater receives the signal, it can have average power, with two or three lines.

Before you buy an extender you should first try some things. Your signal may be weak due to router positioning. First, make sure they are in a good position. You can also modify the router itself by changing the channel to see if the signal will get better. You can also try changing antennas.

If nothing solves the problem, then you should try a Wi-Fi extender. Before you buy such a device, first check the old electronic devices for a router. Some of them can also serve as Wi-Fi extender. If even this method fails then you need to purchase a Wi-Fi extender.

What is a dual-band Wi-Fi extender/repeater?

While searching for Wi-Fi extenders, you’ll find some with names like “dual-band.” A device with this label means they cover the 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz bands. The 5Ghz band has higher traffic speeds than 2.4Ghz but the latter reaches higher distances and penetrates walls more easily. Dual-band extenders/repeaters are also good for the convenience of many devices. Some devices do not work at 5Ghz as for example a budget smartphone only operates at 2.4Ghz.

What do the numbers in the Wi-Fi extender/repeaters labels mean?

Where does a Netgear N300 Wi-Fi extender differ from a Netgear N600? The answer is simple. The N300 can transmit traffic at a maximum speed of 300Mbps while the N600 at 600Mbps.

The higher this number, the more traffic the Wi-Fi extender/repeater can transmit. If an extender has only one band, for example, 2.4Ghz, the maximum speed it can transmit is 300Mbps. If there are two bands, the speed will be higher. For example, a dual-band Wi-Fi extension N750 can transmit 300Mbps on the 2.4Ghz network and 400Mbps on the 5Ghz network.

sources/ makeuseof.com

> Check next: How to delete a Gmail address and Download the Data

So what do you think about this? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below, follow us on Twitter and Facebook for more news and updates.

neoAdviser

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advice on using public Wi-Fi

Safety advice on using public Wi-Fi in 2020 From CompareMyVPN.com

A hacker’s playground

Sadly, even in 2020, using public Wi-Fi hotspots can result in your data being compromised by hackers and cyber criminals. Whether you are in a café, bar hotel or airport… pretty much everywhere now has free Wi-FI for its visitors. However… using public and unsecured Wi-fi is far riskier than people may be aware of.

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By installing a Virtual Private Network (VPN) onto your device will provide crucial security to protect your privacy at all public Wi-Fi hotspots ensuring that all personal data such as online banking and other account logins are securely encrypted and cannot be compromised.

Our VPN partner and cyber security giant Norton reported that in one year alone, 594 million people around the world were victims of cybercrime in 2015, with 21% of Americans getting their email hacked, and 12% having their financial data stolen after shopping online. Furthermore, in their 2019 Official Annual Cybercrime Report, Global cybersecurity firm Herjavec Group also commented that ‘Cybersecurity Ventures predicts cybercrime will cost the world in excess of $6 trillion annually by 2021, up from $3 trillion in 2015.’ With public Wi-Fi available everywhere, what on the surface seems like a convenience… can actually put you at serious risk and place you in a hackers playground for stealing personal information.

So how can I be hacked on public Wi-Fi and what can I do to prevent it?

The biggest risk to using unsecured Wi-FI is a hackers ability to place themselves between you and the end connection point. These are known as ‘man-in-the-middle’ attacks which occur when an individual’s data is intercepted between one connection and another. Once this is done, all of your online activity can be seen by the hacker so it is imperative to never use online banking or sign into any accounts on public Wi-Fi without the added security layer of a VPN.

It’s also far easier for hackers to install malware on to your device without you even knowing it’s happened when unsecured. Once dangerous malware is installed, they may able to view your movements and even recover passwords for your online banking and other online service providers. Not ideal!

Hackers may also utilise ‘rogue hotspots’ which is where you think your are connecting to the hotspot from the location you are in or nearby (such as Starbucks), but are really connecting to them, granting them access and sharing with them all of your online data and movements.

However, with a VPN switched on, your connection will be fully encrypted and invisible to anybody attempting this kind of attack. Ideal!

CompareMyVPN.com expert tips for staying safe whilst using public Wi-Fi

  • Use a VPN at all times! A VPN connection is essential if you are using public Wi-Fi, providing you with a fully secure and encrypted internet connection. Many of the best VPNs will also send you a handy notification advising you when your device has found an unsecured connection and with one click… you will be protected
  • Use SSL connections. If you haven’t got a VPN, make sure you don’t visit any sites that don’t have “HTTPS”. You can usually set your device or internet browser to only allow visits to more secure sites with https.
  • Do not log in to any websites that require your username and password without a VPN switched on just in case your connection has been compromised
  • Turn off all file sharing (which can we found in your system preferences). How to do this will depend on your operating system or specific device but it should be relatively straight forward. Failing this, Google for the answer!
  • Switch off your Wi-Fi off completely if you don’t need access to the internet. This will stop you automatically connecting to unsecured hotspots and will save some of that all important battery life!

So in summary, data compromises on public Wi-Fi result in thousands of individuals and businesses leaking data to cyber criminals each and every day globally, and in some cases cause enormous cost to those affected.

To get the best VPN to keep you safe whilst connecting to public Wi-Fi, why not check out our top 5 recommendations for 2020 by clicking here.

neoAdviser

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Wi-Fi 6

Everything you need to know about the new generation Wi-Fi 6

Galaxy S10, Note 10 and iPhone 11 have Wi-Fi 6 built-in

Wi-Fi 6 is the next generation of wireless technology faster than 802.11ac. More than speed, it will deliver higher performance in densely populated areas from stadiums to your intelligent home full of equipment.

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Technology certification took place on September 16, 2019 and many hardware are arriving and some of them have made their debut. The iPhone 11 comes with Wi-Fi 6 technology.

Wi-Fi has version numbers

Here are the Wi-Fi versions still in use:

  • Wi-Fi 4 is 802.11n launched in 2009
  • Wi-Fi 5 is 802.11ac launched in 2014
  • Wi-Fi 6 is 802.11ax launched in 2019

The Wi-Fi Alliance said these numbers will appear in the software so you can easily tell what technology you’re using as you connect to your smartphone, tablet and laptop over a Wi-Fi network.

The non-widely used Wi-Fi versions are as follows:

  • Wi-Fi 1 is 802.11b launched in 1999
  • Wi-Fi 2 is 802.11a launched in 1999
  • Wi-Fi 3 is 802.11g launched in 2003

A faster Wi-Fi

As usual the latest Wi-Fi standards have higher transfer rates. If you use a Wi-Fi router with a single device connected the maximum speed of Wi-Fi 6 should be 40% higher than Wi-Fi 5.

This reaches Wi-Fi 6 speed through more efficient data encoding. Simply put, more information packets are set to the same wavelet size. The chips that encode and decode these signals are becoming more powerful and processing more data.

The standard Wi-Fi 6 also speeds up on 2.4Ghz networks, while the industry is going from 5Ghz Wi-Fi for less interference, 2.4Ghz is better at penetrating walls and objects.

Higher battery life

A new “target wake time” (TWT) feature means that your smartphone, laptop and other Wi-Fi devices will have higher battery life.

When an access point communicates with a device like your smartphone, it will tell you when to set Wi-Fi to sleep and when to wake it up for future data transfer. This will save energy and Wi-Fi spend more time sleeping.

Higher performance in populated areas

A Wi-Fi network will be loaded if you are in an area with a high number of devices. You can imagine a stadium, airport, hotel or market. So you will most likely have slow Wi-Fi internet.

Wi-Fi 6 incorporates new technologies that will help in such situations. Intel says Wi-Fi will increase the average speed of each user by 4 times even in populated areas.

How Wi-Fi 6 fights overload

You may not necessarily want to know the details but that’s how it works. Wi-Fi 6 can already divide wireless channels into a high number of “sub-channels.” Each of these sub-channels will send data destined for another device. Simply put, the Wi-Fi device can communicate with more devices at the same time through a technology called Orthogonal Frequeny Division Multiple Access or OFDMA.

The new standard also has an improved MIMO system. On Wi-Fi 5 MIMO could communicate with several devices at once while with Wi-Fi 6 these devices could all respond at once.

When will you get Wi-Fi 6?

Some routers and devices have begun to appear. The Galaxy S10, Note 10 and iPhone 11 have Wi-Fi 6 built-in. The TP-Link Deco mesh network also introduced the first Wi-Fi 6 routers last year. Linksys Velop are the company’s first Wi-Fi 6 or Netgear Nighthawk AX4 routers but costly.

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So what do you think about this? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below, follow us on twitter and facebook for more news and updates.

neoAdviser

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Wi-Fi 6 technology will Increase the Speed of Wireless Networks by 3 Times

Wi-Fi 6 technology will Increase the Speed of Wireless Networks by 3 Times

The next generation of Wi-Fi has begun to appear on the first devices since last year but this week its debut is expected to accelerate.

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The Wi-Fi Alliance, the organization that oversees the implementation of the Wi-Fi standard, will launch the official certification program. This means the Wi-Fi 6 standard is now ready and tech companies will soon be able to advertise it on their products.

Wi-Fi 6 brings with it a host of technologies that combine together a more efficient Wi-Fi. The main goal of this generation is to increase the speed in an overcrowded network. The theoretical maximum speed will increase to 9.6Gbps from 3.5Gbps as it currently is but these numbers do not matter unless you have such internet speed at home.

Wi-Fi 6 comes with several tools that allow it to operate faster and transfer more data at once. Today’s launch is more of a formality. The Wi-Fi certification program, while important, is not necessary, and companies have been launching Wi-Fi 6 devices for months.

But it is a clear signal that Wi-Fi 6 has arrived which means millions of people will have access to the technology. iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro unveiled a week ago come with this technology.

Apple has not publicly certified any of its devices with the Wi-Fi Alliance. But the alliance says the Galaxy Note 10 will be the first certified phone to this standard.

> Read Next: OnePlus will Unveil its next Flagship on September 26th

So what do you think about this? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below, follow us on twitter and facebook for more news and updates.

neOadviser – TECH

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