Best Way To Extend Wi-Fi Outside [7 Easy Ways to Extend Wi-Fi Outside]

Do you believe you need to be a network administrator to extend the WiFi range?

Consider again!   

When your WiFi connection is functioning right, you don’t think about it, but when it isn’t, the slow speeds, dropped connections, and hot spots can drive you insane, capable of doing anything because you’ve spent whatever it takes to extend your WiFi and make things work properly.  

You don’t have to, thankfully.   

There are numerous ways to enhance WiFi range outside, from room to room, or from the built environment to the building without spending a fortune or becoming a certified network administrator.   

Your options depend on the environment you’re in, the equipment you’re using, and the results you want to accomplish.   

We’ve listed the best way to extend wi-fi outside and a few scenarios, some dos, and don’ts, and a summary of them all below to help you make a more informed decision about trying to extend your WiFi signal.

How Do I Increase the Range of My Wi-Fi?

In addition to common hacks that expanded the overall WiFi range, repeaters and mesh networks are two commonly used options for extending Wi-Fi.

Repeaters are small antennas that replicate the router’s configuration, including the password and other credentials.

Then it appears and behaves like a regular router, to which you must log in as you move around, piggybacking on the signal of the original router.

Repeaters are also referred to as boosters or extenders. Setting up a mesh network as an alternative. Mesh networks are made up of routers that connect and amplify one another. These only require one internet connection and distribute the signal based on proximity.

Is It Possible to Extend My Wi-Fi Outside?

Make sure that extending your Wi-Fi tends to make sense in the first place before considering any solution. Keep an eye out for outdoor outlets, other sources of power, and interior spaces such as garages and sheds that are close to the Wi-Fi area.

The range of the equipment near the exterior walls will be adequate. If your deck has a socket next to the door, you may only need one device to provide adequate coverage in that outlet. Wi-Fi signals can be disrupted by humidity, temperature, and rainfall.

As a result of these weather events, the power and range of any device you use are reduced. Select equipment with sufficient power and weatherproofing features to compensate for these factors.

To determine your current range and strength, use a Wi-Fi signal testing app. Look for natural or man-made features, such as thick walls or metal fencing, that could interfere with Wi-Fi.

ALSO READ: How To Turn Off WiFi Calling? (Easy Steps Guide!)

8 Best Ways to Extend Your Wifi at Home

1. Determine the best location for your router or access point

The range of your wireless router or access point determines how strong your WiFi signal is (AP). Most wireless routers or access points (APs) broadcast omnidirectional wireless signals, which means the Wifi connection is spread in all directions.

Sectorized access points (APs) broadcast wireless signals in a 45- or 90-degree radius, but they’re only used in business environments. In an ideal world, you’d put your AP in the exact center of your house.

Because the WiFi signal is centralized, it can extend and penetrate every meter of your house evenly.

However, in most cases, a combination of factors prevents a straightforward repositioning from being the quick fix, especially if you’re trying to extend your wireless signal to an open place, such as the basement or back garden.

Determine the best location for your router

Large structures, such as walls and bookshelves, as well as materials like glass, steel, and stone, will reduce the strength of your wireless signal. The optimal position of your AP may also conflict with your aesthetic.

Wireless routers are placed in inconspicuous locations for a reason: they are unsightly! True, most home wireless routers have blinking lights and large antenna arrays, as if they came straight out of a science fiction film.

Even “wireless” routers and access points usually require at least one cable to provide capacity and Internet access. Running cable is time-consuming and requires some ingenuity.

Unless your house is still being built and cables can be concealed in the walls, you will almost always have some visible cable.

It may take a little more time and sacrifice in terms of aesthetics, but by the end of this article, you’ll know how to organize your gear around your home or office’s unique layout. Our professionals will teach you the intricacies of public network installation.

2. Purchase a mesh router system

Purchase a mesh router system

A mesh router system is a great option for people who want to eliminate multiple Wi-Fi dead spots in and around their homes.

Consider them a network of Wi-Fi extenders that communicate with one another to create a larger Wi-Fi network throughout your home; one mesh connector plugs into your modem, and then other hubs are placed throughout your home.

Because it is a modular system, you can scale up by adding more mesh points whenever you want. Another significant benefit of a mesh Wi-Fi network is that it creates a single signal Wi-Fi network rather than each Wi-Fi extender creating a separate network.

Mesh routers that support the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard, such as Nest Wifi (if you have a Google smart home) or Amazon eero (if you have an Alexa smart home), are currently a little pricey, but they’re the best way to ensure an amazing connection throughout your space.

3. Avoid repeaters at all costs

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: avoid repeaters.

People have attempted to solve the problem of WiFi range extension by installing additional wireless networks or employing signal repeaters. This will undoubtedly extend the wireless signal’s range.

A transceiver may complete the task, but it will not be a successful job. Consider the following example: You live in a two-story house with your Internet connection and modem network in one of the ground-floor corners.

The bedrooms for your children are on the top floor, on the other side of the house. Your children are the most frequent WiFi users in your home, and they are complaining loudly about poor WiFi signal strength and dropped connections.

In order to extend the range of your WiFi, you set up a wireless repeater near your children’s bedrooms. The children can now use WiFi in their rooms without difficulty. The issue arises when your children leave their rooms and bring their electronic devices downstairs.

Avoid repeaters at all costs

The devices will stay connected to the third-floor router or router, and the kids will have to change their network with each floor or complain to you that the WiFi isn’t working.

Unless all of the equipment is managed by a control system or truly united management system, you will be essentially developing new wireless communications wherever the additional equipment is placed.

Because the equipment’s radio signals can interfere with one another, roaming around the house while having a consistent WiFi signal is impossible.

4. Indoor range extenders are less expensive but less reliable.

The mesh setup described above can be replicated by using a standard router in conjunction with enclosed Wi-Fi range extenders or repeaters. This option is a little less expensive.

The mesh satellite units would be replaced by the extenders. The setup is a little more difficult, but you should be fine if you follow the beginner guide that comes with the extension cable.

Also, make sure the extender you buy is compatible with your router, particularly if it’s older. For ease of use, consider extenders made by the very same supplier as your router.

Many newer devices, such as the D-Link AC2600 Wi-Fi extender (DAP-1860), which claims to extend Wi-Fi into your backyard and is compatible with any router, are interchangeable.

Wifi Extender

Bear in mind that most wifi extenders will cut your Wi-Fi signal in half because they start receiving the wifi device and then rebroadcast it on the same channel that uses the same radio. Expect slower speeds when connected to an extender rather than the router.

This will allow you to get the most out of the extender’s bandwidth. Remember that many routers can also function as extenders, so installing a cheap router and using your aged one as a wireless connection extender is another option.

Examine your current router to see if it is still functioning as a wireless router (AP) or extender. Because a new router will almost certainly provide better coverage, including some open-air coverage, using the outdated modem as an extension lead may provide you with the additional Wi-Fi coverage that you require.

The mesh system outperforms the router plus extenders because the mesh devices form a single network, eliminating the need to reconnect to Wi-Fi when moving from room to room or outside.

Mesh systems, in general, are set to easily connect your phone or laptop to the nearest mesh unit.

You have two nodes when using an extender, one for the modem and another one, which you may need to switch between as you move around.

5. Use a unified management system

If you want to extend the Wifi connection in your conference room, is a must. Most enterprise-grade wireless systems, such as those from Ruckus Wireless and Aerohive, include a cloud management system that lets you manage all of your office’s APs.

A unified management system has the advantage of allowing all of your APs to simulcast the same wireless network, eliminating the need for users to log on and onto different networks, as they move around your office.

When you use a unified management system, you can add Adapters to your framework as needed to extend WiFi signals.

6. Powerline adapters are a last-resort option for outdoor Wi-Fi

Wireless cables are a low-cost option that uses your existing in-wall electrical systems to extend your signal.

Some can be plugged into an open-air electrical socket, but finding a low-cost, weather-resistant model will be difficult. If you plug an indoor powerline adapter into an outdoor covered outlet, it can also overheat.

The outdoor range will be limited, but it should improve on your current setup.

7. Make sure your equipment is properly configured

Using more expensive equipment is a two-edged sword. On the one hand, you can completely customize your equipment to perform optimally in your environment. On the other hand, you must be aware of what you are doing.

You should avoid the overcrowded 2.4 GHz band and instead use five GHz. You should not allow SSIDs to broadcast on the 2.4 GHz band.

Although this band can absorb walls more effectively than higher frequency bands, it cannot support higher speeds and frequently competes with microwaves, cordless phones, and remote controls, resulting in interference.

Faster wireless performance and throughput can be achieved by using an 802.11 AC wave 2 access point that only broadcasts on 5 GHz.

Because 5 GHz WiFi is compatible with all modern devices and this range is widely unused, you will not experience dropped connections or lost packets while browsing the Internet.

BONUS: How to Extend Your WiFi Signal to a Different Building?

Perhaps you have a cottage in the backyard, or your office is divided into two structures.

Extending existing WiFi outside and connecting the two may appear impossible at first, but if you follow our advice, it is neither difficult nor expensive.

For example, extending your WiFi outside to another building with store-bought or enterprise-grade charging points is not recommended because the wireless signal will be severely weakened and possibly unusable by the time it reaches the end user’s device.

1. When possible, use cable

Although it may seem counterintuitive given that you’re extending your wireless network, connecting two buildings via cable is always the fastest and least latency method. 

Although optical fiber cable can be run over much longer distances, such installations are costly and necessitate digging permits and other complicated city regulations.

2. Select outdoor access points

The best way to extend your WiFi range outside to a pool, backyard, or garage is to install an outdoor access point in the area where WiFi is required. Weather-resistant outdoor access points perform similarly to indoor access points.

Some outdoor access points, such as those manufactured by Ruckus Wireless or AeroHive, can be controlled by a single unified management system.

Because outdoor access points are typically more expensive than indoor access points, we only recommend them if you require excellent WiFi outside.

3. Use a wireless bridge to bridge the gap

If running cable is not an option, there is a very cost-effective alternative that can work under the right conditions. With a proper line of sight, you can use a wireless bridge to extend your WiFi signal from one building to another.

A wireless bridge uses microwave or infrared transmission to connect two or more buildings to a single Internet connection. A piece of equipment must be installed on each building for a wireless bridge to function.

Both pieces of equipment must be able to “see” each other clearly.  

Despite the need for some cabling and additional wireless equipment (such as network switches), this option is significantly less expensive than running fiber optic cable and can cover similar distances with very high throughput.

Conclusion On The Best Way To Extend Wi-Fi Outside

This should provide you with several hundred square feet of coverage outside your house. Systems can be costly, but they are usually simple to set up for inexperienced users.

I believe that using an outdoor extender is the best option, but there aren’t many consumer-rated options on the market right now. Consider the Netgear Orbi system, which now includes the Orbi Outdoor, if you can afford it.

It’s pricey, but the entire system will revolutionize your home Wi-Fi experience.

FAQs About Way To Extend Wi-Fi Outside