Wi-Fi is an essential part of everyday life. Our phones, laptops and tablets all depend on it to keep us connected to the world no matter where we are in our homes. When we want to use it outdoors or in rooms further away from our routers, we use Wi-Fi extenders to keep the signal strong. You may be wondering just how these extenders work.

How Do Wi-Fi Extenders Work?

A Wi-Fi extender works in a similar way to a stereo amplifier. It takes the signal that it receives, amplifies it and moves it to a different channel on your Wi-Fi frequency. It can be placed anywhere that you may have trouble receiving Wi-Fi due to distance or obstructions such as walls or furniture. If you get one, make sure that it has a relatively clear path for the signal to travel to the extender first.

Are There Any Differences Between Wi-Fi Extenders and Repeaters?

Although extenders and repeaters do similar jobs, Wi-Fi extenders switch the signal to another channel, which strengthens the signal without the risk of signal interference. A Wi-Fi repeater boosts the signal on the same channel, and that can lead to slightly slower speeds and interference from other nearby routers.

How Many Wi-Fi Extenders Can Be Used?

The only limit to how many extenders you can use is the strength of the original Wi-Fi signal coming from your router. With each additional router, the signal is slightly depleted. In addition, the signal will be considerably weakened if you decide to connect them to each other. Most experts suggest that you should only have a maximum of two extenders for home use. If you have a larger home or a business space, then four extenders should be enough provided you have fast internet speeds.

What Makes an Ideal Wi-Fi Extender?

Ultimately, the only thing you need to worry about is the signal strength that each extender promises. You should also make sure that your extender has the latest firmware update available.

We Have The Extenders You Need

Tuckersmith Communications has the perfect Wi-Fi extender for your router regardless of where you are in Huron County. We’ve served this area for decades, and we pride ourselves on providing reliable high-speed internet & Wi-Fi to all of our rural customers. Contact us today to find out what Wi-Fi extender is right for you.

 SMALL INTERNET OUTAGE WARNING 

We are currently performing emergency maintenance this afternoon on transport links to Toronto that have become degraded over the last 24 hours.
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This maintenance can result in small outages of 60-90 seconds, depending on the destination you are trying to reach over the Internet.
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If you are experiencing this kind of issue, it is most likely not local to your house, so please do not unplug or change any settings on your side. We hope to have this maintenance completed before this evening. An update will follow later this afternoon.
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Thanks for your patience and understanding in this matter.

Unlike internet service from twenty years ago, modern-day connections in Huron County are typically fast and reliable. That said, you might find yourself streaming movies one evening only to have the movie freeze at the worst possible moment. Similarly, phone connectivity might sometimes become spotty, or you might suddenly find yourself disconnected from your favourite internet site. Understanding why the internet still cuts out even in the age of high-speed connectivity is one of the first steps to solving your problem. It can also help you from pulling out your hair.

Reasons Why the Internet Cuts Out

1.  Rain

   Adverse weather involving heavy amounts of rain can expose a faulty outdoor connection between your home and the service provider’s cable. When this happens, connectivity will not typically go out completely. Instead, it will work intermittently, which can be even more maddening than a complete disconnect.

2. Indoor Connection

   Faulty indoor connections can leave you with spotty service if the coaxial cable, for instance, is not tightly connected to the router. Additionally, if your service goes out and comes back on, you might find that your router seems to be working even if you cannot go online or make a call. In these instances, when all the lights are on but you cannot connect, you can reboot your router to reset your connection.

3.  Distance

   If you use Wi-Fi, your router might not be strong enough to provide you fast or consistent connectivity if the signal must travel to the other end of a large house. Additionally, if the signal must travel down to a basement room or upstairs to a home office, you might need to bring the router closer to you or upgrade your router. Finally, in terms of distance, many computers come with an antenna that plugs into the back of the computer. Installing it is as simple as screwing it into place. Once installed, the antenna will help alleviate problems due to distance, and you can typically rotate it as necessary for a stronger connection.

4. Too Many Users

   In terms of internet connectivity or television reception, your internet might cut out if too many users are utilizing limited bandwidth. In these instances, you will need to limit the number of users or perhaps upgrade your subscription.

5. Outdated drivers

   Your router and different apps you use all connect to the internet via software known as drivers. These drivers sometimes need to be updated to the latest version to work properly. To find the latest driver, you can navigate to your device manager on your computer. When you find your device, you can select “update driver” from the menu, and your operating system will find the latest driver.

Can’t Solve Your Internet Connectivity Problems?

In rare cases, you might find that intermittent connectivity goes on for an hour or more. In these instances, you should contact Tuckersmith. That said, you do not have to wait for problems to arise. Even if you have questions about your service or need information about the best equipment to use for the best connection rates, a technician is always available.

The Internet might seem safer and more user-friendly than ever before, but there are still plenty of dangers to be found online. Children are still frequent targets of online attacks, so you still need to work to keep your kids safe on the internet.

Use a Virtual Private Network

Using a virtual private network or VPN is a good idea even if you don’t have kids who like to go online. A VPN connects your device to a secure offsite server while encrypting your connection. This hides your IP address and makes it nearly impossible for someone to track your physical location online, but it also prevents any data that is sent over public networks to be intercepted. You might not be able to get a VPN for every device in your home, but getting one for your main computer and smartphone can definitely help keep your kids safe on the Internet.

 Follow Basic Security Guidelines

Simply following basic security guidelines for all of your devices can help keep them and your kids safe. Always use the most recent version of your operating system, keep your malware and antivirus software updated, and use strong passwords to protect your accounts.

Know Your Kids’ Skill Level

If your children have always been around computers and smartphones, there’s a good chance that they are savvy with these devices. Unfortunately, this also means that they won’t think twice before doing potentially dangerous things online. Even if you trust your kids to be responsible with their devices, check-in with them to see what they are doing and how they are doing it.

Know Who They Talk To

People have been telling kids not to talk to strangers for decades, and that advice still applies to the Internet. If you let your kids use social networks or any other services that let them chat with people, take some time to learn who those people are. Since your kids will almost certainly come across someone online they don’t know, remind them that they are never to share any personal information such as their real names and addresses.

Limit Screen Time

If you’re really concerned about keeping your kids safe on the Internet, you can always put limits on their screen time. You don’t have to ban them from going online entirely, but you can limit their time to one or two hours a day, or make it a rule that you need to be in the room with them when they use a computer or smartphone.

For more information about how you can keep your family and your devices safe, contact Tuckersmith Communications. We do our best to keep our services safe and easy to use, and we will be happy to provide any advice to improve your home’s cybersecurity.