SIGNAL BOOST

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Nick Weaver

JEFFERSON GRAHAM

Amazon. You will get faster internet if using a wired connection, “but not in the places of the home where you need it” or on the devices that depend on Wi-Fi, like laptops, smart TVs, connected speakers and more.

ISPs are great at delivering a fast wired signal, but, in terms of distributing Wi-Fi from one end of a large house to another, you’ll likely need additional equipment.

And Weaver isn’t the only one saying this. According to Stephen Baker , vice president of industry analysis with research firm NPD Group , sales of routers and mesh units were up 50 percent year-over-year through late 2020. The reason? “Not only are you working from home, and your kids doing their learning online, but you’re not going to the movies, and streaming 4K movies on your new 70-inch TV, and you need the bandwidth,” Baker says.

ISPs get the bandwidth to the home, but how far can the router spread the signal? Service will be spottier the farther away you are from the router, according to Google, which competes in this space with its Nest Wi-Fi units. Other players include Netgear and Linksys .

Connecting the units is relatively simple: You plug the main device into the back of your current router, and then plug the satellite units into electrical outlets throughout the home. The extender devices have radios which spread the signal.

One recent development is the availability of Wi-Fi 6 in many newer models, a standard that increases capacity and speed and makes it easier to connect multiple devices.

Here are some devices worth considering to boost your home’s Wi-Fi performance: PRODUCTS

The eero 6 Wi-Fi 6 mesh system promises speeds up to 500 Mbps and enough bandwidth to provide high-speed connectivity for up to 75 devices. The units typically sell for $103 each or $223 for a three-pack. Upgrading to eero Pro 6 ($229 each; $599 for a three-pack) boosts the coverage area, allows users with gigabit ISP connections to take greater advantage of the extra speed and includes a Zigbee protocol smart home hub .

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The Linksys MX5 Velop AX whole- home Wi-Fi 6 system was named the best overall Wi-Fi 6 home router system by Rolling Stone . Each node ($399.99) provides speeds up to 5.3 Gbps and covers up to 3,000 square feet.

Netgear’s Orbi Tri-band Wi-Fi System with DOCSIS 3.1 built-in cable modem can replace your current internet router, which most people rent monthly. The $549.99 package comes with the router and one satellite device and promises to cover up to 5,000 square feet with speeds of up to 4.2 Gbps for more than 40 devices. Google rebranded its products as Nest Wi-Fi in 2019. In addition to boosting signal range, Nest Wi-Fi has a built-in speaker and the Google Assistant. A router and one remote point device sell for $269; a router and two points are $349. Nest Wi-Fi isn’t compatible with Wi-Fi 6, however.

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