Web surfers warned of hidden ‘trade off’ when boosting their Wi-Fi – and it could be why yours is slow

WEB surfers have been warned of a hidden ‘trade off’ when using Wi-Fi extenders to bolster their internet connection.

Wi-Fi extenders, or boosters, can be used to pick up signals from your router and push them out into further flung corners of the home.

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They are designed to fix so-called darkspots, where Wi-Fi is patchy or, worse, non-existent.

But Matt Hughes, Director of Broadband, TV & Home at EE and BT, told The Sun that using Wi-Fi extenders is not without “sacrifice”.

“They’re best placed where the existing signal is weak around the house, meaning more devices will be able to stream, game and download at the same time,” he said.

“It’s worth noting that they’re not as effective if they’re placed where existing signal is already fine.”

It’s advised to put the booster about halfway between your hub and where your Wi-Fi is struggling to reach.

Using connection speed tests online or on your internet provider’s website can also help to find the right spot, such as inside the My EE app.

However, Hughes urged homeowners: “It’s worth keeping in mind that Wi-Fi boosters and extenders can often sacrifice network speed for range.”

It’s not an easy trade off.

But most people are likely to choose range over a dip in speed.

Fortunately, there’s a way to get the best of both worlds: mesh systems.

Hughes explained: “To sidestep this trade-off, consumers should seek out corresponding smart Wi-Fi routers and boosters that create a mesh Wi-Fi network to improve download speeds across the home – even in the trickiest Wi-Fi blackspots.”

Mesh systems are multiple routers that act as a single network.

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This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk