About Ethernet Cable Booster, One of the ways to use the WiFi booster is by connecting it to your router using an ethernet cable.
It offers a slightly longer range, more bandwidth, and faster speeds than using a wireless pairing to your router.
So, this article discusses everything you need to know about using a WiFi booster with an ethernet cable. Sounds interesting? Keep reading to learn more!
Table of Contents
- How do WiFi boosters work?
- Is there any ethernet port on WiFi boosters?
- How to get ethernet from the router to the WiFi extender
- Benefits of connecting your WiFi booster to ethernet
- Is the ethernet port Gigabit?
- Use the ethernet port on your WiFi extender for non-demanding devices
- Conclusion
How do WiFi boosters work?
If you are in a place where your main WiFi router can not reach you, you will need to communicate with the range extender/wifi booster.
It will then forward your traffic to and from the primary router.
The concept of wifi boosters is straightforward. You only need to hook it in and connect it to your main router before it transmits WiFi signals into the space with coverage or connectivity issues.
Therefore, the range extender works as the “middleman.”
While the concept of a range extender sounds excellent on paper, using range extenders presents several drawbacks, which include the following;
- It requires a relatively precise and intermediate location to work well.
- It creates more interference in your WiFi network, which usually worsens the situation as it must use the same channel and frequency to communicate with the primary router.
- In the best-case scenario, it cuts the network speed in half (50%).
Therefore, it becomes clear that the WiFi extender’s placement is paramount.
However, it may not be possible to get the right placement of your extender unless you have a wide selection of electrical outlets placed at the right places. Incorrect placement of the WiFi extender (too close or too far) will render your extender useless.
Extenders are usually connected to the WiFi router using the same network password and name as the ones used by your smartphone or laptop.
The link on your extender becomes dedicated as a backhaul. Resultantly, you can no longer use it directly for your devices in the remote “dead zones.”
While setting up your WiFi extender, you must create new network names and passwords, which should not be similar to your main ones.
When your primary WiFi signal is weak and in range of your extender, your laptop or phone should automatically roam over the extender’s network names.
However, this only works perfectly when the placement is good, reducing your bandwidth by 50%.
Wifi boosters
Is there any ethernet port on WiFi boosters?
Rather than rebroadcasting wireless signals that can get weak based on the distance from the router, we recommend rebroadcasting wired signals.
Connecting a WiFi extender to your router via a wired connection (ethernet cable) is better than connecting it to the router wirelessly.
However, most extenders do not have an ethernet port because the theory of extenders is to extend the wireless signal to allow end devices to connect wirelessly.
Still, some extenders come with ethernet ports that allow you to connect end devices like laptops to get an internet connection directly from the WiFi extender.
On the contrary, the WiFi extenders can have an output ethernet port that you can use to connect to the router for a stable and reliable connection.
We highly recommend checking the ethernet port and its type (input or output) before buying a WiFi extender.
Wifi boosters with ethernet ports
How to get ethernet from the router to the WiFi extender
If you want to connect your WiFi extender to the ethernet, here are a few methods that you can use;
Ethernet cables
An ethernet cable is the simplest and most straightforward way to connect your WiFi extender to the ethernet. It is an ideal option if you can reach your WiFi booster using an ethernet cable.
Ethernet over powerline
If you can not reach the WiFi extender using an ethernet cable, you can use ethernet over a powerline. This technology transmits ethernet signals using your home’s electrical wiring.
You will require the following to use ethernet over a powerline;
To get ethernet to your WiFi extender using ethernet over a powerline, you need to follow these steps;
- Connect your powerline adapter to the electrical outlet and hook it to the router using an ethernet cable.
- Connect the second powerline adapter to the other electrical outlet and hook it to the extender.
NOTE: The maximum speed of powerline adapters is only 200 Mbps. So, we recommend not using powerline adapters for higher speed internet plans as you will not maximize its full advantage.
Ethernet over coax
You can use MoCA (Multimedia over Coax Alliance) if you have a cabled TV connection and can not reach your WiFi extender using an ethernet cable. MoCA transmits ethernet signals using your home’s coaxial cable television wiring.
Using MoCA require ethernet cables and MoCA adapters, and it entails the following steps;
- Connect your MoCA adapter to the router using an ethernet cable.
- Connect the second MoCA (Multimedia over Coax Alliance) adapter to the coaxial outlet and hook it into your WiFi booster.
Add ethernet connections through the walls
You can add ethernet connections via your walls if you do not have a cabled TV connection and can not reach your extender using an ethernet cable.
While this option is more expensive and complex than others, it is a worthwhile option if you are looking for a high-speed, stable connection.
Adding an ethernet connection via your walls requires hiring an electrician to lay ethernet cables from the router to the WiFi booster.
We highly recommend doing this for homes during remodeling or construction, as it needs access to your home’s walls.
Besides, hiring a contractor to lay ethernet cables through your walls can be expensive.
WiFi internet signal booster
Benefits of connecting your WiFi booster to ethernet
Connecting your WiFi booster directly to your router using an ethernet cord has many benefits, which include the following;
More bandwidth
We tested 12 WiFi extenders and found that connecting an extender to an ethernet offers almost double the speed over a WiFi connection.
Thus, you can maximize the full advantage of your internet plan, especially if you are using bandwidth-intensive applications, such as gaming and video streaming.
More reliable connection
Generally, your extender is supposed to be neither far nor close to the router if you connect them wirelessly.
Besides, you should avoid putting your extender behind obstacles like furniture or walls. There are too many limitations in using wireless signals.
Therefore, we recommend connecting your WiFi extender to ethernet if you have trouble with your WiFi connection.
The WiFi extender will provide a more reliable and stable connection through the longer range it offers. In our test, this connection provided an average of 10 feet of additional range.
Improved performance
You will get less latency and lag with ethernet, which gives you better performance in multiplayer video games and online meetings.
Moreover, connecting a WiFi extender to the router using ethernet will often give you a single network.
In contrast, a WiFi connection will always create a secondary network so you must switch/change networks when moving around your home with wireless devices.
Is the ethernet port Gigabit?
The ethernet port on the WiFi extender is Gigabit. However, manufacturers skimp many things while designing their extenders.
For example, the Rock Space AC1200 has a fast ethernet port (maximum 100 Mbps) that is popular with more budget-friendly extenders (mostly WiFi 5) in the market.
However, the Rock Space AX1800 comes with a proper Gigabit port that most WiFi 6 extenders are better equipped with.
Most WiFi extenders barely manage to provide 100 Mbps so manufacturers thought adding a port supporting a higher throughput was unnecessary.
Use the ethernet port on your WiFi extender for non-demanding devices
As mentioned above, WiFi extenders are not ideal for offering reliable and stable internet connection for devices running demanding applications.
For instance, WiFi extenders cut the bandwidth by at least half (50%) because when a specific radio band is extended, the communication must be made from the extender to the router and vice versa.
Besides, communication must be made from the client devices to the WiFi extender and back, so WiFi extenders can be annoyingly ineffective in most instances, especially with online gaming or anything related to streaming.
Therefore, when manufacturers designed WiFi extenders with an ethernet port, they hoped you would not connect to streaming/gaming PCs, expecting something close to full Gigabit.
You will never get such a performance from a cabled connection directly to your router.
However, if you have a PC or laptop that does not need a lot of bandwidth or an old printer that does not have a WiFi adapter, then this is what the ethernet port is designed for.
Ethernet port on WiFi extender
Conclusion
Connecting an ethernet cable to your WiFi booster helps achieve connectivity and bandwidth where WiFi signals are weak.
If you are in the market for a reliable connection, Cloom Tech got you covered. Contact us today for all your ethernet cable booster needs.
