Term of the Moment
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Definition: Wi-Fi extender
A device that extends a Wi-Fi signal for greater coverage. A Wi-Fi extender picks up the signals from a specific Wi-Fi access point and, depending on the brand and model of the device, either boosts the signals under the same network name (SSID) or under a new SSID that must be created and configured. Newer extenders support both the 2.4 and 5 GHz frequency bands. See SSID, Wi-Fi and cellular network extender.
NETGEAR Wi-Fi Extenders
For 802.11ac speed and large homes, the Nighthawk extender (top) covers up to 10,000 square feet, while the 802.11n N300 plugs directly into a wall outlet (see 802.11). (Images courtesy of NETGEAR.)