WLAN repeater test: Who sent it?

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Plugging in the router and enjoying fast WiFi throughout the house is probably the wishful thinking of many users. However, reality often cannot keep up, because if, for example, thick reinforced concrete walls weaken the radio signal or the Internet connection including router is in the basement, the complete networking of your own four walls suddenly seems far away. In these cases, repeaters typically help: They increase the WLAN range by extending the router WLAN at the push of a button. In the comparison test, the best devices were not only fast, but also smart.

Test winner: AVM FritzRepeater 6000

  • Fast WiFi
  • Long range
  • Slightly high power consumption

Compared to the FritzRepeater 3000, the FritzRepeater 6000 has the new WLAN standard Wifi 6 (WLAN-ax) on board, but it also makes a lot of speed with older devices. In the test, it impressed with high speeds of both 5 gigahertz and 2.4 gigahertz. Thanks to multi-user MIMO, three WLAN radio units and many antennas, the 6000 supplies several devices in parallel. With the so-called mesh functions, a network of FritzBox and FritzRepeater(n) always optimally connects devices via WLAN. Setting up the FritzRepeater 6000 is child’s play: simply press the buttons provided on the router and repeater – done.

Price tip for Telekom Speedport routers: Telekom Speed ​​Home WLAN

  • Very high speed
  • Clever mesh features
  • No third WLAN radio unit

All current Speedport routers score in combination with Speed ​​Home WLAN repeaters with mesh functions. If you have a different router, you can alternatively connect a repeater to the router using a LAN cable and set it up as a base – but then you need another repeater to expand the network. In the test, the Speed ​​Home WLAN achieved a lower maximum speed than the FritzRepeater 6000, but it performed better across all measurement points in the 5 gigahertz frequency. The setup is simple and the power consumption is low.

Price tip for AVM’s FritzBoxes: AVM FritzRepeater 1200 AX

  • High speed at 5 gigahertz
  • Clever WLAN optimization
  • Speed ​​at 2.4 gigahertz “only” solid

The FritzRepeater 1200 AX is good and not too expensive. It acts harmless, but it’s a sly old dog – the compact WiFi repeater gave full throttle in the test. In the WLAN measurements, the small plug in the 5 gigahertz frequency with Wifi 6 achieved a higher speed than many routers. The performance at 2.4 gigahertz was not outstanding, but still decent. Together with a newer FritzBox there are mesh functions.

This is how COMPUTER BILD tests WLAN repeaters

COMPUTER BILD records the WLAN speed with the Windows on-board program iperf and the graphical user interface jperf.

Of course, a repeater should transmit the data between the router and devices as quickly as possible. Therefore, the measurements of the WLAN speed are the main part of the COMPUTER BILD test. However, modern repeaters also use clever techniques to optimize WLAN management – which is why they also influence the rating. In order for a device to achieve the grade “very good”, the range of functions, setup and operation must also be convincing. These test points are particularly important:

  • WiFi speed: COMPUTER BILD records the WLAN speed of repeaters for a PC network card with Wifi 6 (TP-Link TX3000E with two antennas) and for a card with the older Wifi 4 and 5 standards (Asus PCE-AC88 with four antennas). There are four measuring points with increasing distance between the router and the test PC, at which the transmission and reception power is determined. In the practical measurement, the repeaters also have to bridge a long distance between the router and the test PC.
  • WiFi Optimization: Better repeaters automatically optimize the WLAN with various functions. The repeater always pushes end devices to the fastest WLAN frequency via band steering. With crossband repeating, the data changes frequency on the way from the router via the repeater to the device (and vice versa) – this increases the speed. And with Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO), repeaters exchange data with multiple devices in parallel. Without MU-MIMO, the connection jumps back and forth.
WiFi repeater test

The repeater is connected to a notebook via LAN and to a PC via WLAN. Notebook and PC send data back and forth when measuring the pace.

  • equipment and functions: How many LAN ports does the repeater have? How much information can be read from the LEDs on the device? Does the plug have a wireless guest network? And what is the power consumption? The equipment and functions of the repeater are also included in the test rating.
  • setup and operation: Setting up a repeater is usually very easy – it is usually sufficient to press the WPS button on the device and on the router. When it comes to operation, however, there are clear differences. While the settings of many representatives can be called up by entering a fixed URL, with some repeaters you first have to laboriously find out and enter the IP address. Some manufacturers provide their devices with smartphone apps.
WiFi repeater test

COMPUTER BILD editor Patrick Skoruppa prepares the test PC. The computer then sends and receives data at several measuring points.

Great even without Wifi 6

The best devices from the test master Wifi 6. Above all, the new WLAN standard brings a speed boost – mostly in the close range. At longer distances, however, the older standards Wifi 4 (WLAN-n) and Wifi 5 (WLAN-ac) are often the better choice. On the one hand, Wifi 6 requires an extremely good signal for its higher data rates, which is often only possible in the immediate vicinity of the router. And on the other hand, end devices with Wifi 6 have so far had a maximum of two antennas. Wifi 6 routers with four antennas do not yet show their full potential, at least with one device as the remote station. If you don’t have a Wifi 6 router, you can use a Wifi 5 repeater without a guilty conscience. In the test, the Wifi 5 devices Fritz Repeater 3000FritzRepeater 2400 and Netgear Nighthawk X6S (EX8000) are particularly convincing.

Repeater tip without Wifi 6: AVM FritzRepeater 3000

  • Fast WiFi
  • mesh features
  • Requires dedicated space to set up

the Fritz Repeater 3000 does not support Wifi 6, but still has it Fritz Repeater 6000 via three WLAN radio units. This means that it can also quickly supply many devices in large households with data. The setup is easy, in combination with a FritzBox, clever mesh functions optimize the WLAN.

WLAN repeater test: conclusion

Very large households with a FritzBox meet with the Fritz Repeater 6000 a safe choice. For most, the performance is likely to be much cheaper Fritz Repeater 1200 AX already suffice. Speedport users are at Speed ​​Home WiFi of the provider at the right address. If you have a lame router, you can replace its WiFi with the fast mesh network of Telekom repeaters at a reasonable price.

comparison test

WLAN repeater: Optimize WLAN in the home office!

How expensive is a good repeater?

WiFi repeaters are available from as little as 10 euros. However, very cheap devices can only use WLAN in the older Wifi 4 standard – which is comparatively slow and usually only transmits in the crowded 2.4 gigahertz frequency. Better repeaters master the faster Wifi 5 standard and also transmit in the 5 gigahertz frequency band – the manufacturers call for prices from around 20 euros for the devices. Here, too, the cheapest models are not recommended because they do not automatically optimize the WLAN management with clever technologies. Really good repeaters cost from 60 euros. Better devices with Wifi 6 cost around 70 euros and more. Ideally, buy a repeater that matches your router (see next paragraph).

The perfect interaction

Before you buy, you should clarify a fundamental question: Which repeater is best for your existing router? Because in tests, COMPUTER BILD found that routers and repeaters from different manufacturers are not always optimally matched. The connection to the router is sometimes only established via the slower frequency when setting up by pressing a button. In addition, the network can only use its clever mesh functions if the WLAN is managed by at least two devices from the same manufacturer – and these are usually routers and repeaters.

Mesh and more: Clever functions

Modern repeaters optimize the WLAN with clever management of the connections in the network. The repeater always connects end devices in the fastest WLAN frequency via band steering, while crossband repeating makes repeaters faster. It gets really interesting with the mesh functions: If routers and repeaters come from the same manufacturer, they form a uniform mesh network with clever overall control. The router also controls all repeaters. In the mesh network, the access point steering function also ensures more convenience, because it allows devices to switch the connection to the nearest access point independently. For example, the device does not “stick” to the router in the living room when users approach the repeater in the bedroom with their smartphone, which has a stronger signal.

Mesh systems: A special case

So-called mesh systems also master mesh functions. They consist of at least two devices and cannot be connected directly to the router via WLAN. Instead, the first device lands on the router via a LAN cable. It then connects other devices of the mesh system via WLAN. As device configuration becomes more flexible, the boundaries are blurring. That’s how it works Telekom Speed ​​Home WLAN set up with a Telekom Speedport router as a repeater – or alternatively with another router as a mesh system. It is usually cheaper to buy a suitable repeater for the router than to use a mesh system.

WiFi Repeater: Frequently Asked Questions

What is a wifi repeater?

A WiFi repeater is a device that increases the WiFi range of the router.

How does a WiFi repeater work?

WLAN repeaters forward the data between routers and devices. To do this, connect to the router and set up a WLAN with the same name.

How much does a good WiFi booster cost?

You will spend at least 60 euros for a good WiFi repeater.

Where should a WiFi repeater be installed?

It is best to place a WiFi repeater halfway between the router and the destination. If there is only a weak connection to the router at the installation site, you can connect several repeaters in series. When buying, make sure that the repeaters can handle the crossband repeating function – otherwise the speed will decrease significantly with each repeater.

How Fast Should a WiFi Repeater Be?

In the COMPUTER BILD test, good repeaters had a theoretical WLAN speed of at least 1,200 Mbps.

What is the difference between WiFi repeater and WiFi booster?

There is no difference – WiFi repeaters are often referred to colloquially as WiFi amplifiers. The term is actually wrong, because a repeater in no way strengthens the router’s WLAN. Rather, it forwards the data between the router and the device by setting up its own WLAN with the same name. The direct translation “WLAN repeater” would be more appropriate – even if linguistically less nice.



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