If you’re struggling with weak WiFi in a room far from your router, using a WiFi extender can help — but only if it’s installed correctly.

Many people make the same mistakes: placing the extender in the wrong spot, connecting to the wrong WiFi, or expecting it to magically fix poor internet.

This guide explains how to place it, connect to it, and check the connection, step-by-step.

1. Where to Place the WiFi Extender

The most important rule: Place the extender about halfway between your router and the room where you need better WiFi.

If you put it:

Too close to the router → it won’t extend far enough.
Too close to your room → it won’t have a strong enough signal to repeat.

Best Placement Tips:

Use a hallway or an open area midway between router and room.
Avoid thick walls, fridges, microwaves, or big metal objects nearby.
Place it higher up if possible (e.g., on a shelf, not on the floor).
Plug it into a regular, always-on socket (not one controlled by a wall switch).

If the extender has signal lights:

Green or blue = good signal.
Red or no light = poor signal — move the extender closer to the router.

2. How to Connect to the Extender

Once the extender is set up, you must connect your device to the extender’s WiFi, not to the router directly.

The WiFi name will stay the same as provided. Do not rename it. Other tenants may also use it, and it needs to remain consistent across the property.

If there are multiple networks available (if you have main router with multiple extenders), always select the network that is strongest for your location.

Your device may not automatically switch — you may need to manually choose the network with the strongest signal.

3. How to Test Internet Speed

Sometimes, weak WiFi isn’t the problem — the actual internet speed from the provider might be slow. Here’s how you can check:

Steps to Test Internet Speed:

Stand close to the router (within a few meters).
Make sure you are connected to the main router’s WiFi (not the extender).
Open the Ookla Speedtest app (free to download on Android and iPhone).
Press “Go” to start the speed test.
When the test finishes, take a screenshot showing the download and upload speeds.
Send us the screenshot.

What Speed to Expect:

Good Connection:
- Download speed: 50 Mbps or more.
- Upload speed: 10 Mbps or more.
- Streaming, video calls, browsing should be smooth.
Poor Connection:
- Download speed: less than 10 Mbps.
- Upload speed: less than 2 Mbps.
- May experience buffering, dropouts, slow loading.

If your speed test shows poor results close to the router, we will need to investigate further and may raise a support case with the internet provider.

4. Important Things to Remember

✅ Place the extender halfway between the router and your room.
✅ Connect your devices to the WiFi network with the best signal
✅ Test speed close to the router before reporting WiFi issues.
✅ Understand that extenders only repeat the internet connection they receive — they do not improve poor internet coming from the provider.

Final Tip

Setting up a WiFi extender properly and understanding the real internet speed will make a huge difference to your experience.

Follow the steps above and reach out if you need help. We’re always happy to assist if there’s a real connection problem!

How to Set Up a WiFi Extender (Properly!)