What Is a WiFi Booster?

If parts of your home have a weak wireless signal, a WiFi booster might be just what you need. Read on to learn what these devices are, how they work, and how they differ from WiFi extenders and repeaters.

What Is a WiFi Booster?

A WiFi booster is a device that's meant to amplify (or "boost") WiFi signals, thereby helping to eliminate spotty wireless in your home. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a more solid definition of "WiFi booster" than that.

How Does a Home WiFi Booster Work?

Although definitions are vague, experts say that a WiFi signal booster acts by "boosting or amplifying existing signals" in order to expand a wireless network's coverage area.

SEE ALSO: What Is a WiFi Repeater?

Note the use of "amplify" here. According to Make Tech Easier, this means a booster can actually make a weak signal stronger, turning a dead zone into a place where you can connect your devices.

WiFi Boosters vs. Repeaters vs. Extenders

Though each of these devices can work in different ways, most retailers seem to use the terms interchangeably. Some guides even suggest that a WiFi repeater, booster, and range extender are all the same thing.

So which one should you buy? Don't worry about the name so much — instead, focus on the specs of your WiFi hardware. That's how you'll be able to determine if it'll serve your needs.