Best 5 GHz WiFi repeaters, to increase internet coverage

The transmission speed on 5 GHz wireless networks is much higher (up to 2600 Mbps), but the coverage leaves much to be desired for a physical limit of the waves used for transmission: at such high frequencies the modem signal will hardly be able to overcome one or two walls, degrading quickly. These speeds are therefore usable only in the same room as the modem with a maximum distance of about 20 meters without walls: as soon as the signal crosses a wall, it loses intensity until it disappears two rooms later.
If our PC or wireless device is too far away to take advantage of our modem's 5 GHz network and / or we want to avoid using the 2.4 GHz network (always very clogged and full of interference) we see in this guide how make the best use of 5 GHz WiFi repeaters, so as to bring this type of signal to every room in the house without worrying too much about distances and maintaining good speed in all conditions.
READ ALSO -> Best WiFi Routers to connect your home wireless devices

How to increase coverage with fast Wi-Fi network

Nowadays we have two methods to increase coverage with a fast Wi-Fi network: use a classic Wi-Fi repeater with 5 GHz network support (cheaper but less effective) or create a Mesh network that covers the whole house (more expensive but much more effective, being able to guarantee the maximum speed in almost every point of the house). Obviously the choice between one method and the other depends on the size of the house to be covered, on the distance between the modem and the various rooms and the economic availability (more than € 300 may be needed to cover the larger houses).

Mesh network or WiFi repeater ">
While before this solution was the prerogative of corporate networks or office networks, today we can create a Mesh Wi-Fi network even at home, so as to amplify and enhance the coverage of the 5 GHz WiFi network, i.e. the type of network that more than everyone benefits from the effects of a network with these characteristics. With the Mesh network we will obtain the best benefits in exploiting the 5 GHz WiFi network in more than two rooms: just place the Mesh modules at the right distance from each other (the signal must be strong between the various devices) to finally create a large network 5 GHz mesh that covers practically every corner of the house.
If we have a small house or less than 80 square meters it is useless to spend all this money on the Mesh network but we can focus on a simpler 5 GHz WiFi repeater, so as to quickly and easily expand the modem's wireless network only towards the point of the house still "discovered" or where the 5 GHz signal arrives very weak.

The best 5 GHz WiFi repeaters for Mesh networks

To take full advantage of the Mesh networks we can focus on one of the following devices, all suitable for being used in cascade as we need more coverage for our 5 GHz WiFi network.
Google Wifi
One of the best devices to create a Mesh network is Google Wifi, available from here in a single unit -> Google Wifi, Wifi Mesh System (€ 125) or in a triple system from here -> Google Wifi, 3-unit Wifi Mesh System (259 €).

By installing one or more Google WiFi in the house we will be able to increase the coverage of our WiFi network effectively and completely, so as to cover all points of the house. We can connect the primary device (the one that connects to the modem) both via Ethernet cable and via WiFi, then cascade connect all the others necessary so as to bring the 5 GHz signal beyond the walls, in rooms where the modem signal does not arrive . In addition to the 5 GHz network, it provides 2.4 GHz connectivity, excellent for connecting home automation devices or smartphones even when away from the modem (obviously the transmission speed will be lower). In order to configure them correctly, you need to use the Google WiFi app, available for download from here -> Google Wifi (Android) and Google Wifi (iOS).
Netgear RBK30 Orbi
A good alternative to Google Wifi to create a Mesh network at home and expand wireless coverage is Netgear RBK30 Orbi, with kits of 2 or 3 devices available here -> Netgear RBK30 Orbi kit of 2 (€ 150) and Netgear RBK30 Orbi kit from 3 (€ 299).

We can place Orbi devices anywhere in the house and let them communicate via the automatically created Mesh network, so as to expand the existing 5 GHz WiFi network and bring it to all the rooms where you need to have a fast Internet connection. We choose the quantity of Orbi devices suitable for the size of our house and connect one of the devices to our WiFi network; the remaining modules can be configured automatically using the specific app downloadable from here -> NETGEAR Orbi (Android) and NETGEAR Orbi (iOS).
FRITZ! Mesh Network
FRITZ! Box modems can function as modules of a proprietary Mesh network, to which we can connect both other FRITZ! Box modems and FRITZ! Repeaters. dedicated. The first step to creating this fast FRITZ! it's the choice of a modem; the best value for money is definitely the AVM FRITZ! Box 7530 (109 €).

Once connected to the telephone socket or to the proprietary modem (in case we choose to make a waterfall ), all we have to do is buy one or more AVM FRITZ! Repeater 2400 repeaters (€ 90).
Now that we have everything we need, let's connect the FRITZ! Repeaters. to the power outlets in the rooms where the 5 GHz Wi-Fi signal does not reach, we access the interface of the FRITZ! Box modem and go to Home network -> Mesh, so as to enable the Mesh network on the modem (which will function as Master, i.e. from the central distribution network of the whole network); Once this is done, we configure all FRITZ! repeaters one by one. so that we have the same characteristics as the main network.

The network speed generated by the repeaters will be practically identical to that obtainable from the modem network, without configuring further steps and without having to create another network (in fact, the same network name and password are always used on all devices) .

The best simple 5 GHz WiFi repeaters

If we don't have all this money to spend, we can expand the 5 GHz WiFi network in the home using a simple WiFi repeater, which will hook into the main network and expand it without using Mesh. Obviously the performance will be lower than a Mesh network, but at least we can connect without problems and still get a good speed.
TP-Link WiFi repeater
One of the best Wi-Fi repeaters that we can place at home is the TP-Link AC1200 Dual Band WiFi Repeater (€ 33).

This small device is placed in an electrical socket, connects via the WPS button to the network of our modem and is immediately ready to amplify the signal: the password to access the new network is identical to that generated by the modem, just as the network name (EXT is added to the modem's network name). This repeater can manage both the 2.4 GHz signal and the 5 GHz signal, although we strongly recommend that you connect it to the modem's 5 GHz network and configure its signal to work in dual band (i.e. divide the band into 2, 4 GHz and 5 GHz), so that it can connect in large numbers of distant devices.
Netgear WiFi repeater
Another very useful repeater is the Netgear EX6150 WiFi Repeater, which we can find here -> Netgear EX6150 WiFi Repeater (39 €).

Simple and automatic configuration via WPS, control lights to check the connection with the modem and with the amplified networks, which maintain the name (with the addition of a suffix to distinguish them) and the password of the original network. Compatible with both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks.
D-Link Range Extender
One of the cheapest and most complete devices that we can evaluate is the D-Link DAP-1620 Range Extender (37 €).

Again we can quickly connect to the modem's wireless network using the WPS button and amplify both the 5 GHz network (preferable) and the 2.4 GHz network. This repeater has two foldable antennas, excellent for those looking for a solution compact but elegant to be seen even in refined living rooms or bedrooms (we can always close the antennas, but we will lose some coverage and speed).

Conclusions

To increase Internet coverage we will necessarily have to amplify our modem's 5 GHz network, the only one that allows all our devices to travel at maximum speed avoiding interference. For large houses we can create a WiFi Mesh network, while for smaller houses or for those who want to save money there are convenient and practical Wi-Fi repeaters (however less fast and accurate than the Mesh network).
If we do not know how a range extender or Wi-Fi repeater works, we can deepen the discussion by reading the guide How the wifi repeater or "Range Extender" works and which one to buy .
We also want to use electrical outlets to bring the Internet signal "> Internet to the electrical outlet with the Powerline.