Best Outdoor Wi-Fi Extenders

The best outdoor Wi-Fi extender for you depends on why you want it, but we always recommend checking for solid weatherproofing, the latest wireless technology (Wi-Fi 6), and a square-footage range appropriate for your needs. There’s nothing sadder than getting a Wi-Fi extender that doesn’t reach far enough to be helpful.

Some devices that aren’t necessarily labeled as Wi-Fi extenders can work very well as one. For example, our top pick is billed primarily as a Wi-Fi router, but it can also connect to a different router to serve as an extender. And mesh systems—essentially a group of extenders all connected together—are a great way to get a large and seamless wireless network going.

Our pick for the best overall outdoor Wi-Fi extender is not technically an extender at all, but rather a versatile Wi-Fi access point—the TP-Link EAP610-Outdoor. This device can serve as a standalone router if you like, but it can also be used to extend an existing network, making it highly versatile.

This TP-Link extender is weatherproof, including resistance to water and dust. It’s also packed with a surprising amount of technology, including:

• Beamforming focuses the wireless signal in a specific direction—typically towards a particular device—in order to maximize strength.
• Load balancing helps distribute traffic between multiple devices on a network to ensure each performs as well as possible.
• Wi-Fi 6 is the current generation of wireless technology, also known as 802.11ax. It supports speeds up to 9.6Gbps.
• Mesh support can create a seamless network across multiple access points or routers, making it easier to take a device across a wide coverage area.

Overall, this is an excellent option for anyone looking for an outdoor Wi-Fi extender. Our biggest complaint is the price—it’s quite expensive at roughly $140. That said, it’s worth it if you use the internet outdoors frequently.

If you need an outdoor Wi-Fi extender and don’t want to break the bank, this antenna from REMO Electronics is for you. It’s weatherproof and has a range up to half a mile, making it perfect for large outdoor spaces.

The REMO Electronics Outdoor Wi-Fi antenna also comes with a mount you can fit to various surfaces like brick and siding. The quality is solid overall, and the device gets positive user reviews, despite its low price.

At under $40, this is by far the most economical option on this list, and that’s really the best thing going for it. If you just need an affordable option to get the job done, this is it.

The main downside of this unit is that it connects to your router through antenna attachment points. This means your router needs external, removable antennas. Many routers do have these, but many don’t—particularly those supplied by internet providers.

If you want to go with a mesh system, the TP-Link Deco Outdoor is a fantastic option. Like the other options on this list, it features a long range and strong weatherproofing, making it ideal for outdoor use.

The Deco Outdoor comes with fittings to mount it to a wall or pole. You can also opt to set it on a table. It’s a nondescript white cylinder, so it doesn’t look too out of place if you decide to incorporate it into your decor.

The real star feature is the mesh system, though. This enables you to connect multiple routers together into a single network rather than needing to explicitly connect to the router or extender. This makes day-to-day Wi-Fi use much simpler, especially if you tend to move around a lot on the property.

The downside with this device—and most mesh systems—is cost. To get the most out of them, you want two or three devices, which can amount to several hundred dollars when it’s all said and done.

A Wi-Fi extender is a device that increases the effective range of a Wi-Fi network. It works by connecting to your existing router via Wi-Fi or a wired connection, then amplifying and rebroadcasting the signal as a new network. The idea is to take the signal from your router and extend the range, allowing it to reach areas that would otherwise have a weak signal (or be out of range entirely).

Technically, a Wi-Fi extender connects to the original router via a wired connection. Devices that use a wireless connection are called Wi-Fi repeaters. Both fall under the umbrella of Wi-Fi boosters. The terms are often used interchangeably, but there can be performance differences between extenders and repeaters—extenders tend to provide a stronger signal because of the wired connection.

The main use for Wi-Fi extenders is simply covering a larger area. Wireless routers have a maximum broadcast range, and you can’t connect if you’re outside that range. This can be an issue for larger houses or if you want to use your devices outside.

Wireless signal gets weaker the further you move from the router, even if you’re technically still within the range. A Wi-Fi extender can help alleviate this issue by spreading the signal around an area to ensure maximum coverage.

If you’re trying to use your Wi-Fi network outside, you may run into one of these problems. Whether you’re out of range or simply can’t pick up a strong enough signal, a Wi-Fi extender can help you get the most out of your network anywhere on the property.

Outdoor Wi-Fi extenders are designed to be a little heartier against the elements such as rain, wind, and snow. They also tend to be a little less sophisticated-looking than their indoor counterparts, since they don’t need to blend into decor as much.

Beyond the weatherproofing, there’s no functional difference between outdoor and indoor extenders—both do the same thing, it’s just a matter of which one better fits your personal situation and needs.

Outdoor Wi-Fi extenders are excellent for anyone who spends a lot of time in their yard or other outdoor space and needs to cover that space with Wi-Fi. There are a variety of potential uses for an outdoor Wi-Fi network:

• Stream TV out in your yard—say, by a pool or fire pit.
• Use Wi-Fi cameras, sprinkler systems, or other connected tools to monitor and maintain a garden or small farm.
• Manage a workshop on the property and connect devices like laptops or tablets.

Outdoor Wi-Fi extenders can also be useful when camping or RVing. Of course, campground Wi-Fi is rarely perfect, but being able to extend the network can help alleviate some of the performance issues you might encounter.

Yes, outdoor Wi-Fi extenders are an excellent way to increase the range of your wireless network into the great outdoors. That said, it’s important to keep your expectations realistic—while these devices do extend your network, they can’t add speed that isn’t already there. If your network is slow to begin with, you also get a slow extended network.

The right Wi-Fi extender can extend your network up to 2,000 feet, giving you the freedom to use your network in whatever way you like. Whether you need to connect security cameras in a detached garage or control sprinklers in your garden, Wi-Fi extenders can help get you the range you need.

A mesh network—also called a mesh router or mesh system—combines at least one router and one or more access points into a single Wi-Fi network. A traditional router and Wi-Fi extender setup creates two networks: The original and the extended one. With a mesh system, the extended networks function as one and use the same name and password.

Mesh is more convenient in many cases—you don’t need to remember multiple networks, and you don’t have to worry about getting out of range of one router and losing connection—the network is seamless between the different access points. The downside is cost, as mesh systems are usually quite expensive compared to standard Wi-Fi gear.