Engadget: Wi-Fi extenders and premium Ethernet cables often fail to fix home networks

On Wi-Fi extenders, Engadget said a single extender is generally the cheapest fix for a room that cannot get a strong signal from a router, but it cannot create a strong signal out of a weak one. Users must compromise on placement, usually halfway between the router and the dead zone, and that ideal spot is not easy to find in every home. Many basic extenders use the same band to receive and transmit data, which can cut speed by up to half, the article said. Models with separate bands can send and receive at the same time but still struggle to match router speeds, and throughput can fall before walls or interference further weaken the link.

Engadget said extenders are a solid maybe for one small room relatively close to the router, but may not be enough for several rooms or a backyard office. It advised checking the existing router first, keeping it near the center of the home and out of cabinets, and considering an upgrade if the router is old. A newer standalone router may suffice in a not especially large home if placed well, and even antenna adjustments can help, the article said.

For broader coverage, a mesh Wi-Fi system is designed to work under a single network name, so devices automatically connect to the strongest node as users move around. Extenders using the same SSID can cause devices to bounce between router and extender, while giving the extender a distinct name requires manual switching, Engadget said. Mesh is not a magical fix: nodes still need good links, wireless backhaul can reduce speeds, and cheaper mesh systems can share the extenders' half-throughput problem. Tri-band systems improve this with a separate backhaul band. Running Ethernet between nodes is a common way to boost capacity and speed, and an outdoor office should run Ethernet or use line-of-sight through windows.

The article said the worst place for an extender is a dead zone, because it cannot repeat a signal it is not receiving. If an extender receives 40 percent signal strength from the router, a full connection to the repeater is still weak. Extenders should not be placed behind televisions, cabinets, mirrors or metal, and line of sight with the router is best. A hallway outlet visible from a living-room router, for example, can better cover adjacent rooms. If the only outlet is behind a fridge or across a thick wall, Engadget said, it may not be worth bothering. A single room with a good outlet can still be served by an extender, and some models can switch to access point mode if Ethernet can be run to them, though that is usually not the ideal setup.

In a comparison of Cat6 and Cat7 Ethernet cable, Engadget said Cat6 remains the best option for most home networks. Cat6 can carry Gigabit Ethernet over a standard 100-meter channel and support 10Gbps over shorter distances. Cat7 looks like an upgrade with a 600 MHz rating, shielding around each twisted pair and an outer shield, but it was never recognized by the TIA and did not become the obvious next step from Cat6 in U.S. homes. Cat7 was mainly developed to enable 10 Gigabit Ethernet over 100 meters, but a Category 7 or Class F installation requires not only a Cat7 cable but also GG45 or TERA connectors and an entire channel that meets the specification. Connecting a Cat7-labeled cable to ordinary RJ45 ports does not automatically make the whole system Cat7, according to the article.

TIA guidance says 10GBASE-T should operate over Cat6 channels up to 37 meters, and from 37 to 55 meters performance depends on factors such as interference between adjacent cables. That is enough distance for many home installations, Engadget said. Cat7's shielding may still help in electrically noisy environments, but most homes are not networking inside a factory. Cat6A, rated to 500 MHz, supports 10GBASE-T over the full 100-meter channel and is available in shielded versions for areas where electromagnetic or radio-frequency interference is a concern. For most homes, Cat6 is sensible for new and existing networks running gigabit or shorter multi-gigabit links, while Cat6A makes more sense for in-wall, full-distance 10Gbps runs. Cat7 remains used for specific purposes, but no IEEE Ethernet applications require Category 7 or 7A cabling.

A third Engadget article said the most expensive Ethernet cable is not necessarily the fastest for a given setup. A pricier cable may offer tougher construction, more shielding or a higher category rating, but it cannot make the rest of the network faster. Even with a cable rated above 1Gbps, two 1GbE devices still negotiate a 1Gbps link, because Ethernet devices work based on the capabilities at both ends. The cable cannot overrule the ports. Actual speed is limited by the slowest link in the chain, which may be the internet plan, the router or switch port, the PC or console network adapter, the cable itself or the length of the run.

The article said Cat5e can do more than Gigabit Ethernet, with TIA guidance for 2.5Gbps and 5Gbps over existing Cat5e and Cat6 cabling. Cat6 can support 10Gbps over shorter distances, and Fluke Networks guidance cited by Engadget says 10Gbps should operate over Cat6 up to 37 meters and between 37 and 55 meters depending on interference from nearby cables. For full 100-meter 10Gbps runs, Cat6A is the cleaner choice. Cat8 can reach 25Gbps and 40Gbps over a maximum 30-meter channel and was designed for data-center connections. Cat7 is recognized under ISO standards, but TIA did not include Category 7 in its North American cabling standard, making a higher category number a poor shopping strategy by itself.

Engadget said low-cost Ethernet cables can work fine, but buyers should avoid copper-clad aluminum, or CCA, sold as an alternative to standards-compliant copper conductors. Fluke says aluminum has about 55 percent greater resistance than copper of the same diameter, which can lead to more heat and lower voltage at Power over Ethernet devices such as cameras, access points and phones. U.S. and international twisted-pair standards require 100 percent copper conductors. Brand matters less than third-party verification: UL Solutions has a performance verification program for Category 5e, 6, 6A and 8 cabling, so a UL Verification Mark offers a better indication that the category on the jacket is meaningful. Legitimate cables need not be expensive. Monoprice sells 10-foot Cat6 cables with pure bare copper conductors and gold-plated contacts for less than $5, and a shielded 10-foot Cat6A cable for less than $10. Paying more may still be worthwhile for better strain relief, shielding in noisy areas or an in-wall run that would be hard to replace, but for a short cable behind a desk, meeting the specification matters more than appearances.