Test next to the router and in the weak room. Fast near the router and slow far away means coverage — try moving the router first, then consider a mesh unit or a cabled access point. Slow in both places means the problem is elsewhere.
The two-room test
Pause downloads on other devices, run a check about a metre from the router, then the same check in the weak room. Note the speed, the ping and, if your app shows it, the Wi-Fi signal in dBm.
What does your signal reading mean?
Wi-Fi signal reader
Runs on this page only. Nothing is sent.
Your options, cheapest first
Move the router. High up, in the open, near the middle of the home — not in a cabinet or behind the TV. It’s free, and often enough.
An extender is cheap and easy, but it receives and re-sends over the same air, so it often delivers well under the speed you get near the router. Mesh uses several units that work as one network — better for large homes and several floors. An access point connected by cable gives the best result far from the router, if you can run a cable.
Where to put it
Not in the dead room itself. Place it halfway, where the router’s signal is still good — around −65 dBm or better. An extender that receives a weak signal can only repeat a weak signal. Then run the two-room test again.
Frequently asked questions
Do Wi-Fi extenders really work?+
For weak Wi-Fi far from the router, yes. They don’t fix a slow internet line or an overloaded router, and they usually deliver less than mesh or a cabled access point.
Extender or mesh?+
For one weak room, an extender can be enough. For a large home, several floors or many devices, mesh usually works better.
Will an extender make my internet faster?+
No. At best it brings the speed you already have near the router to more rooms, usually with some loss.
Measure every room first
Diagnostix360 shows the Wi-Fi signal and the delay between your phone and the router. Run it in each room before you spend money on equipment.
This article is general troubleshooting information, not professional, contractual, legal or SLA advice. The ranges are practical references, not certified pass/fail standards. Results vary with the device, network and time of day. Diagnostix360 describes conditions measured at that moment; it does not assign responsibility. See the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.