WiFi Extender/Booster

Loxa · 26 Dec 2025 at 12:44

Hi, I am currently looking for a wifi extender but have no idea what I am looking for and have no experience with this is kind of thing. Wondered if anyone knows a decent one or has used any they could recommend. I have a virgin router downstairs and looking to extend a stronger signal to my bedroom upstairs, there is a plug socket on the landing.

Loxa · 26 Dec 2025 at 13:34

radderfire said:
Seeing that you're with Virgin, take a look at this first:

WiFi Boosters: Everything You Need to Know

Here’s everything you need to know about WiFi boosters, including what they are, how they work, and how to order a Virgin Media WiFi pod.

www.virginmedia.com

That gives your options. However, there may be better hardware options that someone here can advise on, but it will depend on how well they can work with your Virgin router.

I took a look at this earlier today and to be honest anything involving not having to deal with virgin is a + lol, it also costs an extra £8 a month which is a no go for me. Cheers anyway

Loxa · 26 Dec 2025 at 13:51

Terminal_Boy said:
How many floors and walls between the mains outlet on your upstairs landing and your Virgin router?

The standard £20 Tp-link 300mbps WiFi extender is good through one normal interior brick wall or a floor/ceiling in my experience.

One floor, landing plug socket is at the top of the stairs, so from the socket its down the stairs and then living door on the left and router 9 foot from door roughly.

Loxa · 26 Dec 2025 at 19:24

Cheers for all the replies, will probably leave it for a bit and see how I go. Was mainly for my chromecast on bedroom tv. Has trouble sometimes while watching movies.

Didn't realise my virgin media contract was up (noticed today), renewed for better offer and a hub 5. See what happens

Loxa · 28 Dec 2025 at 09:49

Thanks again everyone for the help, this might be a dumb question but after reading through i just thought to myself.... Wait a minute. So I do have a cable running from downstairs to the bedroom (upstairs) for my pc, so I could essentially plug that into another router here? And have wifi and run another cable to my pc from it.

Loxa · 28 Dec 2025 at 09:59

JollyJamma said:
Yes.

Awesome, honestly don't know why that didn't click before :cry:

. Is there any decent, some what cheap routers out there that could be recommended. Don't want to break the bank

Loxa · 28 Dec 2025 at 10:06

JollyJamma said:
Depending on what you want to do, plenty.

What’s your budget?

What you can do is get a router that can run OpenWRT which is a highly flexible open-source OS.

Don’t run stock Asus routers though, they have an unpatched vulnerability last time I looked.

Would be for, phones, chrome cast, tablets, No gaming as that would be wired. Budget would be kind of tight, hoping around £50.