How to boost your WiFi signal using a WiFi extender

The CenturyLink G.hn WiFi/Ethernet Extender kit, also commonly referred to as simply a ‘WiFi extender’ or ‘wireless extender,’ uses the electrical wiring in your home or business to carry high-speed internet traffic as over a wired connection through your house, before converting it to a wireless signal. This allows you to move the device anywhere within your home as needed for wireless or Ethernet needs.

Note: G.hn stands for “Gigabit home network” and refers to the specialized technology used in this type of electrical-based WiFi extender.

You could benefit from a G.hn WiFi Extender if you answer “Yes” to one or more of the questions below:

1. Are there dead spots in your house where your WiFi doesn’t reach? For example, maybe your WiFi signal is excellent in the room where your router is, but in your home office upstairs it’s much weaker, or in your TV room on the other side of the house it’s too slow to stream video without lags?
2. Do you want WiFi access outside, like in your back yard or on your deck?
3. Do you have a very large house, either with a sprawling single level, or with multiple floors?
4. Is your wired internet speed pretty good when you test it, but your WiFi connection is significantly slower? 

Yes, the extender kit will work just about anywhere with existing internet service. All you need is a couple of power outlets to plug them in to. One of the devices (called the bridge) will need to be plugged in near your modem, and the other (called the access point) can be plugged into any other outlet in your home, and can be moved at any point after it’s been set up.

Yes, the WiFi/Ethernet Extender Kit works best with CenturyLink certified modems (see the complete list below). The setup process is seamless if you are currently using one of our modems (with the exception of the Greenwave C4000). Simply follow the instructions included with the kit, get everything plugged in correctly, and within a few minutes the units will sync and you’ll be all set! Plus, once paired, the access point device can be moved to different rooms within your home.

Note: Although the extender will work with most approved CenturyLink modems, the cloning feature only works with the most recent modems (shown below in bold). Note that cloning does not work with the C4000. See our installation and setup article for more information on cloning and pairing.

Sure. You are welcome to buy and use a CenturyLink G.hn WiFi Extender with a modem from another provider. However, you will need to configure and pair the devices manually. If you’re fairly tech-savvy, then you should have no trouble doing it yourself. But if you aren’t very confident with technology, it may be worth getting a CenturyLink modem to make the installation more seamless. 

When it comes to wireless range, the answer is always “it depends.” This can be frustrating for all of us, but the reason is that actual range varies greatly from home to home. It is impacted by the distance between devices and the setup of your home. For example, the thickness of your walls and floors, the type of material used in construction, the number and type of appliances, and the size and layout of rooms can all come into play in affecting your signal range.

Yes. It is possible to connect multiple extender devices (access points) to a single network adapter (bridge). In some cases, you might want to do this to further improve WiFi coverage throughout your home. Pricing and ordering details may vary based on where you live, so call and talk to an agent about options if you are interested in purchasing additional access points.

Yes! One of the many awesome things about these devices is that once they have been paired, the access point device can be moved from room to room — without affecting the connection.

Of course! You can visit the Actiontec product page for more details on this device.

Call CenturyLink and tell the agent you are interested in a G.Hn WiFi Extender. The representative will walk you through the ordering process and make sure you get set up with all the equipment you need. Once you receive your Starter Kit, you can self-install your extender devices and set them up yourself, but you can always get support through chat or by phone if you need it.

The current price for the full G.hn WiFi/Ethernet Extender kit is $99, plus taxes and $4.95 for shipping. There is no installation fee, as this is a self-installed device.

Yes, our return policy allows you to return your WiFi extender kit within 30 days from the purchase date. Click the link below to start the return process and print a label.

You will need to make sure all three pieces of original equipment are included in your return in order to receive credit:

•  G.hn Network Adapter (Bridge), model CTLPB – WF-802G
• 1 G.hn Wireless/Ethernet Extender (Access Point), model CTLAP – WF-802GW
• 1 Ethernet cord

cloning – The process of making a copy of a wireless network. This allows you to access it using the same network name and password as the original network.

Ethernet – Ethernet is one of the most widely used ways of connecting computers together in a local area network (LAN), as well as to the internet, through a wired connection.

G.hn – Gigabit Home Network: The specialized technology used in the WiFi extender, using the existing electrical circuit to transmit the internet connection and extend it to another area within the house.

G.hn Access Point – Device 2 of 2 in the WiFi Extender kit, also known as the “network extender.” This is the device that gets plugged in in another room, farther away from your gateway, and provides a point where you can access your internet, either via Ethernet cable or via WiFi.

G.hn Bridge – Device 1 of 2 in the WiFi Extender kit, also known as the “network adapter.” This gets plugged in near your modem and serves as a bridge to carry your internet signal into your electrical wiring.

gateway – The preferred term in the tech industry for a modem or router

GUI – Graphic user interface: This refers to an online portal (a special kind of webpage) used to manage advanced settings for a device such as a modem, wireless extender, etc.

pairing – The process of linking two devices together in a way that will be “remembered” by one or both devices. For instance, once the two devices in your G.hn WiFi Extender kit are paired, they will stay paired until you unpair them, allowing them to stay connected even as you move them around.

range – The distance or radius that a wireless signal can reach and be accessed by a device. Signal strength is best near the center of the radius, and gets weaker as you go farther away from the source.

WiFi – Refers to a wireless connection between devices over radio waves. WiFi is commonly used to connect devices to the internet, but can also connect devices to each other, such as a computer and a printer. Typically, an internet connection comes into a home or building through some kind of wired connection, such as fiber, Ethernet or DSL. Then the modem or router transmits the signal into a wireless frequency, using either 2.4 or 5 Ghz band.