TP-Link TL-WA850RE N300Mbps WiFi Extender Booster, Ethernet Port, Internet Booster, Access Point,WiFi Repeater, WiFi Extender,App Control, WiFi Booster Range Extender, Plug & Play,UK Plug

This review is based exclusively on this items ‘WiFi access point’ mode. So, in case you don’t realise what this is...you can feed it with a network signal using an Ethernet cable (the unit has a RJ45 socket - see pic - in my example the yellow cable connects to a 5 port network switch), and it will then provide a WiFi access point for that room/location. I was specifically looking for an economical solution to provide WiFi access to a garden office that only had a wired network supply and this has worked perfectly. It is a wooden building, around 5m x 5m and this serves internally with a very strong signal, but also reaches outside a fair distance too, a further 20m or so before the signal starts to get weak and sketchy. Really easy to set up, it replaced an old router I was using as a WiFi access point, so I was even able to change the name of the new SSID (from this TP Link device) to match the old router, with the same password as I was using, so I did not even have to set up any new devices...it all just carried on working as before. Ideal! So now my phone, iPad and smart WiFi switch (for outside lighting) all work again. Have now used it for several months, and has worked 100% reliably, never drops out or disconnects, and recovers gracefully from power outages, and other devices automatically reconnect to it after power outages. I even have it connected to a 6 way extension, as I cannot spare any dedicated sockets for it, and it still works fine. One thing to look out for - it is quite a wide device so may interfere with plugs next to it, if they are super wide - in my picture, it is just about touching the plug next to it (see pic), but they just about fit! For this type of usage, as a simple WiFi access point, highly recommended!

Easy to set up increases Wi-Fi range good quality.

Okay, This is a good product and i recommend you get this if your house has dead zones (No WiFi in certain rooms) Here are some PROS 1. This extends the WiFi by a big amount. 2. It can improve speed ONLY if you're in the room with slow WiFi (This will help speed it up and get better signal) 3. Small and can be does not take up multiple plug sockets when it's plugged in 4. Mostly it will pick up the WiFi from far away but i suggest you put it midway from your router 5. This slightly improves download speed and ping in video games but i suggest that you use the Ethernet cable for the best Now here are some CONS 1. The WPS button works but it doesn't always take 1 minute (Maybe 4 or 6 depending on your router company) 2. The light can be annoying in dark rooms and there's no way to turn it off unless you unplug it and stop the booster 3. Some rooms can be difficult to get to depending on what your walls are made of (Stone, Brick ECT) 4. You can plug it in a multi socket but it doesn't work as well because it's not getting enough power for it 5.The Ethernet cable that comes with it is around 1 meter and for people like me, I couldn't done with a bigger one that's suitable So my final note; --------------------- I would like to suggest you to get this item, It does the job good and works for me, As you can see from my review it does have some CONS but on the other hand it has some good PROS, If you would like to buy this as well to help gaming i suggest that you do get it. BUT use the Ethernet cable I rate this 4 Stars and you make thing better or worse, But in the end it all depends on the interior of your house and also the structure. I approve of this product and i am a happy customer, I hope this review helped you and found what you were looking for :)

I now have 2 of these extenders but the review section only allows me to review one even though I have 2 different model numbers. So - how did I come to need an extender? After changing from a broadband router to a SIM card router due to poor broadband connections (the to distance from the exchange to our house is far so service is poor and speeds were terrible) we found improved speeds to the majority of our house - However - the items in certain areas seemed to be experiencing issues such as steaming quality & constant disconnects as what the new router made up for in speed it seems to be lack in signal range/strength. Fine if your items are sitting on top of it, not so good if there are walls involved. Our CCTV requires an Ethernet connection to be viewable on our phones, so now I was in a dilemma as the new router was set up in a different location to the old one so I couldn’t view the CCTV remotely without running 100 foot of Ethernet cable around the house - not happening. TP-Link TL-WA850RE N300 Universal Range Extender I purchased the N300 WiFi extender mainly to sort the CCTV issue (being as it has an Ethernet port on it) but also noticed it’s helped improve the TV in the same room which started experiencing streaming quality issues and dropping out constantly when trying to watch Netflix or Amazon since the change in the router. There’s been a noticeable improvement in our viewing experience which is now playing 4K without issue, buffering, lag or quality deterioration. It is simple to set up - plug it in and the light displays red, press the WPS button on the router and then also on the booster and it connects. My partner did this himself and he is a self-proclaimed technophobe. He was proud he didn’t need me to sort it for him & he set it up whilst I was away. Using an extension lead he set it up in the room where the router is and then once connected he moved it to the neighbouring room where the CCTV & other TV live. When plugged in he said the lights show the signal strength so you can gauge if it’s going to work. He found it was a 3 in his chosen spot and it’s working perfectly. I'm under the impression that you can set it up without the WPS button but being as we have one then I didn’t have to worry about working that out. It was pretty much plug and play in setup respects. I have bought another one for down the garden to keep all our smart plugs in the workshops connected as the signal down there is intermittent (review below) The light on it is quite bright so depending on its location you might consider a bit of tape over the light but be careful not to press anything as the centre is a button. Very happy - would recommend to anyone needing to boost the signal around their router. Just FYI - in response to some of the questions I’ve seen asked about boosters and extenders - you need a router with a live connection/service/subscription. This in itself is not a router so without the main router, this will not work. Think of it as an extension lead. It’s signal based and doesn’t use the power lines so you don’t need to plug it into the same ring main as the router. As long as it’s paired correctly, then move it where you want it and plug it into any power socket or extension lead you want. Assuming the signal strength light on it shows it's getting a signal from your router then it’ll work. UPDATE - I have just found there is an app which I can use & this has the option to switch the super bright LED off during a set time. So now at 9 pm the lights go off & at 9 am they come back on. Great for bedtime as this extender is located in the bedroom. No more luminous blue walls keeping me awake at night. TP-LINK RE220 AC750 Universal Dual Band Range Extender This was purchased to cover an additional wifi dead zone but since my laptop etc runs on the 5G channel (not 2.4) I went for the Dual Band version this time. Really simple to set up. I had the Tether App already installed from my router & other extender, so simply plugged the extender in near to the router (So it picked up a good signal), opened the app & followed the instructions to add a new one. It scanned, found it & added it. I moved it around until I found the prime spot I wanted to position it, so it had a strong signal from the router but also provided a good signal to the office. It has lights on it that are red for poor signal & green for good. The first place I positioned it gave a green for 5G but red for 2.4, so I moved it a bit closer to the router & now it's all green. Nice & easy. Once that was done, I set about adding all my extra devices to it, such. as my Echo Dot. I scanned for the extender and added it as if it was any other wifi device. It uses the exact same login info, so no need to try & remember additional codes etc. Now I can work from my office as easy as if I'm sitting in the living room where the router is located, as the signal is now boosted to the garden, office & workshops whereas before things used to keep dropping off due to poor wifi signal. The whole set up took less than 5 minutes - very simple & no need to be an IT expert. 5 Stars - would recommend these extenders.

I have had two deliveries of this particular item type, to two different addresses. One of these was a mistake, perhaps on my part. I already wrote a review of the item which I re-ordered, which was supplied to the address I wanted. I gave it one (1) star as it did not work, and was a pain to install, and I wasted a few hours trying. I sent it back for a refund, which is now in progress. I don't know if that unit was faulty or not, but it was certainly incompatible with the router used and the network. I thought I might also have to send the current unit under consideration back, mainly as it wasn't at the location I originally intended. However, there are some weak spots in the wireless network in that location, so I thought it might be worth trying it out, to see if it would work, and if so, would it cover the weak spots. At this location there is a BT router, and the WPS method which I was previously unable to use worked within a couple of minutes. I then moved the extender unit to another location and it appeared that the network performance was improved slightly. Then I moved it to a location closer to the weak spots and it did appear to improve the performance, though I noted a couple of walls and windows between the target weak area and the unit, and also between the unit and the router. Finally I moved the repeater closer to the router, but perhaps with an easier "line of sight" to the weak area through a couple of windows. The signal lights on the repeater show full strength, which I never achieved with the previous unit in the other environment. The blue lights glow very strongly, which for some people may be an issue - depending on where the unit is. If it is placed in a bedroom that could be a real problem - I suppose it would be possible to put tape over the LEDs, or run the unit on a timer which would switch off at night. However, knowing that the device is reporting a good signal is a help. With this level of performance I might even be tempted to buy another one to extend the coverage area in another direction. It has been noted that the unit may operate in half duplex mode. Assuming this is the case, then technically that could reduce the data rate possible - but only compared with optimal operation over a good wireless link. The reduction in data rate for half duplex operation need not be much, if most traffic is one way. Data link protocols can reduce any slowing down of data transfers to a very low level. As the data rate on a wireless link tends to drop off with distance from the access point and indeed communications may become impossible, it is better to have a reasonable fraction of the maximum data rate over a link which works, rather than the full data rate over a non-functioning link - to put it in a somewhat convoluted way. As these plug straight into the mains, unless extension cables are used the repeaters may not always be sited in some of the best locations. They may be sited low down, which is probably not optimal.. Extension cables run up walls would be ugly, though better coverage might be obtained by siting these units higher up - particularly if extending coverage in upstairs rooms is a a requirement. I've not (yet) tested this to the maximum extent. For example, I don't know if I can stream HD video into areas where this would previously have been impossible. I may check that out in the future. For "regular" web browsing, sending email etc. this does appear to work quite well. Possibly I may end up combining my reviews for these units. If the units work with WPS, and with a router of your choice, then you may find that they are rather good and as such satisfactory. If the units don't work with WPS, and you can't get them to work with your router, then send them back for a refund as soon as possible, and don't waste much time on them. 2-3 hours is the maximum time to spend trying to get units to work if they steadfastly refuse to perform. I sent the other unit back, and the refund is on its way. Hence these are a bit like Marmite - like or dislike. There may be many factors which influence whether they work or not, and router compatibililty is one significant factor. The blue lights on the front are another objective factor. If the extenders are to be used where these lights might be a problem, such as a bedroom, these might be considered far too obtrusive. Of course the units could be turned off at night, and on again in the morning, but having to remember to do that each night might be an annoyance. On the other hand, if the units are placed in hallways or corridors, they could function usefully as night lights over night. I don't really mind blue lights, but nowadays we are being told that blue lights are bad for our sleep patterns. It's another factor which might sway some potential purchasers. If they work I'd rate them at 4 or 5 and possibly buy more than one to extend coverage. If they don't work after 2-3 hours trying, I'd rate them at 1, and send them back for a refund. That explains my latest evaluation of this product as 3 stars. If it works it's quite good - if it doesn't it's really not worth the money. At the current price (a tad under £15) if these work they could be considered a bargain.

Used this to extend Wi-Fi from a hallway router into a back room and garage—signal jumped from 1 bar to full. Plug it in, press WPS, and it syncs in seconds. The LED ring helps you find the best spot—blue means good, red means move it. I’ve used it for streaming, browsing, and even running smart plugs—no dropouts. The Ethernet port’s handy for plugging in a wired device like a console or soundcard. It doesn’t support dual-band, but for basic 2.4GHz coverage, it’s spot-on. I’ve stashed one in the van for campsite setups—works well with mobile hotspots too. 🔍 Specs & Features Speed: Up to 300Mbps (2.4GHz only) Setup: WPS button or app-based Port: 1x Ethernet for wired devices Plug Type: UK 3-pin App Control: TP-Link Tether app (basic but useful) Use: Homes, garages, vans, small offices 🧪 Performance Range Boost: Adds solid coverage to weak zones Stability: Holds connection well—no random drops Speed: Good for browsing, streaming, smart gear Size: Compact—doesn’t block adjacent sockets 👍 Pros ✅ Easy setup—WPS or app ✅ Reliable signal boost—kills dead zones ✅ Ethernet port—adds wired option ✅ Compact and discreet ✅ Budget-friendly and widely compatible 👎 Cons ❌ Single band—no 5GHz support ❌ No passthrough socket—uses one plug ❌ App’s basic—limited control ❌ Not ideal for high-speed gaming or 4K streaming 🧭 Personal Verdict If you need a no-fuss extender to sort weak spots or keep gear online in awkward corners, the TL-WA850RE earns its spot. I’ve used it across home setups, van rigs, and gear tests—no drama, just clean signal and easy install.

As I have been using TP-Link power line adapters for two years without issue I believed the addition of one of their wireless extenders to cover a couple of dead spots in the house was the obvious choice. My current router is plugged into the main phone socket which is situated to one side of the house. The kitchen/family room is at the other extreme and whilst 95% of the time I can get a signal, occasionally it will drop out. The bedroom above the kitchen suffers more whilst any connection in the seating area of the garden, which is to the kitchen side of the house, is nigh impossible. It was these areas I needed to improve. Firstly pairing the extender to the router takes, as described, under two minutes and is very simple or at least should be. I followed the quick pairing via the WPS button and as the instructions stated waited for the wireless strength lights to go solid. They did not. After several resets and attempts with the same result I moved to the second method using my laptop, which if all works correctly should only take a few minutes more than the WPS method. Lights continued to flash that shouldn't. After some frustrating time I decided to try the extender in it's intended place despite the lights flashing. As described, apart from the flashing lights, the unit took 30 seconds or so to re establish connection with the router when plugged back in. To my amazement it worked brilliantly giving wireless signal to the previously uncovered area. I also used the ethernet socket to connect up a smart TV which again worked very well. Later that day I contacted TP-Link customer help via their online chat to query the flashing lights that should not. Surprisingly I was told that as the unit functioned not to worry. Perhaps then the instructions should say the lights may flash or they may not! Two days after initial installation I needed to print some papers via my wireless Hp printer. It would not work. Two very frustrating hours of trying to get the printer back online were only resolved when I discovered that if the wireless extender was switched off the printer sprung to life, switch the extender on and the printer refused to work. I then discovered that my Kindle HD Fire suffered in the same way. Extender on, No Kindle Fire internet, extender off, Kindle Fire works.Very odd? More hours spent trawling the internet for a solution to this problem which appears to be quite common by the amount of questions about it online. None of the suggested solutions worked. Again I contacted TP-Link via their online chat. Nothing they suggested resolved the problem.I was little bemused when the advisor suggested that I had no internet connection via my main router as I was actually chatting online to her via it! Another two hours and the final suggestion is that the brand NEW extender needs a software update. I was directed to the TP-Link download pages and advised if their was any issues to re contact them. Now I'm no computer expert but I do know how to operate one and can normally understand and resolve most issues but these download instructions were incomprehensible. So I had three options; 1) live with the fact that each time I needed to use my printer or Kindle I had to turn the extender off. 2) Join the Open University and obtain a degree in computer science so I could download the new software which judging by some of the advice given by TP-Link was not guaranteed to work. 3) Return the extender and accept there are a couple of Wi-Fi dead spots in the house. Quess what? I choose option 3. Life is just too short.

I live in a shared house with other tenants and it's not surprising that they all regularly use the internet. I live on the ground floor (a door, a flight of stairs and around the corner from the router) and although my internet connect wasn't too bad it wasn't great. I was only getting a single dot or one bar, maybe two but that was very rare. I also have a smart TV in my room and although I'd tried to connect it to the internet, the signal was far too weak and I couldn't get any sustained connection at all. I decided to buy this expander with the hope that I may be able to improve my signal strength and maybe just maybe a faster connection. After a very simple installation things weren't looking too great as the only real place I could plug in the expander was under a radiator (picture 1) which is only about 6 feet from my laptop. On the expander the display showed that I have a bad signal (see picture 2) and I wasn't expecting too much at all, but at least I'd given it a go. Then I realised that that was the signal coming INTO the expander and NOTwhat it was sending OUT. I now got my PC up and running and to my surprise I had full bars on my wifi connection. I performed a few internet speed tests with SpeedCheck Pro and wow... my internet speed had increased from about 3-5Mbps to 20-30Mbps. I have since also been able to connect my smart TV to the net with a much improved signal - 3 bars compared to none before and although a little slow when connecting to internet channels, it runs fine. UPDATED... I have since connected the expander for the final 6 feet to my computer and the speed has gone up even further peaking at 43Mbps (Tested with the on-line tester speedcheckpro.com). Of course no improvement at all for the TV as this is still on a purely wireless link . I can wholeheartedly recommend this device and although nowhere do they advertise that it increases internet speed, in my case it certainly has. A very happy and satisfied customer.