Western Digital on Thursday announced its first My Net Wi-Fi Range Extender so you can get wireless signal in those Wi-Fi dead zones in your house. My Net boasts a dual-band 3-by-3 antenna array, which WD claims gives a faster and more reliable signal compared with slightly less expensive Wi-Fi boosters with 2-by-2 antennas.
Priced at $90, the WD range extender also features an Ethernet port so you can connect wired-only entertainment devices in other rooms. To set up the My Net Wi-Fi range extender, you won’t need software CDs for installation. The device has a set of blue lights indicating the strength of the Wi-Fi signal, so you can find the best location where you can extend the network. If the middle set of lights is on, the signal is strong enough for backup and watching low-resolution video. If all the lights are on this should be good for downloading files, video chat and HD video streaming.
Once the best location is found, you will need to press the Wireless Protected Setup (WPS) button on both the extender and your router. This will copy your network name and security details to extend the network, so you don’t have to have two different networks in the house — and it’s less hassle as connected devices roam on one single Wi-Fi network.
WD’s My Net is a dual-band Wi-Fi range extender, with 2.4 and 5GHz bands that you can switch between from a switch at the back. The 2.4 GHz band gives you a wider range and the 5 GHz band has a smaller range but faster speeds. Whichever you use, this should be compatible with any device in your house needing more Wi-Fi coverage, including phones, tablets, gaming consoles or connected TVs.