Network Extenders

Equipment for carrying a network further than it would otherwise reach. Three different things are grouped here, and they solve different problems — Ethernet and PoE extenders that push a cable run past 100 m, Wi-Fi repeaters that rebroadcast an existing wireless signal, and USB extenders that send USB over structured cabling.

Buying guide ↓

Ethernet and PoE extenders — for distance over cable

Ethernet over copper stops working reliably at about 100 m. That limit is why these exist. An extender pair regenerates the signal mid-run, taking a link out to several hundred metres, and PoE extenders carry the power with it — which is usually the real requirement, because the thing at the far end is typically a camera or an access point with no socket near it. Check the PoE standard the extender passes through: a unit rated for 802.3af will not power a device that wants 802.3at or 802.3bt. Units rated to 60 W and 90 W are listed for that reason. Industrial models with IP30 housings and wide temperature ranges are built for cabinets and outbuildings rather than offices.

Long-range and single-pair extenders

Where the distance runs past what a standard extender covers, VDSL2 and similar single-pair units carry Ethernet up to around a kilometre over one pair of wires — existing telephone cable, a legacy alarm pair, or a direct-burial run between buildings. Throughput falls as distance rises, so treat the headline rate as a best case at short range. These are the practical answer for a gatehouse, a barn or a car park where trenching fibre is not realistic.

Wi-Fi repeaters — and an honest caveat

A Wi-Fi range extender rebroadcasts an existing signal to reach a dead spot. It is quick, cheap and needs no cabling. The trade-off is real and frequently unmentioned: a single-radio repeater receives and retransmits on the same radio, which roughly halves throughput for everything connected through it, and it adds latency. Dual-band and tri-band models reduce this by using a separate band for the backhaul.

For one awkward corner, a repeater is the sensible fix. For a floor, an office or anywhere performance matters, a cabled access point will always beat a repeater — and if the problem is getting a cable to where the access point needs to go, that is what the PoE extenders above are for.

USB extenders

USB has its own, much shorter distance limit. The USB-over-Cat5/Cat6 units here carry USB peripherals 40-50 m over structured cabling, for a signature pad, a scanner, a camera or a kiosk sited away from the machine driving it. They extend USB rather than networking, despite living in this category.

Brands

PLANET, StarTech.com, Lanview, Veracity, TP-Link and Mercusys, ASUS, Axis, Lindy and iogear.

Trade pricing and business accounts are available for UK organisations, and bulk orders are welcome — request a quote.