7 Best WiFi Extenders For Starlink in 2023 [Tried & Tested]

Starlink provides a sub-par wireless router with limited WiFi coverage and features. While the best way to extend your WiFi is to get a third-party mesh system for Starlink, it comes at a premium price. And if you want a cheaper alternative, a WiFi extender is the way to go!

But then, the availability of plenty of so-called “good” options will make you eat your brains out. So what’s the way out? Well, I purchased 17 WiFi range extenders that work with Starlink and installed them at several dead spots in my 3,700 Sq Ft two-story house.

After detailed testing of each (in terms of extended coverage, speeds, consistency, devices capacity, and reliability), I’ve picked the 7 best options for 2023:

1. Best WiFi Coverage: TP-Link RE550
2. Best For Outdoors: Linksys RE7000
3. Best Wi-Fi 6 Extender: ASUS RP-AX56
4. Best For Gaming: TP-Link RE715X
5. Best Mesh Extender: Netgear EX6250
6. Best Value For Money: Tenda A33
7. Best Under Budget: Netgear EX5000

Note: You will notice a significant speed drop as signals cross the extenders. Using a single band for data transmission from router to extender and clients halves bandwidth. Mesh extenders, however, transmit signals of equal strength throughout the space.

7 Best WiFi Extenders for Starlink in 2023

The following reviews are based on the tests I carried out over the past two months. I ran these tests in my 3,700 Sq Ft over several aspects (as mentioned earlier) and was finally left with 7 good options. In the subsequent sections, you will understand what makes me recommend them over others in the market.

Also, including only high-end models wouldn’t do justice to people who run on a tight budget. And that’s why you will find Starlink router range extenders in each category, including top, mid-range, and budget.

1. Best Long-Range Extender: TP-Link RE550

TP-Link RE550, despite coming at around $70, gets you a massive added coverage and lets you use the Starlink internet over several devices. This dual-band Wi-Fi 5 extender comes with a massive 1900 Mbps speed cap alongside its compatibility with any router, taking it straight to the first position.

Besides, compared to its predecessor, RE450, you’ll find improvements in speed, coverage, and others.

Why is it suited for Starlink?

The suitability of this extender with Starlink comes from the huge coverage boost. In my 3,700 Sq Ft large house, the router could barely reach two walls away from it, and the devices in the extremities had one bar signal most of the time.

But installing this extender at weak spots had my devices on five solid bars all the time. Its three antenna setup covered around 2,600 Sq Ft space with ease, and I could enjoy live shows on my Smart TV without it ever buffering or cutting.

Moving on, I was impressed by the extender’s device-handling capacity. I could connect 30 devices at a stretch without experiencing any major signal drops. A built-in access point mode with 3×3 MU-MIMO enhances its multiple signal conveyance.

Speeds & Connectivity

You can expect consistency but not high-speed outputs, as it runs on Wi-Fi 5. Nevertheless, considering its 1900 Mbps maximum speed capacity, RE550 is an ideal choice for Starlink’s business plan (500 Mbps) subscribers. The download and upload speeds maxed out at 174 Mbps and 18 Mbps, respectively.

I could easily take over graphics-intensive tasks like streaming, gaming, video conferencing, and others. Besides, an Ethernet port with a gigabit speed capacity could top 194 Mbps and 20 Mbps for downloads and uploads. So, you can expect a lag-free connection on your devices.

Conclusion

In conclusion, TP-Link RE550 is the best long-range WiFi extender to use with Starlink. Its three antenna setup paired with MU-MIMO enables clean signals to transmit over multiple devices. Besides, there’s a Gigabit Ethernet port for bandwidth-hungry devices.

2. Best For Outdoors: Linksys RE7000

If your router can’t extend signals outdoors, and the motive behind purchasing an extender is extending WiFi to outbuildings, then Linksys RE7000 is an ideal pick. It’s one of the first devices with MU-MIMO support to deliver a solid performance and easily fill your WiFi dead zones.

Besides, compared to RE6300, its predecessor, you’ll find improvements in speed, coverage, and connection capacity.

Why is it suited for Starlink?

Linksys RE7000 performed decently well in my range tests and easily breezed through my 2,500 Sq Ft test lab. I took the test up by a notch by trying to connect with the outdoor security cameras, asking my signals to travel around 1,900 Sq Ft from the router. And it delivered!

Aside from that, the MU-MIMO this device entails is handy when connecting multiple devices at once. The signals were stable on 25 devices used for gaming, streaming, video conferencing, and whatnot.

Speeds & Connectivity

The RE7000 returned mixed results in my throughput tests. Connected to the Wi-Fi 6 router with a Starlink business plan, the downloads occurred at 161 Mbps, while uploads were valued at 14 Mbps, which is lesser than my previous recommendation.

However, the extender proved to be a great choice in terms of stability and consistency, as it could handle everything from multiple video meetings to UHD streaming and downloading large files simultaneously.

Moving on, the extender has one Gigabit Ethernet port for you to establish a seamless and lag-free wired connection. It can serve well for online games like Valorant, Destiny 2, and others requiring throttle-free internet.

Conclusion

This Linksys RE7000 is a great Starlink WiFi range extender to install outdoors. The throughput scores were decent, and courtesy of MU-MIMO, the signals could stay stable even if sent to multiple devices simultaneously. Its compatibility makes it ideal for a limited user base and thereby ranks second.

3. Best with Wi-Fi 6: ASUS RP-AX56

The RP-AX56 is an AiMesh extender from a well-known brand, ASUS. It’s a tad different from WiFi repeaters, as the former re-broadcast an existing signal, while the latter connects every device to the central location, and thereby fewer speed drops.

It takes a step ahead of my previous two recommendations with an advanced wireless standard (Wi-Fi 6) and device-holding capacity, which translates to its advanced performance. FYI, WiFi 6 is 39.13% faster than WiFi 5.

Why is it suited for Starlink?

ASUS RP-AX56 passed my week-long stress test without ruffling any feathers, courtesy of two internal antennas. As a small device, it covered a decent area, and the practical coverage is around 2,000 Sq Ft, so combined with a router, it spreads signals to a lot of open space.

And since it’s an AiMesh extender, you can create a single and whole home network that doesn’t requires you to switch network throughout the space. Moving from one room to another should not affect the quality of signals, and you won’t have to wait for much to stream your favorite shows.

Devices capacity is where you’ll see an upgrade, as signals don’t have to travel back and forth through the same path and rather moves directly to the clients. As a result, over 35 devices stay stable and support high-bandwidth tasks like gaming, streaming, and video calling.

Speeds & Connectivity

This is where the extender shows a major difference over the previous two options. As mentioned above, not requiring to travel through the same path means the signal quality isn’t affected, thereby impressive speeds with Starlink’s business plan.

Boasting an aggregated speed of 1750 Mbps, the Wi-Fi 6 router paired with Starlink’s Business plan (500 Mbps) clocked download and upload speeds of 158 Mbps and 13 Mbps, respectively. Besides, stability played a major factor in me playing Red Dead Redemption 2 for over six hours at a stretch and not experiencing any throttles.

Furthermore, the extender encases an Ethernet port to support download speeds of up to 395 Mbps. This extra Mbps should let me download a high Gig file on my laptop or gaming console much faster and more consistently.

Conclusion

To conclude, ASUS RP-AX56 is the best Wi-Fi 6 extender for Starlink. The best part is that speeds don’t drop even at long distances, making it an upgrade over my previous suggestions. But its lesser range than others has pushed it down to the third position.

4. Best For Gaming: TP-Link RE715X

If you’re a gamer looking to extend the coverage outside your gaming studio, TP-Link RE715X should be your best bet, courtesy of Wi-Fi 6. And OneMesh technology intelligently connects your devices to extenders or routers, whichever provides the best connection. And as both share a single name, you stay connected to the network in every room.

Why is it suited for Starlink?

Thanks to OneMesh compatibility, the RE715X automatically adapts to the router settings, so you don’t have to worry about setting the extender. Besides, setting it up is much simple, turn it on, and it automatically detects the available compatible device to connect with.

Range-wise, the extender offers less when compared to my previous suggestions. At a stretch, it envelopes an area of around 1,300 Sq Ft. So, pairing it with my staple TP-Link Archer AX90, my backyard couldn’t be covered entirely.

But the thing is, the covered area had consistent and reliable signals, and I didn’t have to switch the network when roaming around the house. Plus, OneMesh technology combined with MU-MIMO lets you establish stable connections over multiple devices.

At a stretch, I could connect around 45 devices to the extender, where I streamed HD movies, played casual games, attended video calls, and streamed HD music with ease.

Speeds & Connectivity

With an aggregated throughput capacity of 3000 Mbps, it stands tall amongst all WiFi extenders suitable for Starlink that I’ve tested so far.

So, RE715X is a viable choice for Starlink business plan users. And pairing the same, I experienced download rates of 151 Mbps, while uploads were recorded at 12 Mbps.

Aside from downloading files in no time, I paired my Playstation 5 and played online matches on Fifa 23 for around an hour at 15ms ping and 60 FPS. Still, there was enough bandwidth left to work on several internet-bound tasks without issues.

Barring its wireless speeds, it also scored eight pointers regarding wired connectivity. Its Gigabit Ethernet port could let you access a few extra Mbps, which should easily satiate your bandwidth-hungry devices.

Conclusion

Overall, TP-Link RE715X is a reliable WiFi extender for gaming. It stands out amongst others in terms of its speeds but stays a few steps behind with a lesser coverage value. This is why it’s placed in the fourth position.

5. Best Mesh Extender: Netgear EX6250

Netgear EX6250 creates powerful mesh WiFi throughout your space, courtesy of its Mesh smart roaming technology. This tech automatically connects your available devices to the best available bandwidth, making the device different from other WiFi range extenders compatible with Starlink.

Aside from that, its Wi-Fi 5 wireless standard and decent speed capacity make it an ideal choice for homeowners and corporates.

Why is it suited for Starlink?

Netgear EX6250 stands out amongst its competitors by integrating “Smart Roaming” feature. Compared to other, they don’t have their speeds dropped and rather keep you connected to the fastest connections available, irrespective of wherever you are present.

Although putting numbers can be tricky, I can say your connections should pan out well within 1,800 Sq Ft. So, with stable connections in place, I could now chill in my garden by putting in HD music and juice in my hand.

Aside from that, with Smart Connect, the extender can handle up to 25 devices and intelligently selects the bandwidth to connect your devices to maximize speed by minimizing interference and congestion. Courtesy of that, multiplayer gaming with my friends went really well.

A Netgear Nighthawk app lets you manage the connected devices easily and check if any are interfering with the bandwidth.

Speeds & Connectivity

The dual-band Wi-Fi 5 device boasts an aggregated speed of 1750 Mbps, distributed over 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands as 1300 Mbps and 450 Mbps, respectively.

The speeds best suit Starlink Maritime, a 350 Mbps internet plan. The download and upload speeds fared out at 148 Mbps and 12 Mbps, respectively. The speeds might not sound great, but they are enough to get your mid-tier internet tasks done easily.

This mesh extender entails an Ethernet port with which you can connect your wired devices like gaming console, smart TV, Blu-ray player, or streaming player to the network and enjoy an uninterrupted connection. Despite its excellent speeds, I experienced signal drops in certain areas of my house.

Conclusion

To sum up, Netgear EX6250 is a reliable option to extend your Starlink network. Smart Roaming ensures a seamless and smooth wireless connection when you move from one room to another. You can’t expect any buffering and delays, and it is easy to install. However, lesser speeds than my previous recommendations have pushed it down.

6. Best For Streaming: Tenda A33

If you have smart TVs on the outskirts of your house and looking for a good Starlink signal extender to satiate their bandwidth needs, Tenda A33 should probably be your ideal pick.

At just around $70, it entails several handy features like dual-band Wi-Fi 6, a decent throughput capacity, and an Ethernet port which contributes towards its reliable and consistent performance.

Why is it suited for Starlink?

Tenda A33 is strategically designed to expand its wireless range, is easy to install, and pairs with any WiFi router.

Its two internal antenna setup ensures your large space never runs out of bandwidth, as it offers decent WiFi coverage of up to 2,000 Sq Ft. Combined with a Tenda AXE6700, my entire kitchen, backyard, and garage were enveloped with strong signals.

But the thing is, despite signals reaching the nooks of a large house, signals might not stay as strong when it passes the extender. So, there were a few inconsistencies here and there on my connections. (That’s normal with extender setups)

Moreover, the integration of MU-MIMO further boosts its multi-device handling capacity. At a stretch, it efficiently stretches out to around 20 devices, on which I could stream my favorite movies or play casual games.

Speeds & Connectivity

As with most extenders, the speed drops almost by half when it reaches the devices. With Starlink’s Residential internet setup, the maximum rate for downloads and uploads reaches around 128 Mbps and 10 Mbps, respectively. Still, it’s more than enough for streaming.

The Tenda A33 further instills a Gig Ethernet port for interference-free network input on your smart devices. It allowed me to play Fortnite with my friends without getting kicked out of the lobby.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Tenda A33 is a budget-friendly wireless range extender that supports Starlink. There are some visible lags in the network, but technologies like MU-MIMO ensure you can stream your favourite shows and movies in high resolution.

7. Best Budget Option: Netgear EX5000

Lastly, presenting you with a cheap yet reliable WiFi extender to buy for your Starlink connection. Netgear EX5000 has Wi-Fi 5, decent throughput capacity, and coverage to draw curtains on your internet-driven tasks.

Why is it suited for Starlink?

Connected to a Starlink plan and a decent router, the maximum this device can cover is around 1,300 Sq Ft. I tested it with my staple Netgear RAX54S and combined it with its 2,300 Sq Ft range; my entire 3,700 Sq Ft house was enveloped with decent signals.

I attended a video call over Zoom on my laptop, separated by three walls, and the voice & video quality was perceivable, as I could jot down all the points covered in the meeting. Barring its decent coverage, the extender exhibited a decent device handling capacity.

Despite lacking key networking technologies like beamforming and MU-MIMO, it could connect up to 20 devices simultaneously. And using the Netgear WiFi analyzer app, you can track the devices consuming your network and remove any if they are usurping a major chunk of the network.

Speeds & Connectivity

This Wi-Fi 5 dual-band router boasts an aggregated speed of 1200 Mbps, so you can’t expect peak speeds on your devices. So, it’s an appropriate choice for Starlink RV plan users. The maximum download and upload speeds were recorded at 108 Mbps and 8 Mbps, respectively.

This might not seem much compared to my previous recommendations, but any lighter tasks like browsing social media, sending emails, streaming HD music, and others should be a walk in the park. You can even stream HD videos on YouTube and Netflix with occasional lags and buffering.

Conclusion

Netgear EX5000 is a good affordable WiFi extender to pair with a Starlink router. It provides good coverage and throughput, but its performance should fare well in any house. The tests turned out fine, but there were occasional lags and latencies over the connected devices, primarily because MU-MIMO is absent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Verdict

I hope this review-based guide helps you find an ideal WiFi extender for your Starlink network. But if you’re still confused, here are my personal suggestions for different use cases:

• If you need a long-range, TP-Link RE550 is your best option. It boasts maximum coverage and works well with Starlink internet to cover most bandwidth-intensive tasks.
• Next, if you are aligned with purchasing a mesh-enabled extender, Asus RP-AX56 is the top pick.
• And lastly, Netgear EX5100 is the most cost-effective yet reliable model to go for. Its best feature is compatibility, which can also get you a reliable and consistent range.

With that, I would like to draw curtains for my guide. Let me know in the comments below which extender you have gone for and how your experience was. You can also ask any questions below.