How To Set Up A Wi-Fi Access Point At Home | T-Mobile 5G Home Internet (2024)

Wi-Fi repeaters

Let’s start with quickest and, if it works, the easiest option. A Wi-Fi repeater is a wireless access point that connects to your home network and then simply rebroadcasts or “repeats” your signal for more complete coverage. It’s easy to set up because it connects to your Wi-Fi network just like any of your wireless devices do (e.g., laptops, mobile phones, doorbells, etc.)

Wi-Fi repeaters may be a good solution if you have:

A home with overall good coverage, but one space that’s lacking (e.g., office, casita or guest room)
A router that can’t be moved to get a better signal.
A small household without too many data-hungry devices (multiple TVs, laptops, cameras, etc.)

How to set up a Wi-Fi repeater:

While this may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, it’s usually as simple as plugging your repeater into an outlet near your router, then going to Settings on your phone, opening the Wi-Fi list, looking for the repeater’s name and then clicking Connect. You’ll then select the name of the home network you want to extend, enter your password, and click Connect again. From there, just follow the prompts.

Hint: For best results, plug your repeater into an outlet within 20 feet of your router. Before starting this process, make sure your router is up and running.

Wi-Fi extenders

Let’s say you’ve tried a repeater to no avail—a Wi-Fi extender may do the trick. While it works similarly to a repeater in that it re-broadcasts your signal across a larger area—it does so on a different network than the one used by your Wi-Fi router. That means it doesn’t dig into your wireless network’s bandwidth. Plus, extenders can attach to your router using an ethernet or coaxial cable. The downside: they’re generally more expensive and more complicated to setup than a repeater, since juggling different networks with different names (Service Set Identifiers or SSIDs) can make for a clumsy setup.

Wi-Fi extenders may be a good solution if you:

Already tried a wireless repeater but it didn’t boost the signal enough.
Have a larger family and/or many connected devices and can’t sacrifice bandwidth.
Need a long-range Wi-Fi extender to rebroadcast your signal over a much wider area.

How to set up a Wi-Fi extender:

Since Wi-Fi extenders create a wired connection between your router and the part of your home that needs coverage, they come in pairs. You simply plug one part into a power outlet and then connect it to your router—and then plug the other one into an outlet near where your Wi-Fi is lacking. If you’re a T-Mobile Home Internet customer and are already using our 5G Gateway, the easiest way to set up an extender is by downloading the T Life app. From there, just tap on the Devices tab and then tap Add New Access Point and follow the prompts.

Mesh Wi-Fi

Mesh is the latest and greatest go-to solution since it’s become more widely available. While it works a little differently than repeaters or extenders, it’s very easy to set up. Instead of a single router, mesh Wi-Fi utilizes access points called "nodes", which you can place throughout your home for better signal coverage. These nodes actually communicate with each other, so they avoid data bottlenecks, and they’re able to pinpoint the strongest signal possible. (The number of nodes you’ll need depends on your home size, as well as the mesh system you purchase.)

Mesh Wi-Fi may be a good solution for:

Lackluster repeater/extender results.
Multi-story or big houses.
Families with lots of users and mobile devices (e.g., iPads, phones, laptops, and gaming consoles).
Properties with large acreage and/or multiple outdoor buildings (e.g., barns, garages, workshops, pool houses, mancaves, she sheds, etc.)
Homes constructed with certain building materials or layouts that affect how your Wi-Fi signal travels.

How to set up Mesh:

As mentioned earlier, if you’re a T-Mobile Home Internet customer and are already using our 5G Gateway, the easiest way to try out mesh is by signing up for the T-Mobile Home Internet Plus plan, which gives you a mesh system and one access point in addition to your gateway. From there, download the T Life app, tap on the Devices tab, then tap Add New Access Point and follow the prompts. Not a T-Mobile customer? Most third-party mesh systems have a free app you can download. From there, you just follow the instructions to set it up. However, keep in mind, only T-Mobile Home Internet Plus customers have the option to connect their access point(s) wirelessly to their 5G gateway. Third-party mesh devices will need to be attached via an ethernet cable.

Hint: Place your mesh access point between your gateway and the weak Wi-Fi signal area, and near a power outlet, and make sure it’s:

Away from devices that may cause interference.
Not behind TVs and monitors.
Not behind walls or obstructions.
Not behind heavy-duty appliances or electronics such as microwave ovens and baby monitors.
Not behind metal fixtures, enclosures, cabinets, reinforced concrete, or pipes.

Learn more about T-Mobile Home Internet Plus, which comes with all the benefits of our regular Home Internet, plus a mesh access point for expanded and truly wireless Wi-Fi coverage.

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