Most everyone has a wireless network in their home. They are cheap, easy to set up and use, but they have their limitations. For many users, like those surfing the web, these limitations are insignificant. But as more and more homes are looking at cutting the cord or already have, the limitations become ever present. For streaming applications Wi-Fi networks are often too slow to keep up with the high bandwidth required throughout the home. For transmitting HD video a wired connection is always best, but is often impractical.

So what options do you have if your home isn't hard wired?

Wireless repeaters or extenders. While these can increase the range of your network, they have a fundamental flaw. They are typically placed in an area that has moderate signal strength so you can push your range a little further. The problem is this moderate signal means a reduced bandwidth capacity. So even if your device shows a fast link speed to the repeater your bandwidth to the router is often too slow to support streaming.