Wi-Fi range extenders: What are they and how do they work? Credit: Gary Sims / Android Authority If you have a Wi-Fi dead spot somewhere in your home, then you may have thought about using a Wi-Fi Range Extender. The idea sounds simple enough — plug in the unit, and the range of your Wi-Fi is extended. But how do they work? What are the disadvantages? Where should you place your extender? To get the best from even the cheapest Wi-Fi Extenders, it helps to understand the fundamentals of what is actually going on. A Wi-Fi extender is all about preventing dead spots