Every article that I have seen that mentions WIFI signal extenders, use a router, which I don't have.

The Fast5250 is a router, and I'm guessing this is where the signal for your wireless TV is sourced from. It's pretty difficult to give recommendations without knowing the size and layout of your house, or where you need to use wireless devices.

 

The router should be placed in a central location in the house or apartment so the distance from the router and devices using WiFi is not too far for a good and strong WiFi signal to be received by the endpoint devices. This way, less WiFi strength will be lost during transmission.

 

Thanks for your advice. I'm limited as to where I can place the router. I'm assuming that I could try an inexpensive extender...without doing any harm.

 

Based on the information you've posted, you already have a WiFi extender/repeater. That's the VAP 3400. The articles you're mentioning discuss using a wireless router as many people have old ones laying around or buying a wireless router can be done for cheap. The articles will discuss turning the wireless router to only a wireless access point bypassing the router functionality. Internet/network connectivity is done by running an Ethernet cable from your Fast5250 to a LAN port on the wireless router being converted for access point use only. That's if you go this route. The pros of this is that wireless devices connect to this wireless router acting as an AP and network traffic is put onto the wired network directly at the wireless router acting as an AP. The cons with this setup is that you do not get roaming.

Using a wireless extender/repeater means the wireless signal from the Fast5250 is received by the extender and rebroadcasted where it is located to increase the reach of the wireless network running off of the Fast5250. The same goes with wireless data sent by any wireless device connected to the extender. That data is sent back to the Fast5250. Pros is that you get better wireless coverage. Cons are that you don't get roaming and performance suffers with both latency and data throughput.

Of the two options discussed above, converting a wireless router to function only as an AP is by far the best option. Wireless extenders/repeaters are pure junk and any wireless engineer knows to steer clear of these devices.

If you want a good wireless system that facilitates roaming and optimal wireless performance with the best coverage, get a unified wireless system such as Google WiFi, Linksys Velop, Netgear Orbi, Eero, and the like. These systems allow multiple wireless access points to be deployed in your home and they're all managed as a single wireless system.

 

Thanks Z! Very informative!...I was hoping to improve the WIFI signal at points farther from the modem on my tablet, especially, cheaply I'm not too sure how roaming applies to this.

 

If you would like fast internet, you could consider Ethernet. There is usually no ethernet ports on newer laptops but you can get a cheap Ethernet-to-USB converter to use it on newer laptops/tv's too. Also try moving the router closer towards the TV.

 

I am more concerned about getting a strong signal throughout the house rather than increased speed. But, I'll look into what you suggest.
Thanks.

 

Don't let mesh system scare you. They usually come with 2 or 3 devices. One is next to your modem and connected vith ethernet cable. The other (s) halfway to your main area. Tv room, living room,etc. You decide. Compared to range extender the connection speed does not cut in half.
I experimented this. My gateway (modem/router combo) is on second floor. The extender on first. I went up to second floor room where gateway was. Used ethernet cable from gateway to the laptop. checked the speed with speedtest by Ookla. Then first floor. wifi to laptop. Checked speed. I was shocked how much the speed degraded. This was several years ago. Bought myself a 3 piece Deco mesh. One is next to gateway. second on the first floor and the last is in the basement where I stream on my big tv. I checked the wifi speed in 3 locations. All pretty much the same. The speed slowed just a bit. No problem with 4K streaming in the basement.
If you have a small house/apartment a two can mesh system should be enough. In my case, I downloaded the Deco app on my phone and followed the instructions. It was easy.

 

Don't let mesh system scare you. They usually come with 2 or 3 devices. One is next to your modem and connected vith ethernet cable. The other (s) halfway to your main area. Tv room, living room,etc. You decide. Compared to range extender the connection speed does not cut in half.
I experimented this. My gateway (modem/router combo) is on second floor. The extender on first. I went up to second floor room where gateway was. Used ethernet cable from gateway to the laptop. checked the speed with speedtest by Ookla. Then first floor. wifi to laptop. Checked speed. I was shocked how much the speed degraded. This was several years ago. Bought myself a 3 piece Deco mesh. One is next to gateway. second on the first floor and the last is in the basement where I stream on my big tv. I checked the wifi speed in 3 locations. All pretty much the same. The speed slowed just a bit. No problem with 4K streaming in the basement.
If you have a small house/apartment a two can mesh system should be enough. In my case, I downloaded the Deco app on my phone and followed the instructions. It was easy.

Thanks for providing real world experiences with an extender and a mesh system. Hence why I've been saying till I'm blue to my face that extenders are utter garbage and should never be used in any wireless network these days with the availability of mesh wireless systems.

Why mesh wireless systems work well is because they use a dedicated RF backhaul between nodes that isn't shared with the clients connecting to the individual nodes.