Are Power Line Adaptors effective options to boost Wifi signals around the home?
Are we talking about the WiFi repeaters that hang off the mains sockets (like these?)
There’s no “for sure” answer on this, as it depends what you aim to use your WiFi for and what sort of experience you expect to get with that.
I would avoid using them if your broadband speed is very low (sub 20Mbps download) as if you plan on streaming full-HD or 4K UHD then you’d have a poor viewing experience, since the speed will already be reduced by the signal having to be repeated, plus they’re not always consistent, so you could have a bunch of packet loss going on, which can cause video buffering, quality reduction etc.
Same goes for online gaming - the inconsistent connection could result in poor ping, in which case you might have a hard time playing in competitive games i.e. Call of Duty, FIFA… Could mean missing a kill or two, or that winning goal!
Now, you could use a combination of Ethernet powerline adapters, and an access point (or 2), as this is extending the wired network to another part of the building, and the access point will be giving out close to the same speed as what your router does, as less speed is lost through cabling (though a direct connection between the AP and your router will always be better).
Ethernet powerline adapters: https://www.amazon.co.uk/TL-PA4010KIT-Powerline-Configuration-Required-UK/dp/B01BECPIMC/ref=sr_1_1_mod_primary_new?dchild=1&keywords=tp-link+powerline+adapter&qid=1617871852&s=computers&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sr=1-1
WiFi-ac access point: https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-Gigabit-Controller-Software-EAP245/dp/B01M7WS3IF/ref=sr_1_7_sspa?_encoding=UTF8&c=ts&dchild=1&keywords=Wireless+Access+Points&qid=1617871762&s=computers&sr=1-7-spons&ts_id=430580031&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEySkNHNFVKVjBYSTdWJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNDA3NzczMU80VUtSSE5JQU8zTSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMDg2MjM4MkJYWkVZR0oxRkNOTSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX210ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=
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No, they aren’t good for boosters but are ok to feed a distant pc or tv. If you want to boost the wifi the best thing is a mesh, you can get very cheap ones now like the BT mini mesh or Tenda nova, and these do a great job. Powerline adaptors are only as good as the house wiring, and won’t work properly in extension leads, but you can get pass through adaptors, but by the time you have paid for those you could have bought a mesh. The best way to extend the connection will always be ethernet cable, but a mesh is the next best thing and can also be plugged into the ethernet instead of line of sight through doors/floors.
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