Wifi router, extender

[Zany15]

I didn't know where to ask this question, but here's the problem. Our WiFi signal is poor. It will only work in the living room, and the phone is a nightmare as it keeps losing signal. Most phone calls involve lots of, 'can you hear me? '
Someone mentioned getting a wifi extender or booster, but I have no idea what is involved. Do they have to be installed by a professional? Does anyone have one, do they work? Thanks for any replies.

I've got one. It's just plugged into a socket. Easy. It's from amazon.

Put them towards the edge of your current range , experiment with position ( saw someone put it next to their router and then wonder it didn't work)

You can buy things you just plug in yourself and synch with your router (like this argos.co.uk/product/1286627#:~:text=TP-Link's%20range%20extender%20connects,can't%20on%20its%20own.&text=Press%20the%20WPS%20button%20on,easily%20connect%20to%20the%20network. ) - just follow the instructions. They're not guaranteed to work - they don't seem to in our house!

My husband has actually managed to run a physical cable to the front of the house but for some reason he won't sort out plugging it into something to work, which drives me mad as he's the one who hogs the main living space because his wifi doesn't work anywhere else in the house!

Depending on how many electrical circuits you have in the house it's worth looking at Powerline. It basically uses the electrical circuits already in a house to move the signal rather than just extend the range of the wifi router. If you think of A B C in a straight line. A is your current wifi router and you get signal just about at B but not at C. If you put a range extender on the edge of your current range (pretty much where B is) you may then get signal at C. If you use a powerline adapter at A with your router and then with another wifi router at C you will get wifi signal at A B C and D. Hope that makes sense. I'm sure there will be a better explanation on the internet, most people aren't aware Powerline is an option. We used it in a massive one level apartment abroad having failed to cover the whole apartment with wifi router and range extender.

There's some good advice in this article

We have a Google WiFi mesh network, which is great.

Thank you very much for all your replies. I have just ordered one on Amazon.

On the basis you are not using using WiFi phones the first thing to do is to resolve the issue with your phone line.
If your phone line is dodgy then your Internet connection is likely to be too, (unless you a Sky customer) adding WiFi extenders or ampliers will just 'amplifer' the problem not resolve it.
Speak with your intenet/phone provider first.

Go with this homeplug. It works like charm for me. www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07349P1TX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8

I would also recommend mesh solution. BT is giving it away for £7 a month when renewing the contract otherwise it is quite expensive.

They're fab, best purchase ever, I have a belkin one. I like browsing on my laptop in bed but couldn't get a signal due to thick stone walls in the house. I just plugged it in in a nearby spot where there is signal and configured it to the wifi by following the instructions and voila, I can stream Netflix in bed to my hearts content

The ones that plug into electric socket (TP link) work well

moved from flat to a large house, purchased bt whole home extender(second hand) works with every router.
now even the outbuildings have a signal.
no wires needed, just plug to a socket.

Hopefully you've sorted the problem, but out of curiosity who is your BB provider?

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles

On the basis you are not using using WiFi phones the first thing to do is to resolve the issue with your phone line. If your phone line is dodgy then your Internet connection is likely to be too, (unless you a Sky customer) adding WiFi extenders or ampliers will just 'amplifer' the problem not resolve it. Speak with your intenet/phone provider first.

I think the opposite is actually true. Sky uses copper phonelines for internet. Virgin, for example, does not.

My point was if your phone line is dodgy and on the assumption that your internet is provided over the same line then that is likely to be dodgy too.
Adding a WiFi extender/amplifier will not resolve the core issue which is the dodgy phone line.