Gadgets Top 14 WiFi Boosters of 2024: Best Wireless Internet Repeater Extenders

Top 14 WiFi Boosters of 2024: Best Wireless Internet Repeater Extenders

Reviewing the top 14 best WiFi boosters of 2024, plus a research guide on the most popular commonly asked questions about using wireless internet repeaters and extending network signal range devices.

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WiFi boosters improve your wireless internet in various ways. There are a number of reasons why someone might want to use a WiFi booster to improve their home's internet connection. A better internet connection can enhance entertainment devices like movie streaming services or gaming consoles, and an effective internet could be essential to someone who works online for their living.

Some WiFi boosters improve the range of your wireless internet, helping you get full wireless internet service in every corner and room of your home. Other WiFi boosters increase speed, especially when using a device that’s a long way from your wireless router.

Clearly, the WiFi booster market is highly variable, meaning that consumers should do their research before buying to make sure they find a product that helps them obtain their goals for a reasonable price.

Today, we’re highlighting some of the best WiFi boosters available, including WiFi extenders, WiFi repeaters, and other wireless internet boosters. Of course, for those looking to super boost signal ranges of their wireless Internet network at home, for gaming or streaming videos no matter its a smart TV, desktop/laptop, tablet or phone; many are concerned about the advent of 5G radiation, and look to EMF blockers as protection against enhancing the strength of the WiFi connection at the house.

For this guide, we use “WiFi booster”, “WiFi extender”, and “WiFi repeater” interchangeably. All three devices enhance your WiFi coverage in some way, although there are differences, so there isn't much of a functional difference.

Ranking the Top 14 Best WiFi Boosters of 2024

As always, readers should note that our ranking system is subjective, and that it should serve primarily as a starting point for your own research, rather than a definitive recommendation. This list is in no particular order.

Contents

Netgear N300 Wall Plug Wi-Fi Range Extender

Netgear N300 Wall Plug Wi-Fi Range Extender

Netgear’s N300 Wall Plug Wi-Fi Range Extender is Amazon’s most popular wireless internet booster. The device currently has over 12,400 reviews and an average rating of 4.0 out of 5, with most customers reviewing that it worked as intended to improve the speed and coverage of wireless internet. It’s an affordable, high-powered WiFi booster ideal for average homeowners.

Netgear specifically advertises their N300 Wall Plug Wi-Fi Range Extender to people who need to extend wireless coverage around the house for better smartphone, tablet, or game console connectivity. Plus, the Netgear N300 is that it’s easy to install and works with any standard WiFi router.

Price: $50

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UTOPB WiFi Range Extender Repeater

UTOPB’s WiFi Range Extender Repeater is the fastest WiFi booster on this list, supporting speeds of 900 Mbps on its 5GHz channel and 300Mbps on its 2.4 GHz channel. UTOPB also emphasizes 360-degree high-speed connections for HD video streaming, online gaming, and other internet tasks.

Another noticeable difference between this WiFi booster and others is the antenna system: UTOPB uses four (!) antennas to boost coverage. UTOPB claims these antennas will eliminate dead areas and improve the reach of existing WiFi coverage.

And, like other top-ranked options on this list, the UTOPB WiFi booster is easy to setup and install: just plug it into an electrical outlet, press the button, and that’s it. It’s also available at a very reasonable $53.

Price: $53

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Netgear N600 Desktop WiFi Range Extender

Netgear has multiple products on this list – and for good reason. The company offers a range of popular wireless internet range extenders, including plug-in and desktop devices. The N600 Desktop WiFi Range Extender lets you extend dual band WiFi up to 600Mbps (the plug-in N300 only supports WiFi up to 500Mbps).

The N600 also has benefits like FastLane Technology, which uses both Wi-Fi bands to establish one super high-speed connection, making the N600 ideal for gaming and HD streaming. Plus, the easy “Push ‘N’ Connect” installation connects your N600 to your router and computers instantly with no hassle (there are also four ethernet ports on the device for wired connections). For all of these reasons, the N600 is easily one of the best WiFi Range Extenders available today.

Price: $60

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Netgear EX6100 WiFi Mesh Range Extender

Netgear’s EX6100 is a mesh range extender that adds up to 1,000 square feet of coverage to your wireless internet range. It also supports up to 15 devices.

Just like the Netgear N300 WiFi booster above, the EX6100 works just by plugging into an electrical outlet. It also supports up to 750Mbps (250Mbps more than the N300) thanks to its use of AC750 dual-band. Plus, like the Netgear N600 desktop WiFi booster above, the EX6100 has a wired ethernet port to maximize internet speeding, making it a perfect unit to plug in behind a TV, game console, or computer for the fastest possible internet speeds.

Price: $67

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Comfast WiFi Range Extender

The Comfast WiFi Range Extender is a WiFi signal booster and repeater that uses four antennas to boost coverage across any home or business. Like most other top-ranked options on this list, the Comfast WiFi Range Extender uses speeds of up to 1,200 Mbps. However, the speeds are slightly lower than the UTOPB option above: Comfast has 867 Mbps on the 5 GHz band and 300 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band (although oddly, the company has labeled the 5 Ghz band as “5.8 GHz”). For most people, that’s not a noticeable difference – although it is worth noting.

Comfast’s WiFi Range Extender is a plug-in unit. Just plug it into an electrical outlet, then press the button to connect to your wireless router or any device. That’s it.

Price: $50

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Netgear EX6200 Wireless WiFi Range Extender

The Netgear EX6200 Wireless WiFi Range Extender is an improved version of the N600 desktop unit above. It’s also much more stylish, featuring a distinctive black and red design that will look sleek on any desktop or TV display.

You can connect the WiFi booster to your router and devices with the press of a button. The dual band technology is the fastest on this list so far, supporting speeds of up to 1.2 Gbps (AC1200 technology) for fast, reliable connections. The EX6200 also uses dual band technology to extend both 2.4 and 5 GHz WiFi signals. You can connect to the EX6200 using wireless internet. Or, you can plug into one of the five included ethernet ports on the device.

Do you want all of the benefits of the EX6200 desktop booster without actually placing the unit on your desktop? Netgear makes a plug-in version as well called the EX6150. That unit has the same tech specs and price as the EX6200, but it plugs into any electrical outlet for easy installation.

Price: $90

Get Netgear EX6200 Wireless WiFi Range Extender on Amazon

TP-Link AC1750 WiFi Extender

The TP-Link AC1750 WiFi Extender boosts WiFi up to 1750 Mbps across both the 2.4 and 5 GHz range. TP-Link also claims to extend range further than other WiFi boosters on this list, expanding coverage by up to 2,000 square feet. It also supports the connection of up to 32 devices.

With the TP-Link AC1750, you can eliminate Wi-Fi dead zones and enjoy lag-free connection to any type of device. There’s also an ethernet port on the unit for improved wired internet coverage. This unit is officially called the TP-Link AC1750, although it’s sometimes labeled as the TP-Link N300 because of the wireless technology it uses. Regardless, it’s one of the best WiFi boosters you can buy today.

Price: $60

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D-Link WiFi Range Extender

D-Link has been one of the best names in wireless router technology for decades. The company’s D-Link WiFi Range Extender is one of the best-looking WiFi boosters on this list, featuring a sleek, black, cylindrical design and a minimalistic interface.

You’ll pay a premium for that stylish design, as the D-Link WiFi Range Extender is one of the priciest options on this list. However, that price also gives you an AC1200 dual band wireless booster with MediaBridge and Access Point technology. If you want uncompromising speed, security, and range packaged into a sleek device, then the D-Link AC1200 WiFi range extender is a great option.

Price: $80

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TP-Link AC750 WiFi Extender

TP-Link’s AC750 is a WiFi extender that covers up to 1,200 square feet, 20 devices, and 750 Mbps. Those numbers are slightly lower than the TP-Link AC1750 above. However, those are good numbers for a budget unit.

At just $30, TP-Link provides excellent WiFi improvement at a strong value. If you don’t want to break the bank with some of our $60+ units above, then the TP-Link AC750 WiFi Extender may be the right choice for you. Like most other WiFi boosters listed here, it’s a plug-in unit that fits into any standard electrical outlet.

Price: $30

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Linksys AC1900 Gigabit Range Extender

Linksys is yet another well-known name in the wireless router world. The Linksys AC1900 is a popular WiFi booster that eliminates WiFi dead zones and boosts WiFi coverage throughout your property. There’s a simple, one-button setup process. Plus, the device doesn’t look out of place in any electrical socket: it looks like a simple, white, electrical device.

The Linksys AC1900 WiFi booster is mostly designed for wireless devices, although you can connect a device via the single ethernet port on the back. At $90, the Linksys AC1900 is the most expensive option on this list.

Price: $90

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Rock Space WiFi Range Extender 750 Mbps

Rock Space makes a WiFi Range Extender that supports speeds of up to 750Mbps. It’s a dual band WiFi booster that enhances your 2.4 and 5 GHz coverage. The device has an ethernet port for wired connections. It also claims to provide 360 degree coverage with a simple setup process.

The biggest advantage of the Rock Space WiFi range Extender is the price: at just $36, it’s one of the cheapest WiFi boosters on this list. Rock Space claims their WiFi booster is compatible with 99% of routers. Plus, you can set it up in under eight seconds. Just press the WPS button to connect to your router and any device. That’s it.

Price: $36

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Rock Space WiFi Range Extender 1200 Mbps

The Rock Space WiFi Range Extender supports speeds of up to 1200 Mbps. It’s a newer version of the unit above. Priced at just $10 extra, the WiFi booster has many of the same features that make Rock Space a popular budget option, including WPS one button setup and decent coverage and speed.

The Rock Space WiFi Range Extender claims to cover up to 1,292 square feet of space beyond your normal wireless router’s range, making it ideal for improving speed and coverage throughout your home, business, backyard, or wherever else you need to improve wireless internet.

Price: $46

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Nextbox WiFi Extender

The NExtbox WiFi Extender is a very basic WiFi booster that expands your 2.4 GHz coverage (but not your 5 GHz coverage). If you’re looking for a budget unit and don’t need your 5 GHz WiFi range or power extended, then Nextbox’s unit may be the right choice for you.

The WiFi booster is small and discreet, featuring a distinctive black design with green lighting. It also has WPS setup, letting you connect devices or a wireless router with just a tap of the button. At this price range, however, there are better options available.

Price: $33

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Superboost WiFi Extender

Superboost’s WiFi Extender Signal Booster claims to extend wireless range as much as 2,500 square feet, although we find that hard to believe for a WiFi booster at this price range ($35). Nevertheless, this WiFi booster supports 15 devices while boasting high performance across your 2.4 GHz spectrum. Like the Nextbox WiFi Extender above, the Superboost WiFi Extender does not extend your 5 GHz spectrum at all. This may not be an issue, but there are certainly better options at this price range.

One unique feature about the Superboost WiFi Extender is that there are five different modes, including wireless router mode, repeater mode, client mode, access point mode, and WISP client router mode.

Get Superboost WiFi Extender on Amazon

How We Ranked

To compile the rankings above, our editorial team considered all of the following WiFi booster features:

Speed: Nobody likes slow internet. Speed was the most important factor when ranking the WiFi boosters above. Many of the WiFi boosters above have unclear speed labeling. They claim to support speeds of up to 1,200Mbps. In reality, this means the router supports around 900Mbps on 5 GHz frequency and 300 Mbps on 2.4 GHz frequency.

WiFi Protected Setup (WPS): WPS is the fastest and most convenient way to connect devices to your WiFi booster. Most of the top-ranked WiFi boosters support WPS. With one click, you can connect your wireless router or any device to your WiFi booster. No more CDs to install or other complicated installation processes to follow.

Coverage: Speed is important, but most people are buying WiFi boosters to extend the range of a wireless router. Most WiFi boosters above had a maximum range of around 1,000 square feet in optimal conditions.

Dual Band Versus Single Band: All good WiFi boosters use dual band – not single band. Single band WiFi boosters kill your speed by as much as 50%. Dual band boosters still inhibit speed, although the effect isn’t as noticeable.

Reliability and Durability: Nobody likes using a flaky internet connection. Cheap WiFi boosters will constantly drop a connection or fail to connect, which can be frustrated. The WiFi boosters above are made from reliable, well-regarded manufacturers with a proven track record.

2.4 and 5 GHz Coverage: Most of the WiFi boosters improved both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz coverage. Most homes have both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz devices, so dual band support continues to be important. The last two devices on our list supported only 2.4 GHz, making them good budget options for those who mostly use 2.4 GHz devices.

Number of Supported Devices: The WiFi boosters above support anywhere from 10 to 30 devices per booster.

Style, Design, & Appearance: You’re buying a WiFi router for its functionality – not its appearance. However, we still appreciate an aesthetically pleasing WiFi booster. Your WiFi booster will most likely plug into your wall in a room that you’re using. Some people leave the WiFi booster on their desktop or TV stand. Appearance isn’t everything – but it’s still important.

Wired and Wireless Support: Many of the WiFi boosters above come with wireless and wired support. Some of the high-end boosters have four or five ethernet ports. This is ideal for fast internet. You can plug a computer, TV, or game console into the WiFi booster to enjoy the fastest possible internet speeds, for example.

Security: Wireless internet security continues to be a major issue. That’s why it’s important to buy a WiFi booster from a trusted manufacturer.

After carefully weighing all of these factors, our team came up with the rankings above. Again, your priorities and the things you look for in an effective WiFi booster may differ from those of our writers, so this list should not be considered an objective source of information.

Who Should Use a WiFi Booster?

People use WiFi boosters for a variety of reasons. Many people buy WiFi boosters to enhance coverage in a “dead zone” – an area of their home that the WiFi signal struggle to reach. However, there are plenty of other reasons to buy a WiFi booster.

It’s true: WiFi boosters can remove dead zones or dead spots in your house, spreading wireless internet to a room, a corner, or a part of your home that is not currently covered.

Some people also spend a lot of time outdoors – say, in their front yard, back yard, or around the pool. A good WiFi booster can spread your wireless internet signal not just throughout your home – but throughout your entire property.

Many businesses buy WiFi boosters to expand coverage over a larger area. A public library or college might have hundreds of WiFi users across a large area, for example. A WiFi booster can ensure everyone can access fast internet.

For some people, it’s not about internet coverage: it’s about speed. WiFi boosters can help maintain fast internet speeds in places of your home where internet is slow. Sometimes, there’s a physical barrier between you and your wireless router that slows down internet speeds, for example. Or, maybe a basement TV gets stuttering video streaming quality. Maybe Facetime works on your main floor but not your upstairs bedroom. WiFi boosters can solve all these speed and coverage-related problems.

Some people buy WiFi boosters simply because they have a big house. The average size of a house in America has nearly doubled since 1970, according to the National Association of Home Builders. Even the best wireless router may not be good enough to cover all three floors of a large home.

Ultimately, WiFi boosters are ideal for anyone who wants to improve the speed, quality, or coverage of their wireless internet.

What’s the Difference Between a WiFi Booster, a WiFi Extender, and a WiFi Repeater?

We use the terms WiFi booster, extender, and repeater interchangeably in this guide.

Yes, all three devices enhance WiFi coverage in some way. Most people use the three terms interchangeably, and “WiFi booster” is a catch-all term. But many within this growing industry have begun to establish some nuances in the specific implications of each term. Here’s our best breakdown of the differences between WiFi boosters, extenders, and repeaters:

WiFi Booster: Originally, “WiFi booster” was a catch-all phrase for a device that extends a WiFi signal. Today, a WiFi booster is more accurately defined as a wireless range extender. It enhances or “boosts” the range of your WiFi.

WiFi Extender: A WiFi extender or wireless range extender is a standalone piece of equipment that sits between your wireless router and the location where you want better wireless coverage. Like a repeater, an extender takes an existing WiFi signal from your wireless router, then re-broadcasts that signal. An extender rebroadcasts on a different wireless channel than the one used by your wireless router.

WiFi Repeater: A WiFi or wireless repeater is a first-generation WiFi signal extender. WiFi repeaters re-broadcast the WiFi signal received to a finite, localized area. The quality of the WiFi signal strength received by the wireless repeater will be the same WiFi signal strength distributed. A WiFi repeater typically increases response time and latency, making repeaters less desirable for streaming, gaming, and other speed-sensitive online tasks.

In most non-technical settings, the three terms are used interchangeably, so it doesn’t really matter. However, if you want to be technical, a WiFi network extender is the best for consistent, reliable, high speed WiFi in every corner of your home. All of the devices listed above, however, are types of WiFi boosters.

How do WiFi Range Extenders Work?

WiFi boosters do not replace your existing router. Instead, they work together with it, making the original signal stronger.

A WiFi extender works like a stereo amplifier for hi-fi systems. The extender takes electric power from a power supply (like your electrical outlet) to boost the strength of the original WiFi signal, transmitting the amplified signal through the air.

Have you ever wondered why WiFi boosters contain at least two antennas? Well, these antennas allow the WiFi booster to work: one antenna captures the signal while the other antenna transmits the signal. One antenna connects to your wireless router, while the other antenna transmits to devices in range.

More WiFi boosters plug into a standard electrical outlet. Some plug directly in, while others use a power cord. Once the device is plugged in, you press a button (like a WPS button) to connect the device to your wireless router and any devices within range. Many WiFi boosters also use a mobile app, letting you manage connection settings and control devices.

Thanks to WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), you can connect to your WiFi booster without going through the hassle of entering your wireless password over and over again. It’s just one click – and you’re done.

WiFi boosters will extend range, although they may lower speed. A good WiFi booster will have a negligible effect on speed – small enough that you shouldn’t notice it. Cheaper WiFi boosters, however, may significantly lower speed – which is why buying a high-quality WiFi booster is important.

You can minimize speed loss by placing your WiFi booster in an optimal position. Ideally, the WiFi booster should have a clear (or clear-ish) path to both the wireless router and any connected devices.

WiFi boosters do not inhibit privacy. WiFi boosters have the same robust encryption protocols as your main wireless router. They’re not more or less secure, so there’s no need to worry about your privacy.

Of course, the best way to prove the benefit of a WiFi booster is to run a speed test before and after installing the device. Or, walk around your home with a cell phone and check your coverage. Walk into your backyard or down the street. See how far you can go while still getting a signal. If the speed and coverage is better than before, then your WiFi booster is working. If there’s no difference, then you may have installed your WiFi booster incorrectly.

Frequently Asked Questions About WiFi Boosters

The WiFi booster market is still developing, which means that consumers are likely in the dark about a number of important bits of information. This section should help to clear things up by providing answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about a variety of WiFi booster issues.

Q: What is the difference between a setup and plugin WiFi booster?

A: Desktop and plugin WiFi boosters do the same job, although they’re built for different users. Desktop boosters have multiple ethernet ports for wired connections, making them ideal for a desktop or TV stand. Wired connections minimize speed loss, which can help with things like streaming and gaming.

Some people place a desktop WiFi booster on a TV stand or computer desk, for example. A plug-in booster can also increase range and maintain speed, although it’s designed more for wireless devices than wired devices. However, many plug-in boosters still have a single ethernet port.

Q: How do you setup a WiFi booster?

A: A decade ago, installing a WiFi booster was a long and complicated process. Today, it’s easy. You just press a button to connect a wireless router or wireless device to your booster using WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup). All of the WiFi boosters included on our list use WPS or other one-button setup processes.

Q: What’s a mesh-based WiFi system?

A: Some WiFi systems use mesh technology to talk to the router, with each node serving as a hop point for other nodes in the system, creating a mesh. It’s like a blanket of coverage for your home. Some WiFi boosters vaguely use terms like ‘mesh', although to create a true mesh WiFi network in your home, you’ll need to get rid of your wireless router and get a mesh networking kit. Mesh networks are the best possible home WiFi system available, with maximum reach and speed in every corner of your home.

Q: Why do you need a WiFi booster app?

A: WiFi booster apps can help you manage devices connected to your WiFi booster, setup new devices, and perform other functions. In most cases, you don’t have to install the WiFi booster app if you don’t want to. The app can be helpful to increase the functionality of your device, but it is not necessary for it to work effectively.

Q: How many devices can you connect to a WiFi booster?

A: You can typically connect 10 to 30 devices to a WiFi booster. Cheaper devices support fewer devices, while higher-end devices support more. To determine how many devices can connect to your brand and model of WiFi booster, consult the manufacturer for more information.

Q: Will WiFi boosters slow your internet speed?

A: Some amount of internet speed will be lost when transmitting your wireless signal from your router to your booster to your devices. However, with high-end boosters, this isn’t typically an issue.

Q: How much does a WiFi booster cost?

A: A WiFi booster costs anywhere from $30 to $200, with most boosters priced in the $40 to $70 range. Prices can easily fall outside of this range, so users should filter products by their price expectations to maximize viability.

Q: How many WiFi boosters do you need?

A: An average-sized home needs just one WiFi booster to improve range in a targeted area of the home, like a basement or upper floor. However, larger homes may require two or more boosters to maximize coverage. This depends largely on both the range of the device and the size of the home.

Q: Do wireless standards like 802.11ac matter?

A: Yes! Your booster’s wireless standard should match your wireless router’s standard. Otherwise, you’ll have a bottleneck. If your wireless router uses the current 802.11ac standard, then you’ll want to make sure your extender uses the same standard. The older 802.11n standard is slower and may be limited to one band, creating a bottleneck and reducing speeds.

Q: Where should you place my WiFi booster?

A: WiFi boosters, like wireless routers, use radio waves to share data back and forth with your internet connection. Try testing WiFi speeds using a mobile app, placing your booster in different parts of your home until you get a good speed. Your booster should have an obstacle-free path to your wireless router and any connected devices.

Q: Should you buy a new wireless router or get a booster?

A: If your wireless router isn’t giving you the speed or coverage you want, then you may want to buy a new router instead of a booster. Test your speed and coverage close to the router. If you’re not satisfied, then you may need a wireless router – not a booster. Alternatively, if your speed and range is good, and your wireless router just isn’t reaching a certain part of your home, then a WiFi booster is ideal.

Q: How can you test a WiFi booster?

A: You can test your WiFi booster by running a speed test app on your smartphone or another device. Alternatively, most WiFi boosters also have their own mobile apps. This might require first testing the speed and numbers of your internet before installation of the booster.

Q: How far will your WiFi booster extend?

A: A good WiFi booster extends range by anywhere from 1,000 to 2,5000 feet in optimal settings. In practice, you can expect a good WiFi booster to add about 1,500 square feet of coverage to your home WiFi network. This will likely depend on the model and technology used by your WiFi booster.

Q: Will a WiFi booster extend coverage to the backyard?

A: Yes, many people use WiFi boosters to extend coverage outdoors, including patios, pools, or porches. Make sure that these areas are within range of the device to ensure proper coverage.

Final Thoughts

WiFi booster technology is better today than ever before. A modern WiFi booster, extender, or repeater will extend your wireless internet coverage while maintaining fast speeds. You can avoid dead zones in your house, extend wireless coverage to your backyard, and enjoy the benefits of fast WiFi throughout your home.

Our guide to WiFi boosters should provide you with everything you need to know about WiFi boosters, including some of the best WiFi boosters to buy, facts about how the devices function, and a slew of frequently asked questions and answers. Just remember, many of these modern high-tech gadgets like UV light sanitizers and air purifying ionizers are not all created equally with the same integrity or functionality. The ranking for the best WiFi boosters of 2024 was done to help consumers conduct more calculated research as to which options optimally perform and fit the budget while accomplishing the task or goal of enhancing at-home WiFi signal ranges.

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