Help with 2 wireless routers -- clone or repeating?

[Anttwerrp]

Does anyone know if it is possible to use one Wireless router to clone/repeat your exsiting Wireless network? Thus making your network hotspot larger. I know you can do this with an AP repeater but i already have wireless routers and would rather not spend more money.

 

[wanderer27]

If you're talking about running a Cat-5 (LAN) cable from one of the ports on the first AP to the input of the second AP, then I think you should probably be able to accomplish this.

You might want to use different broadcast Channel numbers though, otherwise if they're using the same Channel they may interfere with each other.

 

[JackMDS]

Very few Entry Level Wireless Cable/DSL Routers can talk one to the other (95% can Not do it).🙁

Unless the data sheet lists the Router as a WDS:thumbsup: (or having the capacity to be configured as a Client, Group Bridge, or a Repeater). It will not talk to another Wireless Router.:thumbsdown:

Of the Brand name Entry Level Cable/DSL Routers

Buffalo Tech., some of the Belkin, and some of the SMC 802.11g models have client mode as is.

Linksys WRT54g v.1-4, and WRT54L models can be flashed with 3rd party firmware and work as Client. (http://www.linksysinfo.org/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=31 )

Most new Access Points of most Brands can be configured as Clients too.

Link to: Wireless Network - Configuration Modes.

If you want to Extend Wireless Coverage using a second Router May be this can Help.

Link to: Extending the Distance of Entry Level Wireless Network.

Link to: Wirelessly Bridging Home / Network.

 

[Anttwerrp]

Thank you ... this is really starting to help point me in the right direction.
I have a 3 different models of linksys:
WRT300N
WKPC54G
WRT54g

and 1 D-Link model DI-524

 

[Anttwerrp]

Is it true that if you use your router as a repeater that it cuts your bandwidth in half?

 

[JackMDS]

Yap, any Wireless device that does not have two Radios would cut the Bandwidth into half since it is like Walkie Talkie has to be Flip-Flopped between Transmit and receive.

You probably would not find two Radios in devices that are under $1000.

 

[Anttwerrp]

ok ... so if i was to actually purchase a moderate AP (not over $150 or so) That will still cut the bandwidth in half?

I guess my question is? Is it the router that is cutting it in half or will both AP and router cut it in half?

 

[JackMDS]

Yap same apply to an AP. This is why professional settings prefer a "web" of Access Points connected with CAT5e to the source.

BTW. Wireless Router is actually is a Routing circuit + 4 ports switch + Access Point in the same plastic box.

 

[nweaver]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
Yap, any Wireless device that does not have two Radios would cut the Bandwidth into half since it is like Walkie Talkie has to be Flip-Flopped between Transmit and receive.

You probably would not find two Radios in devices that are under $1000.

Cisco 1200 series AP's have 2...although not two on the same frequency (A and G radio)

they run about 400-500, depending on options....

and you can bridge the A radios together into a mesh, and repeat with the G, but why would you do this instead of running a wire and implementing something like WDS?