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Wireless repeater

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dataswitch

Junior Member
Right now, I am recieving my internet from a wireless lan at an apartment complex. Unfortunately, I am on the outer edge of the range of the router and get poor reception and many disconnects. I am thinking about getting a wireless repeater to extend the range. My only question is, do I need to have access to the router to be able to set up the repeater?
 
You don't need to have access to the router. You need access to a location where the wireless signal strength is sufficient. There, you can position a repeater or something similar to boost the signal.

The best option would be to use an actual repeater. Like this: http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellit...name=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper
The problem is that they only work with a few wireless routers.

A slightly more flexible option is to use a service called WDS. This service connects multiple wireless access ports together so it seems that they operate on one network. Not all wireless routers support this either though, so you will have to check out the existing wireless router in the apartment.

This last option is guarenteed to work, but requires two wireless router connected to each other. One of the routers would be configured in client mode and connect itself to the apartment's wireless network. This router becomes a wireless bridge, joining the existing wireless network to its own wired network. The second router works as usual and creates your own wireless network. The second router is then connected to the one that is in client mode. Basically, the client mode router acts as an internet connection that the second router uses to distribute internet access to your own wireless network.

Of these three options, WDS and repeating are the simpliest, but require support from the existing network. The bridging technique can be difficult to setup because most wireless routers don't support it directly and require that you upgrade it with third-party firmware that does. The Linksys WRT54G is one that does (after firmware upgrade). You could avoid the difficulties of setting up a wireless bridge if you bought an actual preconfigured wireless bridge (Linksys makes some, but I don't know their price).

In terms of price, WDS would probably be the cheapest (routers that support WDS are fairly common). Repeaters are usual more expensive than regular wireless routers (maybe double in price). The bridging setup of course requires two wireless devices.

EDIT: Don't forget that for any of these solution to work, you must have access to a location in which the signal is already reasonably strong.
 
Nice post up there^

I second the client suggestion. If you can get your hands on a machine with external antenna capability, a directional antenna will do wonders for your connection too.
 
Repeaters require the LAN MAC of the source signal. You need that to put in the repeater programming and then you are good to go. You cannot put a repeater on the edge of the network and expect stability, you need a good signal to repeat...
 
A Repeater (WDS) cut the signal into half, so if you are on the edge it would not help much to begin with and would repeat to the whole neighborhood as well.

The whole thing would depend on the environment. The best would be to lay a cable as much as possible toward the source and use an AP in client mode. Since you would use a CAT5e Cable, you can use POE as well and you would not need an 110VAC Outlet.

It might cost $20-$30 more but it would be a more solid solution.

Need more ideas?

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

Link to: Wirelessly Bridging Home / Network.

Link to: Hi Gain Antenna for Entry Level Wireless.

:sun:
 
It might cost $20-$30 more but it would be a more solid solution.
Click to expand...

$20-30 more? Compared to what? Any of the other options require at least one AP, so this would be a cheaper solution.

The ideas i proposed assume that you want actual wireless access, ie you are using a laptop and don't want to be fixed to one location.

If this is not required, then you don't even need an AP. Just get a wireless card that has a detachable antenna so you can move the antenna to the optimal spot and connect it with an extension cable. You can also use a USB wireless card and use a long USB cable to move the device to the optimal location (if i recall correctly, the longest length of USB cable allowed is 16' without a USB repeater). These two options are probably the cheapest.

BTW, Jack is right, a repeater will probably not provide great performance (the connection will probably be more reliable though).
 
Originally posted by: mjia
It might cost $20-$30 more but it would be a more solid solution.
Click to expand...

$20-30 more? Compared to what? Any of the other options require at least one AP, so this would be a cheaper solution.
Click to expand...
Well an Access Point that can be configured as a Client is usually a little more expensive than WDS Wireless Router (or client card) on sale.

Might not make sense, but Access Point are not sold in large quantities to the Home/SOHO market and thus are more expensive.

:sun:

 
I use WDS and yes it does cut the signal in half but i ran a few speed test from my laptop and was still getting 8mbit down, but of course i have verizon fios 🙂 So in my case using WDS doesnt really hurt me.
 
Wait, so is there a device that will recieve any wifi signal and be able to retransmit it, without needing specialized hardware to work?
 
You will at least need to know the SSID and WEP/WAP key; you probably already have this. Recommend using a compatible repeater.
 
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