Booster??

Just trying to increase my wireless knowledge :-) Are there such devices
that act like a booster , i.e. you put them halfway between an access
point/wireless router and the client PC and they simply pickup and
re-transmit the signal.

I'm aware that some access points can act in bridge mode in the way I
describe but I think this requires configuring both access points in bridge
mode. In a situation I've been asked about, there's an existing wireless
router that doesn't seem to support bridging.

Cheers, Rob.

"Rob Nicholson" wrote in message...
> Just trying to increase my wireless knowledge :-) Are there such devices
> that act like a booster , i.e. you put them halfway between an access
> point/wireless router and the client PC and they simply pickup and
> re-transmit the signal.

Repeater.

> I'm aware that some access points can act in bridge mode in the way I
> describe but I think this requires configuring both access points in
bridge
> mode. In a situation I've been asked about, there's an existing wireless
> router that doesn't seem to support bridging.
>
> Cheers, Rob.

Many AP's can be configed to run in "Repeater Mode". I have a couple here
doing just that.
Repeaters cut your pipe in half, which may not be an issue if you only use
your wireless for internet traffic.

For WLAN traffic, its better to run CAT5 for additional AP's.

> Many AP's can be configed to run in "Repeater Mode". I have a couple here
> doing just that. Repeaters cut your pipe in half, which may not be an
> issue if you only use
> your wireless for internet traffic.

This is home use so speed isn't too much of an issue as the internet feed is
way less than the bandwidth we're talking about.

So an AP configured in repeater mode in effect picks up traffic from another
transmitter (or rather two of them) and passes the data along?

Thanks, Rob.

> Many AP's can be configed to run in "Repeater Mode". I have a couple here
> doing just that.
> Repeaters cut your pipe in half, which may not be an issue if you only use
> your wireless for internet traffic.

When you configure an AP in repeater mode, do you have to also configure the
other AP in repeater mode as well?

Thanks, Rob.

"Rob Nicholson" wrote in message ...
> > Many AP's can be configed to run in "Repeater Mode". I have a couple
here
> > doing just that.
> > Repeaters cut your pipe in half, which may not be an issue if you only
use
> > your wireless for internet traffic.
>
> When you configure an AP in repeater mode, do you have to also configure
the
> other AP in repeater mode as well?
>
> Thanks, Rob.

Nope! Thats one of the great things. Setting up a repeater is usually just
a simply matter of pointing the intended repeater towards an AP to repeat.
Often, there is even a scan utility -- you simply scan the air and then pick
which AP you want to repeat. Nothing needs to be done with the originating
AP.

However, before getting a repeater, AP that can be used as a repeater, etc,
you'll want to do some research first and make sure that the hardware that
you intend to use a repeater is compatible with the originating AP. With
DLink stuff (and most Linksys, I believe?) both hardwares have to be
capable of WDS (wireless distribution) in order for repeating to work. Some
other limitation with repeating: proprietary stuff usually can't be used
through a repeater and WPA (at least with DLink) won't work. (WEP does
though.)

I believe there are some some "standalone repeaters" out there that work
with any (vanilla) 802.11[g/b] though. On the subject of "repeaters", Jeff
Liebermann often points those asking for repeater info towards a (cool)
animal that uses your existing home electrical wiring. Its more of an
"ethernet-wireless bridge" than a repeater, but achieves the same thing.
Its two pieces of hardware, each plugs into an electrical outlet. One of
the pieces of hardware has an ethernet port and tranceives the data across
the electrical wiring. The other piece of hardware tranceives the data
across the wiring and has a built-in AP. As long as the two outlets are on
the same circuit, you are in business, plus doesn't seem to have all the
same limitations that "repeaters" do. Eventually I want to get a set of
these animals myself.

Cheers,
Eric

> However, before getting a repeater, AP that can be used as a repeater,
> etc,
> you'll want to do some research first and make sure that the hardware that
> you intend to use a repeater is compatible with the originating AP. With
> DLink stuff (and most Linksys, I believe?) both hardwares have to be
> capable of WDS (wireless distribution) in order for repeating to work.
> Some
> other limitation with repeating: proprietary stuff usually can't be used
> through a repeater and WPA (at least with DLink) won't work. (WEP does
> though.)

Thought it wouldn't be that simple :-) The originating AP is actually a 3COM
OfficeConnect ADSL wireless router. I'll have a look through the manual.
I'll also borrow one of our Netgear AP from work (which can work as a
repeater) and see if I can get it working.

> I believe there are some some "standalone repeaters" out there that work
> with any (vanilla) 802.11[g/b] though. On the subject of "repeaters",
> Jeff

Any idea of make/models?

Cheers, Rob.