What you are in fact asking for is that the AP not be an AP, but become a
client device. While vendors could have designed their AP devices to act as
either, they don't -- adds cost to the AP for a function that most will
never use.
Specifically, the Linksys WAP can be placed into either an infrastructure
mode (in which it believes itself to *be* the access point) and an ad-hoc
mode, which requires other devices (the other AP included) to be in ad-hoc
mode as well.
As was mentioned, you could consider using a WET11 or similar connected to
the Cantenna, which functions as a WiFi client device. This would give you
Ethernet connectivity to the remote AP. You could then attach a local AP to
that, creating your own local SSID. I have not done this, but I would
imagine it would work SO LONG AS you named your local SSID differently than
the remote -- in infrastructure mode, the WET11 is configured with the SSID
and will search out the strongest channel to use. If you use the same SSID,
your cantenna will pick up the local AP. While it is a directional yagi, my
experience is that they aren't that directional, and will pick up stronger
signals from behind it, etc. Not having tried this, I'd also be paranoid
that the local AP signal *might* interfere with the cantenna reception from
a remote AP. Could be tested by measuring signal strength with the local AP
on and then off.
Another option would be a WiFi repeater. While most of the repeaters on the
market are made by the higher end vendors (and are more expensive), some of
the more "economical brands" have begun to offer repeaters as well, such as
the Dlink 800AP range extender. I am guessing that, since you are planning
on using unidirectional antenna such as the Cantenna, that the distance is
far or signal strength is weak from the remote AP. For the repeaters with a
single antenna connection, using the Cantenna or similar might give you
great reception, but will not give you good local signal in the apartment.
Either consider a repeater with 2 connections (one for unidirection, one for
omni) or consider a good omnidirectional antenna and see if that will pick
up the signal from the remote AP.
Just some thoughts........
"Scott Barlow" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) om...
> Can this WAP be used as a client (or is the term repeater?)?
>
> Hypothetically, I'd like the Linksys BEFW11S4 WAP to receive a signal
> from another AP (Dlink, Lynksys, etc) via my cantenna. I would then
> like to use my laptop to connect to my WAP. That way I can boost the
> original WAP signal all over my apartment. Is that possible with the
> BEFW11S4? If so, how can I set this up differently than what I have
> now?
>
> I have it setup like this:
> Cantenna -> PigTail -> BEFW11S4
>
> References:
> http://www.seattlewireless.net/index...inksysBefw11S4
> http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/cantennahowto.html
> http://www.saunalahti.fi/elepal/antenna2.html
>
Similar Threads
Linear Mode
