WAP/Repeater Question

Thanks in advance for any help.

I have a wireless network which is used exclusively for media serving,
not for computer connection. I have a Linksys WAP11 connected to a
Linksys wired router on the second floor. On the first floor, I have
Omnifi and Netgear media servers. In the basement, I have a Tivo.

I just got a second WAP11 and configured it as a repeater. My
intention was to place it on the first floor and use it to improve
signals to the media servers.

I configured the repeater with a different SSID, but on the same
channel as the first WAP11. The Tivo is the only unit that displays
any kind of signal strength. If I choose the SSID of the AP, I get a
signal of about 75%. If I choose the SSID of the repeater (one floor
closer to the Tivo), I get signal strengths about 35%. If I walk
around with my wireless-capable PDA and use its rudimentary
signal-checking applet, I consistently get higher percentages from the
AP than the repeater, even when I am much closer to the repeater than
the AP.

Is using the WAP11 as a repeater counterproductive? Does this make
any sense?

Thanks again for any help.