Wireless repeater that will work with many vendors

I am looking to purchase a wireless device (802.11b or g) that will repeat
signals consistently from a variety of access points like Dlink, Linksys,
Belkin, Netgear etc.

I am thinking about the Dlink DWL-2100AP, Airlink101 AP411W, or the Netgear
WG-602. Or any repeater that someone out there can recommend?

Can anyone guide me in the right direction? Thanks.

"Marshall Lymer" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:P9ednYlfjr7R1WLcRVn-(E-Mail Removed):

> I am looking to purchase a wireless device (802.11b or g) that
> will repeat signals consistently from a variety of access points
> like Dlink, Linksys, Belkin, Netgear etc.
>
> I am thinking about the Dlink DWL-2100AP, Airlink101 AP411W, or
> the Netgear WG-602. Or any repeater that someone out there can
> recommend?

The issue is that repeater mode is an implementation of Wireless
Distribution System, WDS. While WDS is described in IEEE 802.11 its
operation is not defined in sufficient unambiguous detail.

This means that WDS implmentations from different manufacturers
differ slightly, and there is no guarantee that products from one
manufacturer will work with products from another - or even between
products from the same manufacturer!

The following article gives a good overview:
<http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/Sections-article78-page1.php>

You ask for recommendations. Well, products from Buffalo Technology
have a good reputation, but I have no direct personal experience.

I do have considerable experience of the D-Link DWL-900AP+. This
product (and many similar products from other vendors) is actually a
rebadged Global Sun Technology device, and its generic design allows
it to interwork with many devices. It has a Repeater mode which works
fine as long as you can tolerate the drop in throughput associated
with a single radio.

However, I prefer to use a pair back-to-back, one configured as a
wireless client, one as an access point. Since there are now two
radios the drop in throughput is now far less severe, and this
configuration works well.

Similar 'back-to-back' implementations will work with other mbrands
and models of access point: you don't spefically need a repeater.

If you can get hold of them (the device is obsolescent, and is
already end-of-life in the US, although it's still sold in the UK) I
can thoroughly recommend the DWL-900AP+. It's one of D-Link's better
products.

Hope this helps

--

Richard Perkin
To email me, change the AT in the address below
richard.perkinATmyrealbox.com

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