WiFi range extender (repeater)
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From: P.Schuman on 8 Apr 2008 21:51 just wondering - since this topic frequently pops up - How well do these types of devices work in the real world ? http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=267 If it has to receive, process, and then re-transmit the air frames, what kind of delay/latency do you encounter - ie gaming ? What SSID does the "extender" transmit ? How can you tell if you are connected to the "extender" vs the real AP ? -- ---------------------------------- "If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something." - Steven Wright
From: seaweedsl on 9 Apr 2008 14:17 On Apr 8, 8:51 pm, "P.Schuman" <pschuman_no_spam...(a)interserv.com> wrote: I presume that you are asking about the "repeater" mode for this not the AP mode. As Jeff or anybody else will tell you, one big issue is that they cut thruput in half since they are store-and-forward repeaters trying to do it all with one radio. They are not universal and usually require specific matched routers to work at all. Linksys to certain Linksys, D-link to certain D-link, etc. In my experience, using DD-WRT (the most robust and flexible) routers in this mode, it is very hard to get the repeater to work with WPA security. Some claim to and others don't. But mine got caught up a lot and only really worked right with WEP or no security That was a deal killer for me. Also, they don't seem to work consistently. I had that DD-WRT repeater installed for a distant client and they were always calling that it didn't work, wasn't connecting. I'd go out and reboot various things in different orders and it would work again. Then I installed a two radio repeater (-)-)-) ethernet client ----AP -)-)-)-), and everything became reliable. Some people HAVE reported success with repeaters and swear by them.
From: me on 9 Apr 2008 15:22 seaweedsl <seaweedsteve(a)gmail.com> wrote: >Also, they don't seem to work consistently. sounds like a better antenna is best bet over repeaters then? agree?
From: esar on 9 Apr 2008 15:26 "P.Schuman" <pschuman_no_spam_me(a)interserv.com> wrote in message news:EiVKj.2974$iK6.2958(a)nlpi069.nbdc.sbc.com... > just wondering - since this topic frequently pops up - Hi > How well do these types of devices work in the real world ? > http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=267 Well, it will cut your pipe in half, so it depends on your traffic. If your traffic is just internet traffic, you probably won't notice too much of a difference, but if you have a lot of heavy LAN traffic, you will definetly notice a big difference. Also, this repeater can only be used with certain WAP's. Read the fine print. > If it has to receive, process, and then re-transmit the air frames, > what kind of delay/latency do you encounter - ie gaming ? I played around with "repeater mode" in my WAP's a while back, but for the reason mentioned above, I stopped using them as "repeaters". I'm not sure about latency, but heavy LAN performance was horrible. I ended up stringing "repeaters" by simply cabling new WAP's, using the same SSID/channel. Also, I have an other "repeater" that is two devices working together: a wireless-ethernet bridge connected to a WAP using the same SSID/channel as the SSID it is "repeating". This basically gives you an "over-the-air repeater" without the pipe cut in half. (I'm using 802.11a, hence the reason for the several repeaters throughout my house.) > What SSID does the "extender" transmit ? The same SSID as the AP being extended. Same channel too. In "repeater mode", they are transparent. Garbage in, garbage out. > How can you tell if you are connected to the "extender" vs the real AP ? By the connected MAC BSSID...
From: esar on 9 Apr 2008 15:41
"esar" <none(a)none.none.not> wrote in message news:47fd1805$0$4930$4c368faf(a)roadrunner.com... > > "P.Schuman" <pschuman_no_spam_me(a)interserv.com> wrote in message > news:EiVKj.2974$iK6.2958(a)nlpi069.nbdc.sbc.com... >> just wondering - since this topic frequently pops up - > > Hi > >> How well do these types of devices work in the real world ? >> http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=267 > > Well, it will cut your pipe in half, so it depends on your traffic. If > your traffic is just internet traffic, you probably won't notice too much > of a difference, but if you have a lot of heavy LAN traffic, you will > definetly notice a big difference. Also, this repeater can only be used > with certain WAP's. Read the fine print. > >> If it has to receive, process, and then re-transmit the air frames, >> what kind of delay/latency do you encounter - ie gaming ? > > I played around with "repeater mode" in my WAP's a while back, but for the > reason mentioned above, I stopped using them as "repeaters". I'm not sure > about latency, but heavy LAN performance was horrible. I ended up > stringing "repeaters" by simply cabling new WAP's, using the same > SSID/channel. Also, I have an other "repeater" that is two devices > working together: a wireless-ethernet bridge connected to a WAP using the > same SSID/channel as the SSID it is "repeating". This basically gives you > an "over-the-air repeater" without the pipe cut in half. (I'm using > 802.11a, hence the reason for the several repeaters throughout my house.) > >> What SSID does the "extender" transmit ? > > The same SSID as the AP being extended. Same channel too. In "repeater > mode", they are transparent. Garbage in, garbage out. > >> How can you tell if you are connected to the "extender" vs the real AP ? > > By the connected MAC BSSID... > [Adding] Reading seaweedsl's post reminded me something about all my DWL-7100AP's (mentioned above), they don't support WPA in "Repeater Mode". They only support WEP. A quick look at the "emulator" for the DWL-G800AP shows that it also does not support WPA in "Repeater Mode". http://support.dlink.com/emulators/dwlg800ap/ You are better off runing a second WAP cabled directly to a router or through a wireless-ethernet bridge... If you want it to be a "repeater", simply just use the same SSID/Channel. This is how my WAP's are setup and it works fine. My laptop, PDA, etc automatically (and seamlessly) reconnect themselves to the stronger AP's as I move them around my house. I'm using (mainly) all D-Link... |