| Although a wireless transmitter is limited in its range, | | | | the signals and rebroadcast them. The signal is not |
| wireless extension points can be installed to boost its | | | | degraded in this process, so it can be repeated as |
| signal and make the range of the network much larger. | | | | many time as required. |
| These wireless extension points are commonly known | | | | Theoretically, wireless repeaters could be placed in a |
| as repeaters. | | | | line for several miles, extending the network out that |
| Several companies have started to manufacture | | | | far, and because these extension points don't need |
| wireless repeaters, despite the fact that these devices | | | | complicated computer technology to operate, they are |
| are not part of the wireless standard. Wireless | | | | much cheaper than routers or access points. Some |
| repeaters are designed to resolve certain problems | | | | companies combine repeaters and direction antennas |
| with wireless coverage. The further away you are | | | | to link to LANs that are several miles apart. This is a |
| from where the wireless signal originates, the weaker | | | | cheaper method than worrying about connecting over |
| the signal becomes. Eventually, you can't receive the | | | | the Internet or installing their own underground lines. In |
| signal at all, regardless of what equipment you have. | | | | the future, repeater technology could create wireless |
| The problem is sometimes addressed by running wires | | | | networks that cover entire cities. |
| out as far as the network coverage is desired, and | | | | As a consumer, you are currently limited to getting |
| then have it 'break out' into wireless every now and | | | | your repeater from large manufacturing firms such as |
| then using a wireless access point. This is generally | | | | Linksys and D-Link. These companies call their |
| more trouble that it is worth, since the idea behind a | | | | repeaters by different names, including Linksys' Range |
| wireless network is to avoid installing wires! Wireless | | | | Expander and D-Link's Range Extender. There are |
| repeaters resolve the problem in a much better way. | | | | several issues to consider when buying a wireless |
| Wireless repeaters work as a relay, taking existing | | | | extension point. The most important is to make sure |
| wireless signals and making them stronger. This makes | | | | that it is compatible with the equipment you have. |
| the range of a signal bigger each time. If the repeaters | | | | Because there is no standard for wireless extension |
| are placed correctly, you can move computers a | | | | points, you're better off staying with the same |
| considerable distance from the wired portion of the | | | | company that makes the rest of your equipment or at |
| network, the router or access point, for example, | | | | least investigate whether any new equipment will work |
| without failure. The single requirement of this | | | | with your system. You should also find out whether an |
| arrangement is that the extension points must overlap; | | | | extension point has any Ethernet ports. While it isn't |
| a repeater can't repeat signals that it doesn't receive. | | | | necessary that this is included, it is useful if you want to |
| Since wireless networking signals are essentially radio | | | | connect the extension to a wired network. This issue |
| signals, repeaters take all the radio signals they receive | | | | arises basically if you want to connect two LANs in a |
| on a specific frequency and use their power to amplify | | | | wireless manner. |