Using Wireless Repeaters to Boost Signal Strength

Another alternative to extending your access point's range is using a wireless repeater. A wireless repeater is a device that retransmits the signal from another access point on the same channel as the original signal. Today, many access points have a repeater option built into them; rather than having them run like a normal AP, you can put them into repeater mode and they will rebroad-cast signals from a central AP.

A wireless repeater can be a good solution to extend the range of an AP to areas of your house where the signal degrades due to distance or interference. However, clients communicating through a repeater typically get only half of the normal throughput of the WLAN and sometimes less. This is because a repeater has to handle each packet of data twice when transmitting and receiving between the access point and the client PC. If you don't move a lot of big files around on your network, this won't be too much of a problem

There is one thing to consider, though. When put in repeater mode, most access points no longer allow themselves to be administered via a wireless connection. You will have to connect to the repeater/AP through an Ethernet port to make changes or administer it. Keep this in mind when you are choosing a location for your repeater because you'll want to be able to reach it when necessary.

The antenna is one of the most important parts of your WLAN. Without antennas, the signal wouldn't get anywhere and you certainly wouldn't receive anything. Still, most people have no idea how an antenna works or which antenna is right for a particular job. This section addresses both of these questions and helps you make the right choices.