Are you frustrated with the limited range of your wireless network in home or in your small offices? Generally your wireless router broadcasts and receives the wireless signal in all direction using Omni-directional antenna. The range coverage is limited in definite distance due to many factors including the technology used and environmental factors such as building construction and other signal attenuators. The solution is extending the range coverage by using the wireless range extender or the Wi-Fi range extenders.
With the shortcomings of your wireless router in home regarding the wireless coverage you can overcome the problem by implementing any types of Wi-Fi range extenders. By installing a wireless range extender in halfway between your wireless router range and the dead spots area you can easily solve the limited range problems. Some of the wifi range extenders use the repeater mode, meaning the wireless network uses the same SSID and the security settings.
The figure 1 shows the general networking diagram of the Wi-Fi range extender which extends the network of the existing wireless router. After the completion of the range extender configuration, place the device between the router range and the area where you need to cover. Make sure that the Wi-Fi range extender device still within the router’s range coverage.
There are many types of Wi-Fi range extenders available in the market from different vendors including Linksys, D-Link, Netgear, Hawking etc, some of them are shown in the following paragraphs.
DAP-1360 D-Link Wireless Range Extender
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The DAP-1360 is one of Wi-Fi range extenders you can use to extend the range of your home wireless router. It’s not just like other wifi range extenders but you can configure it as the wireless access point, the wireless bridge or the wireless client.
With your existing wired router (no wireless network), you can easily connect the Ethernet port of the DAP-1360 to one of the router’s port to create a wireless N network. If you currently have two separate networks in two separate buildings for example, you can connect both networks using two DAP-1360 devices. Configure the first device as the wireless access point in one of the network and the other device works as the wireless bridge in another network.
Click here to build a wireless network with Dap1360 as the AP or repeater mode.
Click here to read more about DAP-1360 manufacturer’s description and spec details.
DAP-1525 D-Link Wi-Fi Booster
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Unlike the DAP-1360, the DAP-1525 Wi-Fi booster is designed to support the high performance environment for smooth streaming HD media and gaming. Installation and configuration are easy. You just need to plug in the device into the router’s port and let the system do the rest for you. When finish with the easy configuration, you can place the DAP-1525 wifi range extender in a location where you need to cover the dead spots area.
The DAP-1525 wireless range extender is powered by smartbeam technology with 6 element beam-forming antenna to find and track individual wireless devices and then focuses beams of bandwidth to those devices to ensure a seamless connection anywhere in the home. The beauty with this type of wifi range extenders is that it includes four Gigabit Ethernet ports and one USB port. Other wi-fi range extenders include one Ethernet port but this one includes four gigabit ports you can use for wired connection with Ethernet based devices. The USB port with Share-Port technology allows share either storage or printer across the network.
Advantages Dap-1525 Vs Dap-1360:
- Smartbeam for best connection to client
- Includes four gigabit Ethernet for more wired connections
- USB port with shareport technology for storage or printer
Click here for DAP-1525 manufacturer’s description and spec details.
WN3000RP Netgear Universal WiFi Range Extender
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Unlike the two above, the WN300RP Wifi range extender is designed differently. The device is designed with wall plug for convenient placement where power outlet is available. This wireless range extender is equipped with dynamic LED indicator to help you find the best location to place for optimal wireless coverage.
The WN300RP is a plug and play device, you can setup easily in minutes without a CD or a network cable. It supports the WPS with push ‘N’ connect button to easily connect the computers and the router to the device easily and quickly.
Prior the WN3000Rp, Netgear also introduces WN2000Rpt. What are the differences Wn2000Rpt Vs Wn3000Rp?
Wn3000rp has more features that are not available on Wn2000Rpt including:
- Dynamic LED indicators to easily fid best location for optimal wireless coverage
- CD-less, it’s a plug and play connecting to the router with WPS – no need Ethernet cable in setting up the repeater
But Wn2000rpt includes four fast Ethernet ports, while Wn3000rp includes only one Ethernet port.
Click here for WN3000RP manufacturer’s description and spec details.
Amped SR300 High Power Wireless-300N Smart Repeater
The Amped SR300 is high power smart repeater delivering the speeds up to 300Mbps. It’s a universal wireless repeater that works with any types of wireless routers or access points. SR300 is high power repeater with low noise amplifier that delivers 3x the range of your existing router range. The repeater includes 2x detachable 3dBi antennas you can replace with high gain antennas such as WA12 high power 12dBi Omni-directional Wi-Fi antenna.
Unlike the D-Link Wifi booster with 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports, this SR300 includes five fast Ethernet ports to add more wired connections for the computers. Setting up and configuration are easy to do in three simple steps: scan, select and connect.
For more power, you may consider the Amped SR600EX which includes high power 600mW amplifier plus high gain bi-directional antennas to provide maximum range of up to 1.5miles away. It’s designed either for indoor or outdoor with weatherproof design.
Click here for Amped SR300 high power repeater spec details.
See also:
- The D-Link Airpremier® N DAP-2590 Dual Band POE Access Point Is The Ideal Solution For Enabling Selectable Dual Band
- D-Link DAP1522 Xtreme 4-Port GigaBit Selectable Dual Band Draft 802.11n Duo Wireless Bridge / Access Point
- D-Link DWL-8600 dual-band wireless n access point
- D-Link DHP-W306AV is a high speed Powerline wireless range extender
- Netgear WNDR3800 N600 dual band premium edition
ADS:
whats the difference between range extenders and repeaters?
Wifi router having 2 or 3 antennas means it can work as a range extender?
TPLINK TL-MR3420 CAN I USE IT AS EXTENDER?
range extender is typically used to extend the signal with the same ssid, to let you roam within the range with the same network name. Repeater let you repeat the signal to different location but with different network name. for example repeating the signal from one place to long distance location with high power antenna or adding high power repeater for long range Wi-Fi. tell me if i’m wrong.