Where Do I Need Wireless Network Range Extenders?

Wireless network range extenders are used to make sure your network has coverage in every location you may have a wireless device. This is one of the two ways you can get a signal; the other is using an additional wireless antenna.

Where an antenna would allow coverage in all directions, you may only want to extend coverage to the other end of a building, for example. You could use a directional antenna and point it at the other end, but the coverage would extend past that point for a longer distance.

When you use a range extender, you must setup the device to operate on the same channel and at the same wireless standard as the main access point.

There are two ways you can setup your wireless network range extender:

As a repeater
As a wired access point

When used as a repeater the range extender basically is used to accept your network signal and then retransmit it to the main access point. The disadvantage to this method is that the speed is cut in half since it has to be received and then retransmitted. Each hop on the network cuts the speed in half.

When used as a wired access point any computers that connect to this device will have their signal sent to the router over preinstalled cables. As you can see, the disadvantage is that you have to get this device wired into the network.