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Wireless Networking Repeater Technology for WiFi Hotspot

One of the limiting factors in wireless computer communications has to do with the limited signal strength allowed in the 802.11a/b/g wireless networking devices. 

The total effective radiated power allowed for one-to-many wireless networks in the United States is 4-Watts maximum.  In other countries throughout the world the maximum radiated power is less - sometimes much less.

The limitation of the maximum radiated power limits the usefull range of a wireless access point to something on the order of about 300-ft (100 meters).

A second limitation has to do with the relative sensitivity to the signal by the different devices being used in wireless networking.  A wireless access point may have a medium gain antenna connected that effectively "boosts" the received signal by 3 to 4 times due to the antenna's gain but a wireless PDA may only have a 1.5X gain due to it's relatively small built-in antenna.  This difference in antenna gain means the wireless access point' signal will "reach" about twice as far as the PDA signal.  What this means in terms of the network is the PDA will "hear" the wireless access point's signal much further than the wireless access point will "hear" the PDA - if you can not hear it, you can not talk to it (tm)!

In a relatively small area, such as a Caf'e or meeting room this is not a problem but if you are wanting to provide a signal in a larger area such as a resort pool area the useful signal may not be enough to cover the area.

One method of overcoming the distance limitation is to install a second wireless access point configured to operate as a wireless "repeater".  The advantage of installing a wireless repeater over a second wireless access point is the fact you do not have to run an ethernet cable to the second wireless access point - only power for the device is required as the "link" is provided wirelessly from the first wireless access point to the repeater.

Installing a wireless repeater effectively increases the total coverage area of the wireless network.  The wireless clients can connect to the original wireless access point or to the wireless repeater.  When the client connects to the wireless repeater the signal from the client is "repeated" to the wireless access point.

Wireless Network Repeater Configuration

Advantages to using a wireless repeater:

  • Effectively increases the coverage area
  • Does not require an ethernet connection to extend the wired network signal
  • Only requires power at the repeater location
  • Allows the client to roam within the coverage area
There are some disadvantages to the use of a wireless repeater as well.

Since the wireless access point and the wireless repeater operate on the same channel and since only one radio transmitter can send at a time the effective data bandwidth (throughput) is cut in half for each repeater added to the chain.

I hope you found this information useful!

Author: Gary N. McKinney

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