What is a Long Range Wi-Fi Repeater
Wired ethernet based Internet connectivity is almost becoming a rarity with the introduction of wireless Internet access. We live in a largely wire free world today, thanks to the Wi-Fi technology, which makes this possible. Instead of making signals travel over wires, this technology uses the radio waves for communication and connectivity with devices connected to the Internet. If you have ever had a wireless connectivity problem due to insufficient signal strength, you must have been recommended that you use a Wi-Fi repeater.
While wireless connectivity releases us from the constraints of a wired world, it does come with its range of problems. The Wi-Fi signal is basically a modulated electromagnetic wave in the radio spectrum.
The amplitude of a signal decreases as it spreads over a distance and therefore, at a long distance from the wireless router which transmits the signal, one may face a problem in connecting with the Internet. That is where repeaters come in.
What are Long Range Wi-Fi Repeaters and How Do They Work?
A long range repeater is basically an amplifier and trans-receiver for electromagnetic signals. It receives the signal transmitted by a wireless router, amplifies it and retransmits it again without modification. That is exactly what long range wireless adapters do. They repeat the signal over longer distances. They are also known as signal boosters. These devices should not be confused with long range adapters and antennas.
The signal which would have otherwise died out, is transmitted over a longer distance. This brings devices which are out of the range of the wireless router into the domain of connectivity. When there are external walls or obstructions bringing down the signal strength of a wireless router, repeaters are used.
According to the distance over which a signal needs to be transmitted, the power of the Wi-Fi signal has to be adjusted. To transmit signal over large distances, one may need a series of repeaters. Many people prefer using repeaters to share there existing wireless connection, instead of going for a new connection.
What are the things that you need to look out for when shopping for a repeater device? One of the prime factors is the frequency range at which the device operates. This should match with the transmission frequency of your wireless router, with which it is going to be linked. Also, you must check the gain of the device for signal reception, along with its output power. More the output power, longer is the distance to which the device can retransmit the signals.
Along with the use of a repeater, what you can do, to improve signal strength, is change the position of your wireless router, along with the installation of a more powerful antenna at the source itself. This way, you can use your wireless Internet connection over longer distances.
Make sure that you have adequate wireless network security in the form of WPA2 encryption to ensure that you do not allow eavesdroppers to gain unauthorized access to your Internet connection. You can shop for a repeater in any one of the online electronic stores like Amazon.
Using such a device will eliminate most of your wireless connectivity problems that arise due to low signal strength. You can choose from one of the above repeaters that will be appropriate for your usage.
