Further to my previous post, it is worth expanding on the advantages of
using Wireless Access Points v Range Extenders.
Range Extenders are co-dependant on the host router. They must use the same
SSID, password and frequency (channel) as the router.
As Vic said "WiFi is necessarily half-duplex in operation, so every time you
have to re-transmit a packet, you're halving your data rate. Add a few
repeaters, and things can end up at a crawl..."
That is my experience too. When I first installed the dual mode Belkin
WAP/Range Extenders, I used them in extender mode.
When I added Powerline Adapters to my network, I reconfigured the Belkins as
WAPs.
WAPs are inter-dependant of the host router and can use different SSIDs,
passwords and frequencies. On the subject of frequencies, most people do
not bother to change the default channel of their router. This can lead to
overcrowding of the channels in the 2.4 GHz frequency range.
Before setting up a wireless network, it is worth scanning for all the SSIDs
in range and noting the channels being used. Then you can select channels
that are free of traffic.
If you are intending to use your network over a wide area it is worth
looking at
http://www.wifi-antennas.co.uk/
Mike
