Does any one have any experience with the Linksys range expander?

On Mon, 21 Mar 2005 20:46:34 -0600, William Boyd <will***@cowboy.com>
wrote:

No but what is it? I've already asked whar ro do when 3rd floor router
sometimes kicks out 1st floor laptop. Move router to 2md is so far
best/.

Avalanche wrote:

Amazon.com description indicates that it is not connected in the
network, but just picks the traffic up and, I guess pings it out.
I wish I had found the WRT54GX with SRX router before I had already
invested in the expander and a new WRT54G router. The SRX is the new
stuff they are bragging about, but seeing is believing. But I have
not used anything but the WRT54G router before, and that is
connected to a cable modem. I'm setting up a new network off of a
satellite system that Directway is supposed to install in a few
days. I have to be able to connect at 227 feet between the router
and pc adapter.

<will***@cowboy.com>
Show quoteHide quoteThe WRE54G is a repeater and will repeat the signal of the wrt54g,
or a WAP54G can do the same. Whichever is the best value.

Airhead wrote:

Show quoteHide quoteThanks for the info. How does the WRE54G accomplish the extended
range of a router, by increasing the signal strength co-located or
do I have to place the WRE some where between the radio and client
PCI adapter.

I tried to use one but couldn't get WPA encryption to work so gave up on it.

Dave G

Show quoteHide quote

I could never get it to work well either and returned it in favor of a
WAP54G.  In hindsight, I'd rather have a second WRT54G and use the Alchemy
firmware to do WDS.

Tom
Show quoteHide quote

I looked into buying the WRE54G but when I found out it does not support WPA
(only WEP) I decided not to buy it.

Show quoteHide quote

I've installed one.

Its pretty easy,  you set it up somewhere that has good connection to the
router.  It then repeats the signal.  I've only set it up in a unsecure
network though.



Show quoteHide quote

Cliff Hartle wrote:
Show quoteHide quoteWOW! the information about this device is so scarce I have no idea
how it connects. Is it wired to the router and takes over the
wireless part, or does it access wireless and ping out what the
router broadcasts. How can it be called a range extender if it
functions as a repeater. I am Totally confused and havent the
slightest idea if this is going to help my situation or not.
The satellite installation crew will be here on monday and I'm not
sure if I can shoot the 227' from my router with the high gain
antennas to the PCI adapter also with a high gain directional antenna.
The installation crew chief threw another coal in the fire, and that
is they cant mount the satellite on the roof if it has metal
sheeting. Of course I am talking about a barn and I do not think I
have ever seen a barn in the US with out a metal roof. There fore no
barns are enhanced with Direct Way Satellite for internet.

William Boyd <will***@cowboy.com> wrote:
That's what a "repeater" is!

If you have AP with a range of say, 200', and you put the
repeater at 180'...  it will connect to the AP, and then *it*
has a range of 200' too, so you can put a client another 180'
farther away (putting it at 360' away from the AP with a 200'
range, or 160' beyond the distance the client would be able to
connect to the AP) and it will connect to the repeater.

Think of it this way...  If your AP (which is connected via a
wire ethernet to your satellite system) is sitting in a window
facing the distant building that you want to connect to, and
that distant building has a window facing this AP, you can put a
client or a repeater in that window facing the AP, and they will
connect.

The client has to then be connected via a wired ethernet to
whatever local network you have within that distant building.
The WRE54G, however, will connect to *other* wireless clients.

Assuming you have a desktop computer that you cannot get close
to a window, you have the option of using wired eithernet to a
client in the window, or putting a wifi client interface into
the desktop and letting it connect to the repeater.  Either way
will work.  Of course if you have a laptop, it can have a wifi
client and can be used anywhere inside the building that allows
connection to the repeater.  If the building is long and has
many walls, or if any of the walls have metal or brick in them,
then you won't be able to connect.  But it is very likely that
the laptop would not connect to the AP in the other building
unless it was sitting in the window, so with the repeater you do
get a "range extender" function.

Now, that said... a WRT54GS functions far better, and costs
perhaps same.  A WRT54G functions much better, and costs much
less.  In fact, in most instances you won't be able to tell the
difference between a WRT54GS and a WRT54G.  Connecting to the
Internet, either of them is faster than your Internet
connection, so you get no benefit from the WRT54GS over the
WRT54G.

Go with a WRT54G unless you have some specific reason to use
a WRE54G or a WRT54GS.  (The WRT54G and WRT54GS require that you
use 3rd party firmware, but that is available at no cost and is
no more difficult to set up that the stock firmware.)

Unless you can put the client wifi unit for the distant
building's computer in that window, a repeater of some kind is
going to be essential.  To use a laptop, it will be necessary
regardless.

Probably... *if* the high gain antenna is in the clear (as in
a window, or mounted outside) and has a short (6-15 feet max)
feedline of good quality.  On the other hand, if you need a
100 foot feedline and are thinking of using typical TV 75 ohm
coax... ferget it!

I have no idea what the problem is, but I'd suspect that it is a
problem of mechanics.  Maybe they aren't able to do that without
causing leaks?  There is certainly no reason that a satellite
antenna won't work, electrically, from on top of a metal roof.

However... you probably don't care anyway!  All it needs is a
clear shot at the satellite.  It need not be high up in the air
like a TV antenna.  It can actually be mounted on the ground if
there are no obstructions.  What it does need is a *very* *solid*
mount!  Hence the side of a building, just up high enough that it
is not a hazard for passing humans, is often the best mounting
location.

news:5w50e.33648$FB6.6264@trndny09...
I did set up two on the same network a fortnight ago with wep. That was a
bit more complicated. In short I disabled wep. Since the network used the
same ip-range as the WRE54Gs in default mode, I could use auto setup when I
had disabled wep.

The next step was to adjust one WRE54G at a time, leaving the other one off.
For each one I set a admin password, set the wep-keys for the network and
enabled wep. Since I had two repaters I had to adjust the ip-adress on one.
When I was done with them I turned them off, connected to the router and
enabled wep on it. Finally I turned the repeaters on.

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