Wireless Signal Repeater
If you have observed communication systems (like telephones and Internet connections for instance), there are some signal boosting devices used for regeneration of the transmitted signals. These devices are called repeaters. Repeaters receive digital signals through an electromagnetic or optical transmission medium and regenerate them in the next leg of the medium. These repeaters aid in protecting the transmitted signals against attenuation, which could be caused because of electromagnetic field divergence or cable loss. Also they aid in removal of interfering signals caused by noise. Now coming to the crux of the article, what is wireless signal repeater? Well, these repeater devices are used in wireless networks like wireless communication systems, satellites, cellular telephone systems, fiber optic networks and Wi-Fi (Wireless Internet Access). Let’s understand their use better!
- Using Wireless Signal Repeater in Wi-Fi
Wireless Signal repeater finds a great use in Wi-Fi network (read how does Wi-Fi work) as wireless signal boosters. Before we understand the significance of wireless signal repeaters, let’s understand what a wireless signal repeater contains. A Wi-Fi signal repeater comprises of a radio receiver, an amplifier, a transmitter, a couple of antennas and an isolator. Antennas capture the wireless signals which are amplified by the amplifier. The amplified signals are gathered by the transmitter that produces a signal on a frequency, different from the frequency of the received signal. This difference is the called the frequency offset which is required to protect the receiver signals from getting disabled. The offset frequency is further protected by an isolator. So the repeater helps in encapsulating the wireless transmitted signals from external disturbances (like amplified noise).
In a computer network, a wireless access point (WAP) is provided to connect to blue tooth technology or wireless Internet(using Wi-Fi). A Wi-Fi signal repeater is connected to this access point through a wireless router, to secure and extend the network coverage further. This purpose is served by the transmission and re transmission of the radio signals from the access point. If you place the repeater in an area that contains both areas, within network and out of network (for example, basements and patio mostly don’t have much network coverage), the wireless signal repeater will provide connectivity through out the entire space by filling the holes in the space with network coverage. Besides, these devices also aid in overcoming attenuation of radio frequencies.
One of the best Wi-Fi signal repeaters which also is a wireless access point in a wireless distribution system of computer networking, is ASUS WL-330 Wireless LAN Pocket Access Point. One can call it an all-in-one device as it is not just a wireless signal repeater but also a wireless Ethernet adapter and an access point in the network. Easy to use and flexible to be set up anywhere, one just has to plug it to the network machine wherever he or she is. Also this wireless signal booster for laptop is suited for gaming consoles, printers and notebook computers besides desktop PCs.
Nowadays, many outdoor Wi-Fi signal boosters for laptops are available in the market, of which RadioLabs OutRage-N 500 is quite popular. Pertaining to its backward compatibility with the B and G versions of the repeater devices, this device has a revolutionary way of increasing the output power in the Wi-Fi network. Apart from using these repeaters for enhancing and boosting up the network coverage, it is important for the surfer to secure his network well. Many softwares available today, help in sniffing data packets and enabling encryption of wireless access points to prevent any wireless networking problems. Besides limit the MAC addresses in your wireless card access list and turn off the SSID broadcasting which will help a great deal in keeping your network and signals transmitted within the network, secure. Hope the above piece of information was helpful in understanding the significance of wireless signal repeater in Wi-Fi networks.
Category: Featured, Wireless Devices
