What is a range extender?
This thread has been locked for further replies. You can start a new thread to share your ideas or ask questions.
What is a range extender?
A range extender is a wireless networking device that allows for a WLAN (wireless local area network) coverage area to be expanded beyond its normal range. Also called a repeater these devices, usually a plug-in unit, takes a signal form an existing wireless router or AP (access point) and transmits that signal farther than the original device was capable of doing. With today’s device being more reliant of a wireless signal, these devices help ensure total cover throughout a user’s home.
So how do they work? Well they communicate with network devices over a backhaul. A backhaul is the way network devices communicate with each other. A Range extender will receive a signal from a router and then send that same signal to the devices that are connected to it. Range Extenders can only communicate in one direction at a time, either receiving from the router then transmitting to the end user device or vice versa.
Why is this important to know? This one-way communication is the leading cause of the chief complaint about range extenders; “my connection is slow”. The networks speeds are affected because the connected device has to wait to receive or transmit with the network based on which way the Range extender is using its radios. When the connected device talks to the router or AP where it can transmit and receive simultaneously, thus providing full speeds. Customer should be aware a range extender is only designed to improve a coverage area for the WLAN. For customers who are looking at getting more dedicated speeds, they may want to look into Powerline or Mesh as an alternative to a range extender.
Hi there, I purchased a tp-link range extender (TL-WA855RE) which I would like to use to extend the wifi signal of my home's router (CenturyLink modem/router combo) to a wired dvr device in the basement. The reason I want to do this is because I do not have a way to run a cable to my main router, so I purchased the extender which has an RJ45 jack which I can plug directly into to gain access to the LAN.
Is there a way to configure the extender to allow for static IP address assignment via the home router? I'd like to have a static IP address for the device assigned by the home router via the extender to ensure that I am not constantly updating the device IP address in my phone's app to access the dvr.
I've tried tweaking several settings on the extender, which included turning off DHCP on the extender, and renaming the network to the same as the home network to no avail. With these settings in place, when I try to reserve the IP address which is assigned via the extender (e.g. 192.168.0.55) on the home router, I am unable to do it. Also, the IP address constantly changes through the course of a day, making it impossible to set up port forwarding via the home router.
I've also noticed that whatever device is connected through the extender to the home router, the IP address is accurate but the mac address associated with the IP is always the extender's, not the device (e.g. the dvr, or other device connected via the extender).
Please help!
Thanks.
