[kattach]

hi
I would like to know if anyone has an idea if it's possible to use a wireless routr (in my case smc 2804wbr) as a repeater to extend the range of my wireless network, given that my main router witch is hooked up to my dsl modem in an airport base station ( the white half ball i'm not sure what it's called)
if yes how do i configure it ( i have tried joining them trough my mac utility as i have done with an airport express itook from a friend but it doesn't seem to work why)
thanks for any help

[ghporter]

Try searching...it really saves you time.

There are two parts to the answer to your question; No, and NO. First, if you're trying to extend a wireless network throught a "repeater" configuration, you almost always need to use hardware from the same manufacturer as the original wireless device-and Apple doesn't support that kind of configuration. I'm pretty sure SMC doesn't either.

Second, what's the area you need to cover? There's a much simpler way to extend a wireless network than trying to go through all the hoops a true repeater system needs. You build a roaming network. It's really simple and only takes the ability to run some network cable to a location where you can put a second access point. You connect the second access point to the main router, give it the same network name as the original access point, and put it on a different channel from the original. Viola! You now can "roam" between coverage areas. Sure, you need to run a cable, but that's often a much simpler task than just finding a compatible wireless device to start with.

[kattach]

hi glenn and thanks for your time
i hear what you are saying, now the question is , given I can't run cables for whatever reason is my only option to go out and buy an airport express? is there no other way that I can make the routers "talk" to each other I have seen many posts about extending networks or streaming music done with "regular" rieless routers linking an airport express, why can't I do the other way around
any ideas?

[Love Calm Quiet]

I am trying to research this... and finding diverse opinions.
"Inderjeet Singh's Blog" has (sorry, forgot link but avail by googling) article called, "Using Airport Express as a range extender/repeater for Linksys Cable/DSL router WRT54G"
I wish his instructions were more generic. I'm still looking for info on general strategies for repeating with an Airport Express.

[ghporter]

To use the built-in capability of the AirPort Express to repeat a WiFi network, you must use it with an AirPort Extreme. Some people seem to have gotten it to work to extend networks run on other access points-I don't have any clue about those.

However, for less than the cost of the Express, you CAN get a WiFi extender...for just about any product but SMC. I just spent quite a while searching their site, and there's not even any mention of range extenders there. The next best thing is a wireless bridge, like their SMCWEBT-G. Since it has an external antenna, it should be able to pick up your wireless signal much farther away than any laptop, and it converts the wireless signal to an ethernet signal for any computer (or computer-like device such as a PS2) that you want to use it with.

[Love Calm Quiet]

Thanks gh. I'm glad somebody's tilled this ground before.
I'm curious... I use a half-dead TiBook (internal Airport - NOT Extreme) to serve out my WiFi. Do you know if it possible to extend a PBs WiFi signal with most such extenders? Or should I give that up?
Also: I already have an Airport Express. Does it word to use it as the base (plugged into cable modem) and then something like a Linksys to extend the AExpress?

[ghporter]

Give your TiBook the honored burial it deserves; you're not likely to be able to get much out of it. Specifically, the TiBook showed some particularly BAD wireless performance because of the lovely titanium case...metal in the antennas' radiation and reception patterns does odd things to the antennas' performance.

Your Express CAN work as a "base station." You hook your cable modem to it, use the AirPort configuration software to tell it what to do, and you're off. It appears to have a pretty good antenna system too, so you should get better range than from your TiBook.

And as I said, the wireless bridge idea (it doesn't matter what brand of bridge you get) can help you get coverage farther out than a laptop's built in antennas will manage, so you have several options to go with, depending on what your particular situation is.

[kattach]

I hear your idea about an extender, but do you happen to know where I get one, what does it coast and how do I set it up toextend an Airport extreem base station.
And about the bridge idea if i understand you your saying that a wireless bridge transforms a wireless siginal into a regular LAN connection, is that true?
And again how do I set it up?
thank you for your posts

[ghporter]

My suggestion is to go with a wireless bridge. Yes, it does convert a wireless signal to ethernet and vice versa. Most such boxes use a browser interface; you type the default IP address for the device into your browser while you're wired to it, and your browser connects to the box to give you web-page-like access to the settings. There are a lot of different models from different vendors.

There are also some "game adapters" which are basically wireless bridges with cool styling to go with Xbox and PS2 cases. They do the same thing, sometimes offering a few more features, but they often cost a lot more.

Shop around online to see what's available and for how much.