Wireless Repeater

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What Does Wireless Repeater Mean?

A wireless repeater is a network device for propagating wireless network signals beyond the typical boundary of a network. Wireless repeaters are generally passive devices and can only bridge connections between the resident network and the host pursuing access to the network. This is called increasing the the network’s stretchability.

A wireless repeater may also be known as an expander or WiFi extender.

Techopedia Explains Wireless Repeater

Wireless networks are powered by access points or wireless routers, which propagate wireless signals in an organization ora residence. Upon authentication, hosts such as computers or iPhones are provided Internet connectivity, and may be moved within the premises without losing connectivity. However, with the advent of hand-held gadgets, laptops and other Wi-Fi-supported devices, users sometimes reach out-of-access-point limits and lose the wireless signal. Wireless repeaters are used to cater to these remote users, and are implemented at access point boundaries.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert

Margaret is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.

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