TP-LINK repeater: setting and overview of features

TP-LINK is known as a manufacturer of functional and at the same time affordable and easy to configure types of communication devices. Among the popular types of products offered by this brand of the market are repeaters, as well as routers that have the corresponding function. What are the main features of both types of devices? How are they tuned?

What is a repeater?

A repeater is a device that allows you to amplify the Wi-Fi signal coming from the router. The need for its application arises if the power of the router is not enough to ensure the functioning of the wireless network within the area of the room or office. The functionality of the repeater, in principle, corresponds to the one that characterizes the operation of the router. That is, when connecting to a wireless network through a repeater, the user has the right to expect the same network performance from the network infrastructure as if the connection were made directly with the router.

It can be noted that, as an alternative to using the devices in question, the actual router, for example TP-LINK, can be used in repeater mode. Consider how the device in question functions as an independent element of the infrastructure, as well as how to use the router in the appropriate mode.

What are the main features of TP-LINK repeaters?

First of all, it should be noted that TP-LINK produces communication equipment, including repeaters, within a very large model range. Speaking specifically about devices of the type in question, a typical solution combining the features typical for most modern repeaters from TP-LINK can be called the TL-WA850RE device. In particular, this product has the following main advantages:

• Repeater TP-LINK TL-WA850RE is able to operate in the mode of amplification of the radio signal, so that the wireless network can be expanded to a larger area;
• The device has small dimensions, so that it can be installed even if there is a bit of free space in the user's room or office;
• If necessary, the router can also connect the wired devices via the Ethernet port.

The device can quickly connect to Wi-Fi routers that have the WPS function, provided that the routers have the appropriate button. In the event that such a connection has been made once, then the TP-LINK repeater configuration in general is not required.

Speaking about the possibilities of communication using an Ethernet port, solutions such as gaming consoles, SMART TVs, and various multimedia devices can be connected to the device. At the same time, the device connected to the cable can, using repeater resources, also be a part of the wireless infrastructure.

The repeater TP-LINK in this modification is equipped with a sufficiently large number of LED indicators, through which it is possible, first of all, to determine the location of the device. It is recommended to install the repeater in those places where at least 3 corresponding blue indicators will be on.

If necessary, the repeater TP-LINK TL-WA850RE can be used as a communication device by means of a special mobile application. This solution allows you to connect from your phone or tablet to a wireless network, and allows you to control various options of the repeater.

Let's now look at how the TP-LINK repeater is configured.

Repeater Setup: Network Connection Settings

Before you connect the device in question to the router, you should pay attention to the correct configuration of the second device. So, you need to specify the following information in its parameters:

• IP address;
• The name of the network to which it is connected;
• Type of encryption;
• password.

After the necessary settings have been made, you need to go to the next step of configuring the repeater connection with the router. It is noteworthy that it involves the temporary connection of the first device to the computer via a cable - just the same with the use of the Ethernet port. In this case, while the TP-LINK repeater interacts with the PC, the router must be turned off.

Configuring the repeater via PC

In order to configure the device in question, you must use the web interface to control the options of the device - through the browser. Having opened it, it is necessary to select function Network. After this, it is necessary to check if the IP address of the repeater is in the same segment as the IP address of the router. That is, the first 3 groups of digits in the IP-address must completely coincide. If there is at least 1 difference, you must enter the correct IP address in the repeater settings, which refers to the corresponding segment. Then you need to save the settings by clicking on Save.

After that, select the Quick Setup option in the web interface. After - click on Next, then on Wireless. After that, select the Range Extender option and set the Operation Mode parameter for it. The next step is to find the router in the network using the Search function. The connection must be based on the network name that is defined for the router in the previous step. After selecting this option, click Save.

Configuring Network Security: Nuances

Next, you need to configure, determining the optimal parameters, according to which the repeater must work, WiFi. TP-LINK allows, in particular, to set the level of network protection. To do this, select the Wireless option, then - Wireless Security. Then, set the WPA2-PSK parameter, and the AES encryption method . After entering the password, corresponding to what is registered in the settings of the router. Then click Save.

Thus, the main task of the user when configuring the repeater is to enter the same settings into the device under consideration and to the router to which it is connected.

Repeater Setup: Testing

After the corresponding device is configured, it is necessary to check how correctly the wireless network will function. To do this, select the System Tools option, then select Diagnostic. After that, enter the address that is set for the router in the IP address field. Then click on Start to start the testing engine.

TP-LINK router as a repeater

At the beginning of the article, we noted that an alternative to using a repeater in the absence of it or if it is necessary to build a wireless network infrastructure on an even larger scale could be the use of a router in repeater mode. In particular, many of those devices that are manufactured by the TP-LINK brand have this feature. Among these solutions is the TL-WA901N device. Consider how to configure the TP-LINK router as a repeater in the corresponding modification.

It can be noted that the router in this modification has such capabilities as:

• Data transfer within a Wi-Fi network with a speed of 300 Mbps;
• Maintenance of functioning of a wireless infrastructure in modes of a router, WDS - that is, a repeater, a bridge;
• Quick setting of data transfer with encryption;

In addition, the device supports PoE technology - up to 30 meters, so that the router can be installed in hard-to-reach areas.

Now, in more detail about the use of the "repeater" function of the TP-LINK router in the modification of TL-WA901N. First of all, you need to configure the router through the computer.

Router as a repeater: setup via PC

To solve this problem, you need to connect the router to the PC using the RJ-45 network cable. After you enter the "Control Panel" of Windows, select the option "Network and Internet", then - "Network and Access Control Center". In the relevant interface, you must select an option that allows you to change the adapter's settings. After the right button, select "Local Area Connection", then "Properties". In the opened interface, you need to set the optimal connection parameters: the IP address of the adapter, as well as the subnet mask.

The next step is to use the web-based management interface of the router, similar to what we used to configure the repeater. You need to open the browser and enter the IP address of the router in the address bar (usually it is shown on the bottom of the router's case). On the opened page it is necessary to enter a login and the password - in general this word is admin.

Directly in the control panel of the router you must select the option "Wireless network", then - "Network setup". After - specify the correct options on the opened page. The main thing here is to reflect that the router will be used as a universal or usual repeater (the second option should be selected if WDS mode is activated). After that, click on the search button, and in the opened list select the router you want to relay. Then click on "Connect". After - save the settings.

The router must reboot.

Router as a repeater: setting up network protection

The next step in configuring the TP-LINK router in repeater mode is to determine the security settings of the wireless network. To solve this problem, you must select the option "Connection Security". In it, you must reflect the parameters that fully correspond to those that are installed in the router to which the configurable device is connected. This is a very important nuance, because if the settings are different, the relay will not function correctly.

After that, you need to reboot the device and check how the router functions as a repeater. To do this, go to the "Status" tab in the router management menu.

A router or a repeater?

How to configure the TP-LINK router as a repeater, we studied using one of the popular modifications of routers, but the same problem is solved on other common devices of the TP-LINK line. The scheme considered by us can thus be regarded as sufficiently unified. To configure different devices in order to use them in repeater mode, very similar software interfaces are used (apart from the nuance that they can differ in the design language).

Both options for deploying a wireless network infrastructure can be considered equivalent, in terms of ensuring the stability of its operation. In principle, it does not matter whether the original repeater is being used or whether the router is used in this (but it is desirable that both devices are released by the same brand - TP-LINK) quality. The repeater, from the point of view of network operation, may not be sufficient in the required scale, so it can be supplemented by a router supporting the repeater function with a similar level of stability of operation and network maintenance performance. Both devices can be interchangeable, since they perform virtually the same function. In addition, according to similar principles, the configuration adapted to the functionality of both TP-LINK devices is implemented. The repeater mode of the original device and router are activated and operate in the same algorithm.

The most important thing in setting up both types of devices is to keep the synchronization of the addressing parameters of the devices, as well as those related to the security of data exchange. The solution of this task is facilitated, again, by the fact that similar programming interfaces are used to configure both the router and the repeater.

Summary

So, we looked at how to configure the TP-LINK repeater as a stand-alone device, and also to use the router, which is released by this brand, as a repeater. Both methods of deployment of the wireless network infrastructure allow to increase the coverage area of the Wi-Fi signal and to connect to it devices located at a considerable distance from the router or having insufficient sensitivity to the signal level from it.