WRT54G and daisy-chaining repeaters

[skroo]

Question for anyone who may have tried this before I go sink several hundred dollars into hardware: I'm going to do a wireless install tomorrow. There are certain constraints on how this can be done both in terms of physical location and the equipment that will be used.

The access point that's going to be used is a Linksys WRT54G; the repeaters Linksys WRE54Gs.

What I need to know is if it's possible to daisy-chain repeaters - i.e., have one repeater repeat the signal of another repeater. Unfortunately due to certain issues involving building structure (4' thick granite walls) and required placement the only way it looks as though I'll be able to get blanket coverage is to place repeaters at strategic locations.

I can't find a straight answer as to whether or not this will work. If anyone's done this before (successfully or otherwise) and could let me know the results I'd appreciate it.

[astcell]

Sounds like it should work really, The repeater does not need any logon or other commands or layers, it is simply an amplifier.

But save your receipt anyway.

[TheCotMan]

Question for anyone who may have tried this before I go sink several hundred dollars into hardware:.

I have not tried what you write, but would worry about exceeding the 5-4-3 rule (guideline) through use of wireless repeaters if too many are daisy chained together. Even though 5-4-3 pre-dates wireless, it would seem prudent to follow it in wireless too-- especially if wired networks are connected through wireless bridges across wireless repeaters.

Please post your results if you do this as this would be useful information to have.

(Very cool idea you have.)
Kudos

[astcell]

Isn't 5-4-3 for non-powered connections?

[TheCotMan]

Isn't 5-4-3 for non-powered connections?

One of the reasons for 5-4-3 has to do with time for signal propagation across a network segments and the time required for retransmission; once you exceed the number of hops between nodes, there is increased risk for duplicated packet (retransmission) and then the network can become inefficient-- especially when busy.
The idea proposed by skroo with wireless is new to me. I am not sure exactly what limits would exist with extending a network like this, but there must be a limit between wireless repeaters.

Sample pages describing 5-4-3, courtesy of google:
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/art...s/netrule.html (general) google cache
http://compnetworking.about.com/od/n...l/blfaq018.htm (simple theory)

[TheCotMan]

If anyone's done this before (successfully or otherwise) and could let me know the results I'd appreciate it.

(bumping this up.)

I am still interested in how this turns (turned?) out. Did you go through with it? Did it work? How well?

Thanks!

[skroo]

I am still interested in how this turns (turned?) out. Did you go through with it? Did it work? How well?

You know... I never did find out, and I had a call in to Linksys to get an answer from them. Thanks for the reminder; I'll give them a call back and see if I can't find out.