D-Link DWL-800AP+ Wireless Range Extender, 802.11b, 22Mbps

by D-Link

Product Details

Product Manual [267kb PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000086TLD
• Item model number: DWL-800AP+
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: January 6, 2003

Product Description

The D-Link AirPlus DWL-800AP+ is an enhanced 802.11b Wireless Range Extender that operates alternately as an Wireless Access Point or Wireless Repeater. Featuring advanced silicon chip design from Texas Instruments, the DWL-800AP+ utilizes patented Digital Signal Processing Technology.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not for the Faint of Heart but Nice to Have, March 17, 2004

By 

"vikmurthy" (Brookline, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: D-Link DWL-800AP+ Wireless Range Extender, 802.11b, 22Mbps (Personal Computers)

Despite what some folks may tell you, this product will definitely work (and work well) with the Linksys BEFW11S4 wireless 802.11b router. Thus, I echo the comments of poster "PC Hardware Fan" from South Carolina.

Here are the steps I took to make the Range Extender work:

1. D-Link customer support is 1-877-453-5465 (they're actually pretty nice and patient with novices like me)

2. Type http://192.168.1.1 into your Internet Explorer address bar and look for the LAN Mac Address for your Linksys router (do not write down the Wireless Mac Address; the LAN Mac Address is the first of the two on the Linksys set up page). While you're at it, also retrieve your WEP encryption key (if applicable). You'll need this info to configure your D-Link range extender.

3. Go to the D-Link website, go to Support and download the version 1.9 firmware for the DWL-800AP+ onto your computer's Desktop.

4. Plug in the D-Link wireless extender into a power outlet and connect an ethernet cable between it and the Linksys router.

5. Plug your laptop/desktop computer into the Linksys router (when configuring the D-Link, you'll need to use a "wired" connection, not a wireless connection.

6. In the Network Connections page (under Control Panel) of your computer, change the properties of your Ethernet connection (right-click on Properties, then click on TCP/IP and click on Properties) to have the same IP address range as the D-Link (I used 192.168.0.5). This involves changing the default from finding IP address automatically to the manual option (then, type in IP address indicated above).

7. Open Internet Explorer (you'll get an error page) and type in http://192.168.0.30. You'll get the D-Link setup page.

8. Under the Wireless Tab, input the Linksys LAN Mac address and WEP encryption key. Save your changes by clicking Apply.

9. Under the Admin tab, upload the version 1.9 firmware. Save your changes by clicking Apply.

10. Unplug D-Link from power outlet and from router. Keep unplugged for 30 seconds.

11. Go back into the Network Connections page (under Control Panel) and reset the configuration of your TCP/IP connection to find IP address automatically. Unplug your computer from router.

12. Move D-Link and computer to where you want to set them up (I suggest 50 feet away). Plug in D-Link into power outlet (discard ethernet cable).

13. On your computer, open up your wireless configuration utility and remove any pre-existing preferred wireless connections. Hit refresh 4-5 times. Go into wireless tab and uncheck WEP encryption key automatically saved and retype your WEP encryption key manually.

14. Enjoy your dramtically-improved wireless range.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Inexpensive solution to problem, June 1, 2004

By 

Mike Tarrani "www.tarrani.com" (Deltona, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: D-Link DWL-800AP+ Wireless Range Extender, 802.11b, 22Mbps (Personal Computers)

My need for this device was to extend signal strength in my new home. I recently moved from California where houses are basically wood framed, to a new, larger home in Florida where houses use blocks for outside and load bearing walls. This heavier construction, combined with the distance between my wireless router and where I use my computer, severely degraded my signal and throughput. I purchased this device to rectify that problem - which it did.

Installation, including putting it in wireless range extender mode, took mere minutes after unpacking it. I was communicating with an incredible 100% signal strength in practically no time after setting it up, which was a dramatic difference from the 20% strength before it was installed. I did an experiment by walking outside with my laptop and was still connected to my home network with 80% or better signal all the way to the end of my property.

I like the fact that this device seems to interoperate flawlessly with other vendor products. One of my systems has an SMC wireless card, and another uses a Linksys. My wireless router is an SMC.

Installation instructions were a bit sparse. I am a highly technical user, so I didn't need them, but a novice may have problems. Since I have not needed to use technical support I cannot comment on the quality of D-Link's support.

Since I have not used this device as an access point I also cannot comment on how well it works in that mode. However, if you are seeking a simple and cost-effective solution to extending the range of your existing wireless LAN, and have some technical skills this may be the solution you are looking for. Even though I am pleased with this product I rated it at four stars because I have not used all of the features or D-Link's technical support, and do not think the documentation is novice-friendly.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Make sure you configure it right, June 21, 2003

By 

"timb2" (NY, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: D-Link DWL-800AP+ Wireless Range Extender, 802.11b, 22Mbps (Personal Computers)

I am an IT support person and it took me a few tries before I could get this thing to work correctly. I wish the manual could be more clear. If you are using this as a repeater for your DI-614+ router, you must enter the LAN MAC (not the WAN MAC, not the wireless MAC as I thought) address of the DI-614+ on the DWL-800AP config screen. When you get it working, you will see the DWL-800AP's MAC address as your primary signal source in your wireless adapter/nic software. I dont think the builtin software in WINXP shows the signal source MAC address, you will need to install additional software. Check your adapter/nic manufacturer's CD. Also get the firmware update on D-Link's website. They claim it improves performance.

I was able to extended the range from the basement to the first floor whereas before the signal strength on the first floor before installing the DWL-800AP was 60% with occasional signal loss. After installing the DWL-800AP, signal strength was 98% with no loss. However it must be noted that this is 98% strength with the DWL-800AP as the source, not the DI-614+ router. I would estimate the overall improvement to be 20-30%.