Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

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.

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.

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%.

The title says "Wireless Range Extender" and that's what it does.

It repeats the signal of another compatible access point from D-Link. I have a DWL-900AP+ and it repeates the signal of that quite well. I was able to increase my range to cover my pool area outside. I can now be anywhere in my backyard and get a good 3-4Mbps wireless speeds.

It can also be a regular access point. And in repeater mode this is easily setup and once you have it configured like the documentation says you are all set. Just put it at about the point where your signal drops out and plug it in.

It is smaller than you'd think and it works quite well. The DWL-810+ is something that you can plug into your PS2, XBOX, or what have you and it will "bridge" that connection.

This is a DWL-800AP+ and it can be an Access Point or a Wireless Repeater (a.k.a. Range Extender).

This is not fully compatable with all D-Link 802.11b products. Check compatability list carefully before you buy. Here's the correspondence with D-Link Tech Support:

Thank you for contacting the D-Link Tech Support Team!

Problem Description:
Will this work with my 713p?

Agent Response:

The DWL-800AP+ will repeat the wireless signal of:

AirPlus
----------------------
DWL-800AP+ Wireless Access Point
DWL-900AP+ Wireless Access Point
DI-614+ Wireless Router
DI-714P+ Wireless Router

AirPro
----------------------
DI-754 Wireless Router (with inserted DWL-650+)
DI-764 Wireless Router

AirPremier
-----------------------
DWL-1000AP+ Wireless Access Point

Unfortunately we can not guarantee compatibility with other manufacturers. Repeating mode is not part of the Wi-Fi certification and D-Link, as well as the other manufacturers, are not at liberty to purchase every single wireless product to test compatibility. There are many different chipsets and sometimes connectivity between different chipsets will not work.

In spite of the claims made by the manufacturer of my broadband router and wireless acess point I found it transmits about as far as I can throw a bowling ball thus leaving a large portion of my home without a useable signal to connect with my notebook pc. There was no placement that would get me a signal everywhere I needed it so I figured somebody must make a repeater. Alas, D-Link makes this little jewel. But, I'm using Linksys equipment and D-link says the repeater mode only works with other D-Link devices. In fact everything I could find to read about this device claimed it only worked with other D-Link components. Now, here's what I know.

It works perfectly boosting the signal from my Linksys BEFW11S4 wireless acess point and router at one end of my house to my Linksys PC Card wireless adapter equipped notebook at the furthest reaches of my sprawling ranch house and outside. What other equipment it works with I don't know. A salesman at Best-Buy told me in his experience it works with any 802.11 devices and promised me if it didn't work for me I could bring it back.

Other reviews I've read complained about sparce documentation and difficulty in setting up this device. Wrong again. I can't even reset my digital watch for daylight savings time but I had this thing up and running in about 30 minutes. It comes with a small quick set-up booklet but has an in depth manual on CD if one needs any further instructions.

The signal from this repeater appears to be much stronger than that of my Linksys transmitter. My notebook latches on to the stronger signal from the repeater until I get within the same room as the Linksys router. Another cool feature is since this device is completely wireless I can plug it in wherever I want and it captures the signal and boosts it allowing me to customize my coverage area or even hide the device wherever I want. I can even add another repeater to expand my network furhter if I wanted.

It isn't often I can say I'm 100% satisfied with a product but this is one of those times. Why D-link undersells it's capabilities is a mystery to me.

My experience closely parallels the other reveiwers. I got stuck following the quick start guide. I used the WAN MAC address of my DLink 614+ router, not the LAN MAC address like I was suppose to. A call to tech service got me set up, but the funny thing is there no immediate indication that the DWL-800AP+ is working, other than the improved signal strength at the receiving computer. The front lights on the DWL-800AP+ looked exactly the same when I had it incorrectly configured as when it was properly set up. It took another call to tech support to reassure me that, yes, it was working. Also interesting is that you don't sacrifice any speed when using a repeater (like the DWL-800AP+). I had considered getting a bigger antenna for the router, but I think made the better choice by going with the repeater.

It does what I wanted. I'm typing this in my kitchen which was previously a dead spot. It's a good choice if you are matching it to other Dlink equipment.

just make sure you enter the LAN MAC address of the AP you are repeating. This is the key that got me stuck for about 5 minutes. I figured it out finally and everything from then on was a snap. I am impressed with the rnage this adds. I have wireless access in 2 more rooms of my house that were completely dead and one room that only had low signal has a good signal strength now. It isn't that hard to do, just read the instructions.

I bought the DWL-800AP+ to be used as a range extender with a Netgear MR814v2 wireless router. The enclosed quick guide was enough for setting it up in few minutes; I run the set up with a Mac PowerBook, using Safari and Explorer; both worked smoothly. I upgraded to firmware version 2.0 before testing the network. The signal strength from the DWL-800AP+ is comparable to the one from the router; together they increased the coverage from 30% to 100% of my apartment, which is built in concrete walls. It required a bit of trial and error to play with the placement of the router and the range extender to obtain the full coverage, but with the easy plug and work design of the extender, it wasn't much of a fuzz; moreover, the small footprint of the DWL-800AP+ and its very unobtrussive look make very easy to place it anywhere. For a modest price it solved all my home wireless networking problems with full compatibility with the MR814v2.

I purchased this for a few reasons:

#1 - it's cheap
#2 - it's a wireless device only (in other words, it's not a router/w wireless)

I have used it with three different network routers:

- with a NetGear RP614v2, it worked with no problems
- with a homebuilt Soekris based firewall, it worked with no problems
- with a Nokia IP Security platform, I had to use static IPs

There's no real problem with this product that a bit of cluefullness won't fix.

I've used it with various PDAs - a Dell X5 using a Hawking Tech CF wireless card; an IPAQ 5550 and 4150 using their built-in wireless; a Sony UX-50 with their built-in wireless. I've also used it on my laptop with an Enterasys RoamAbout a/b/g card. All worked perfectly.