Connecting a Wi-Fi amplifier. Detailed instructions for connecting and setting up the TP Link TL Wa850re modem. How does a wifi router booster work?

Amplifier Wi-Fi TP-Link TL-WA850RE allows you to increase the network coverage area thanks to the special Range Extender Mode, since the signal is transmitted even to places where there is no laid cable. To avoid making settings again in the future, you need to establish a connection with the router once: to do this, press the WPS button. The model can serve as an adapter for connecting Blu-ray players and other wired devices, since the design includes an Ethernet port.

LED indicators are designed to determine the most suitable location for the TP-Link TL-WA850RE Wi-Fi amplifier. The Tether application has been developed for tablets and smartphones based on the iOS and Android operating systems, which provides easy access to all functions and facilitates comfortable management. WEP encryption ensures the security of transmitted confidential data of authorized users and protects the network from hacking.

Universal wireless signal amplifier TL-WA850RE, speed up to 300 Mbps

• Range Extender Mode allows you to transmit a signal to previously inaccessible places where cable laying is not possible
• The compact and convenient design makes the amplifier easy to install and carry
• Increase your wireless network coverage with one click of the Range Extender button
• Thanks to the Ethernet port, the signal amplifier can work as a wireless adapter for connecting wired devices

Wireless network boost

Tired of dead zones on your Wi-Fi network? The TL-WA850RE Wireless Signal Booster connects to your router via Wi-Fi and expands coverage to previously inaccessible areas. The device also reduces signal interference, providing reliable Wi-Fi coverage in your home or office.

Easy setup and convenient placement

Press the WPS button on your router and the Range Extender button on the TL-WA850RE range extender, and connect to the wireless network within 2 minutes. Once a connection to your router is established, you can disconnect and connect the TL-WA850RE anywhere you want to achieve the best signal quality without any additional setup.

Ethernet bridge

The Ethernet port allows the TL-WA850RE signal extender to function as a wireless adapter for connecting wired devices such as Blu-ray® players, game consoles, video recorders and Smart TVs (cable not included). The device will also be able to simultaneously provide a wireless network connection.

Smart signal indicator

5 LED indicators indicate the signal the TL-WA850RE is receiving from the router, allowing you to determine a suitable location for the device. It is recommended to install the signal booster in a location where at least 3 indicators are lit blue

Tether mobile app

Use any mobile device for easy access to the signal booster and convenient control of various functions, including night mode LED indicators.

For example, a router is installed in a house or apartment, but in the back room a laptop, phone or tablet has a weak signal level. At the same time, it is so weak that connection is sometimes impossible.

You can, of course, connect a more powerful Wi-Fi adapter to your laptop, but what to do with your phone and tablet? In this case, an access point that supports the operating mode will help us - repeater or repeater. Access point TL-WR740N will connect via Wi-Fi to your router and transmit the wireless signal further than a phone, tablet or other client device can. With the help of a TP-Link repeater you can boost Wi-Fi signal for your devices.

Setting up an access point in Wi-Fi repeater mode

Router TP-Link connects to a computer or laptop using a twisted pair cable. Power is connected to the access point using a power supply. The network card settings should be set to default.

After setting up the access point, the cable from the computer to the access point can be disconnected.

Open the browser Internet Explorer, Mozilla, Opera, Chrome or any other, and enter the address 192.168.0.1 . This is the default, you can also see it on the bottom of the router.

In the next window, enter your username admin, password admin.

Open the menu: Wireless mode - Wireless mode settings - .

After - a group of text fields will appear below. Click the “Search” button

In the window that appears, click “Connection” opposite the Wifi network to which we will connect.

Select the encryption type: open, or . In the last column we enter wifi network password, which we want to connect to. We also install channel number, the same as the Wi-Fi network with which we want to create a WDS connection.

After this, save the settings by clicking the Save button. If the wifi network channel differs from the required one, you will receive the following note:

Your access point's channel does not match the bridged access point's channel, do you want to change your channel to the bridged access point's channel?

We confirm, and the channel should automatically change to the correct one.

Now all that remains is to configure wifi network security settings. Go to the menu: Wireless mode - Wireless protection. We select the encryption type and password that is used on the router to which our TP-Link repeater is connected. In our case, encryption was used.

Please note that if you use on your router, then in the fields Type, WEP Key Format, WEP Key, Key Type Settings similar to the router to which the access point will be connected must be specified. Otherwise, the TP-Link repeater will not connect to the router. Don't forget to indicate correct region where your router is located. If the source router has a different number in the channel column, then the repeater cannot connect to the router due to incorrectly specified security parameters.

After configuring the security settings, save the settings with the Save button and reboot.

Checking WDS mode activation

You can find out that the TP-Link repeater was able to connect to the router in the menu State.

Open the menu and look at the connection parameters. In field Name ()- the name of the wifi network should appear, in the field - the poppy of the router distributing the network, as well as channel number and other parameters.

Connecting equipment to a Wi-Fi network with WDS

You can connect to WDS Wi-Fi network smartphone with Wi-Fi, tablet or laptop. To connect a laptop to a Wi-Fi network, in the lower right corner of the screen we find the Wi-Fi connection management icon. Select our Wi-Fi network from the list and click the “Connect” button.

Enter the password to connect to the Wi-Fi network, which was set in the router settings. After this, the laptop will connect to the Wi-Fi network.

Checking the connection of devices to the Wi-Fi repeater

After connecting any wireless device (laptop, phone, tablet) to the Wi-Fi network, check that the device is connected to the repeater and not to the router. To do this, on the access point, open the menu Wireless mode - Wireless mode statistics and see the devices connected to the TP-Link repeater.

If the MAC address of your device is not in the list, and the Internet works on it, then the device has connected to the router, since at this point the router’s signal is better than the repeater’s signal. Place the access point far from the router and connect next to it. If the device still cannot connect to the access point, check that the access point is connected to the router and that its encryption type and password are set correctly in the security settings.

The review of which came out almost two and a half years ago. The dimensions and general design remain the same, only the front panel has changed slightly. Firstly, the white glossy surface received a relief in the form of a unique “cut”. Secondly, the number of indicators has increased. They all glow with a dim green light, and if desired, they can be turned off altogether. However, this is probably not worth doing, since only by using them can you quickly find out about the state of the device. For example, a change in the color of the indicators of any of the Wi-Fi bands to red indicates a weak signal from the parent access point, and a complete shutdown indicates a loss of connection to it.

Also on the front panel there is a single button with a green soft backlight, which is used to start pairing with the main point or access points via WPS. After pressing once, it will blink for two minutes and wait for connection. Please note that WPS support is not provided for connecting clients to the repeater itself - they will have to be configured manually. In addition, the repeater can also be a regular media bridge for connecting to a home Wi-Fi network those devices that are designed only for a wired connection - at the bottom end of the RE200 there is a 100 Mbit/s Ethernet port. A tiny hardware reset button is recessed nearby. Please note that TP-LINK RE200 is intended for indoor use only.

In addition to the version with a European plug, there are also options for the US, UK and Australia. The dimensions of the device are such that it is guaranteed to block adjacent sockets. However, apparently, this is how it was intended - the user manual on the very first pages states that there should be at least five centimeters of free space around the connected repeater so that the device does not overheat, since it is completely devoid of ventilation holes. However, inside the RE200 there is far from the hottest pair of MediaTek MT7620 and MT7610E chipsets - we have already encountered them earlier in ASUS RT-AC52U and TP-LINK Archer C2.

The RE200 setup algorithm is extremely simple. First of all, you need to choose an outlet closer to the router, insert the device into it and wait a few tens of seconds until it turns on. Then launch WPS on the router and repeater - and wait until they “sniff” each other. Then you can take the RE200 to another room, where it will perform its main function, that is, expanding the coverage of the wireless network. By default, the repeater's secondary network operates in the same range as the parent access point on the router. That is, one chipset simultaneously works both as a client and as an access point, which naturally reduces the throughput of the wireless network. You can configure the network range in which the Ethernet port will connect in bridge mode. If for some reason this network does not exist, it will automatically switch to another. If you did not touch this setting, then by default it is connected to the network in the 2.4 GHz band.

Additional settings are made through, available at http://tplinkrepeater.net/ (default IP address 192.168.0.254). If you did not configure the repeater via WPS, then you will have to connect to its “factory” SSID TP-LINK_Extender_2.4GHz or TP-LINK_Extender_5GHz, fortunately they do not have a password. However, frankly speaking, there are very few available settings in the RE200. You can manually set the repeater's IP address, disable the built-in DHCP server, configure some Wi-Fi parameters, and turn off the indication. Standard options are also available: updating the firmware, resetting settings, changing the password to access the web interface, saving and restoring device parameters, as well as viewing logs and statistics. A step-by-step wizard for quickly setting up a repeater is available in the web interface.

Setup Wizard TP-LINK RE200-gal_wiz

By default, all parameters of the Wi-Fi router to which the repeater is connected are transferred to its access point, including the network name. You can change this name, and at the same time change the Wi-Fi channel and select the preferred range for the Ethernet port. The most interesting and useful thing, of course, is not this, but the additional operating mode High Speed ​​Mode. In this mode, one band chip connects to the parent access point, and the second band chip creates a network to expand Wi-Fi coverage. In this case, there is no loss of speed in Wi-Fi operation, but versatility is lost - only one AP will have to be rebroadcast, although many users probably don’t need more. It was in this mode that we conducted a short test of the TP-LINK RE200.

The main router is ZyXEL Keenetic Ultra II. Clients: 1) PC with Intel Core i7-2600K, 12 GB RAM, ASUS PCE-AC68, Realtek RTL8168, Killer NIC E2200 and Windows 7 SP1 x64; 2) laptop with Intel Core i7-4700HQ, 12 GB RAM, Realtek RTL8168 and Windows 8.1 Update 1 x64. For Wi-Fi testing, Ixia IxChariot 6.7 software with the High Performance Throughput profile was used. In the router settings, auto-selection of the channel and its width, WPA2 encryption were enabled, and for tests the access point from the unused range was disabled. The distance from the router to the repeater and from the repeater to the client was four meters, that is, the wireless signal traveled up to eight meters, without, however, encountering any obstacles on its way. The result was the following set of routes:

• Client 1 (Ethernet) → router (Ethernet → Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz) → repeater (Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz → 5 GHz) → Client 2 (Wi-Fi 5 GHz) [repeater, 8 m];
• Client 1 (Ethernet) → router (Ethernet → Wi-Fi 5 GHz) → repeater (Wi-Fi 5 GHz → 2.4 GHz) → Client 2 (Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz) [repeater, 8m];
• Client 1 (Ethernet) → router (Ethernet → Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz) → repeater (Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz → Ethernet) → Client 2 (Ethernet) [media bridge, 4 m];
• Client 1 (Ethernet) → router (Ethernet → Wi-Fi 5 GHz) → repeater (Wi-Fi 5 GHz → Ethernet) → Client 2 (Ethernet) [media bridge, 4 m].

Exactly in the same order, the test results are presented in the table below.

Please note that in all cases only full-duplex connections were tested, since in the case of half-duplex connections in the second half of the tests, the speed would obviously be limited by the capabilities of the repeater's Ethernet port. In any case, the indicators are good. The speed in the default operating mode - Concurrent, and not High Speed, as in our tests - will be approximately two times lower. However, it should be noted that there is one caveat when working with the 2.4 GHz band. Apparently, when it is highly loaded, if the RE200 in High Speed ​​mode connects to it as a client, the repeater will be able to normally use the wide (40 MHz) channel. But otherwise - if it works as an access point in this range - the repeater will most likely create an AP with a narrow channel (20 MHz) in accordance with the Wi-Fi standard, which will lead to a decrease in data transfer speed.

Full description

TP-LINK TL-WA850RE - signal amplifier, wireless, device speed reaches 300 Mbit per second.

It amplifies the signal wherever the signal goes and even where it is not possible to lay a cable.

It has a beautiful small size design. This makes it possible to install the device anywhere and connect it to any available outlet. The network coverage area becomes larger by pressing one single button called Range Extender.

With a wireless data sending speed of 300 Mbps and a small size, it can easily expand the area covered by a wireless network. The Ethernet port gives the TL-WA850RE the ability to act as a wireless adapter and connect wireless devices.

How TP-LINK TL-WA850RE works

It is needed to connect wireless devices, increase the area covered by the network, and remove dead zones. This makes it possible to improve your wireless connection without any problems. Thanks to the information transmission power of 300 Mbit per second, the device can be considered ideal for watching movies in good quality, playing games or listening to music.

Thanks to its beautiful and small body, you can easily install it where you need it, as well as change its location. Another big advantage is that it easily remembers the network to which it has previously connected. If you replace your router, you won't have to configure any new features on your device.

You can easily increase your network coverage area without installing another cable; this can be done by just pressing a button. You can set up a secure connection by clicking the Pair button.

TP-LINK is known as a manufacturer of functional, yet affordable and easy-to-set up types of communication devices. Among the popular types of products offered by this market brand are repeaters, as well as routers that have the corresponding function. What are the main capabilities of both types of devices? How are they configured?

What is a repeater?

A repeater is a device that allows you to amplify the Wi-Fi signal coming from your router. The need for its use arises if the power of the router is not enough to ensure the functioning of a wireless network within the area of ​​a room or office. The functionality of the repeater, in principle, corresponds to that which 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 performance from the network infrastructure as if the connection was made directly to the router.

It can be noted that an alternative to using the devices in question may be to use the router itself, for example TP-LINK, in repeater mode. Let's 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 is worth noting that TP-LINK also produces repeaters within a very large model range. If we talk specifically about devices of the type under consideration, then a typical solution that combines the capabilities characteristic of most modern repeaters from TP-LINK can be called the TL-WA850RE device. In particular, this product has the following main advantages:

• the TP-LINK TL-WA850RE repeater is capable of operating in radio signal amplification mode, thanks to which the wireless network can be expanded over a large area;
• the device has small dimensions, thanks to which it can be installed even if there is little free space in the user’s room or office;
• If necessary, you can also connect wired devices to the router via the Ethernet port.

The device in question can quickly connect to Wi-Fi routers that have a WPS function, provided that the routers have the corresponding button. If such a connection was made once, then re-configuring the TP-LINK repeater is generally not required.

If we talk about communication capabilities using an Ethernet port, solutions such as game consoles, SMART TVs, as well as various multimedia devices can be connected to the device. In this case, the device connected to the cable can, using the resources of the repeater, also be part of the wireless infrastructure.

The TP-LINK repeater in the modification under consideration is equipped with a fairly large number of LED indicators, through which you can, first of all, determine the location of the device. It is recommended to install the repeater in places where at least 3 corresponding blue indicators will light up.

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

Let us now consider how the TP-LINK repeater is configured.

Setting up a repeater: network connection parameters

Before connecting the device in question to the router, you should pay attention to correctly setting up the second device. So, you will need to specify the following information in its parameters:

• IP address;
• the name of the network to which it connects;
• encryption type;
• password.

After the necessary settings have been made, you need to move on to the next stage of setting up the connection between the repeater and the router. It is noteworthy that it involves temporarily connecting the first device to the computer via a cable - just using the Ethernet port. In this case, while the TP-LINK repeater is interacting with the PC, the router must be turned off.

Setting up a repeater via PC

In order to configure the device in question, you need to use the web interface for managing device options - through a browser. Once you open it, you need to select the Network function. After this, you need to check whether 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 numbers in the IP address must match completely. If there is a difference of at least 1, you must enter the correct IP address in the repeater settings, which belongs to the corresponding segment. Then you need to save the settings by clicking on Save.

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

Setting up network protection: nuances

Next you need to configure, determining the optimal parameters according to which the repeater should operate, WiFi. TP-LINK allows, in particular, to set the level. To do this, select the Wireless option, then Wireless Security. Then you should set the WPA2-PSK parameter, as well as the After method, enter the password corresponding to what is specified in the router settings. Then click Save.

Thus, the user’s main task when setting up a repeater is to enter the same settings into the device in question and into the router to which it connects.

Repeater setup: testing

After setting up the corresponding device, you need to check how correctly the wireless network will function. To do this, select the System Tools option, then Diagnostic. After this, you need to enter the address that is set for the router in the IP address field. Then you need to click on Start to launch the testing mechanism.

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 one or if it is necessary to build a wireless network infrastructure on an even larger scale can be the use of a router in repeater mode. In particular, many of the devices produced by the TP-LINK brand have this function. Among such solutions is the TL-WA901N device. Let's consider TP-LINK as a repeater in the appropriate modification.

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

• data transmission within a Wi-Fi network at a speed of up to 300 Mbit/s;
• ensuring the functioning of the wireless infrastructure in router, WDS modes - that is, repeater, bridge;
• quick setup of data transfer with encryption;

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

Now in more detail about using the “repeater” function of the TP-LINK router in the TL-WA901N modification. First of all, it must be done via a computer.

Router as a repeater: configuration using a PC

To solve this problem you need to connect to a PC via an RJ-45 network cable. After entering the Windows “Control Panel”, select the “Network and Internet” option, then “Network and Access Center”. In the corresponding interface, you must select the option that allows you to change the adapter settings. Then right-click and select “Local Area Connection”, then “Properties”. In the interface that opens, 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 router management web interface, similar to what we used to configure the repeater. You need to open your browser and enter the router's IP address into the address bar (usually it is indicated on the bottom of the router case). On the page that opens, you need to enter your login and password - in general, this is the word admin.

Directly in the router control panel, you need to select the “Wireless network” option, then “Network settings”. After that, we indicate the correct options on the page that opens. The main thing here is to indicate that the router will be used as a universal or regular repeater (the second option must be selected if WDS mode is activated). After this, you need to click on the search button, and in the list that opens, select the router that you want to relay. Then click on “Connect”. After that, save the settings.

The router should reboot.

Router as a repeater: setting up network security

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

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

Router or repeater?

We studied how to configure a TP-LINK router as a repeater using the example of one of the popular modifications of routers, but the problem is solved in a similar way on other common devices in the TP-LINK line. The scheme we have considered can thus be considered sufficiently unified. To configure different devices in order to use them in repeater mode, very similar software interfaces are used (not counting the nuance that they may differ in design language).

Both options for deploying wireless network infrastructure can be considered equivalent from the point of view of ensuring the stability of its operation. In principle, it does not matter whether the original repeater is used or a router is used in this capacity (but it is desirable that both devices be released by the same brand - TP-LINK). A repeater, from the point of view of ensuring the functioning of the network, may not be enough on the required scale, so it can be supplemented with a router that supports the repeater function with a similar level of stability and network service performance. Both devices can be interchangeable because they essentially perform the same function. In addition, according to similar principles, configuration is carried out, adapted to the functionality of both TP-LINK devices. The repeater mode of the original device and the router are activated and operate within a single algorithm.

The most important thing in setting up both types of devices is to maintain synchronism in the device addressing parameters, as well as those related to ensuring the security of data exchange. Solving this problem is made easier, again, by the fact that similar software interfaces are used to configure both the router and the repeater.

Summary

So, we looked at how to set up a TP-LINK repeater as an independent device, as well as use a router produced by this brand as a repeater. Both methods of deploying wireless network infrastructure allow you to increase the coverage area of ​​the Wi-Fi signal and provide connection to it for devices located at a considerable distance from the router or that have insufficient sensitivity to the level of the signal from it.