D-Link Device Extends WLANs

D-Link Device Extends WLANs

Written By
Anne Chen
Anne Chen
Mar 10, 2003
1 minute read
eWeek content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More

A Pringles “Cantenna” may increase the size of a WLAN, but D-links $99 AirPlus Wireless Range Extender DWL-800AP+ will probably be an easier sell to CIOs.

The DWL-800, which can be used as a repeater or an access point, operates at the 802.11b 2.4GHz frequency range. When used in repeater mode, it can receive a signal from a wireless access point or router (as much as 328 feet away, according to D-Link) and rebroadcast it to increase the size of a WLAN.

I tested the DWL-800 with the D-Link DI-614+ Enhanced 2.4GHz Wireless Router and the D-Link DWL- 650+ Enhanced 2.4GHz Wireless Cardbus Adapter. The DWL-800 has advertised transfer rates of up to 22M bps, but youll need equipment with the same chip set to get those performance levels.

D-Link claims the DWL-800 can extend a WLAN by as much as 50 percent, but I saw nowhere near that kind of increase. Still, when using the repeater, I got a strong signal in areas where I normally receive little to no signal at all.

Users should be aware that the DWL-800 is incompatible with 802.11a and 802.11g products but is backward-compatible with current 802.11b-compliant gear.

eWeek Logo

eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site's focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2026 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.