Disadvantages of repeaters
- Lack of Coordination - Wi-Fi repeaters can be used to extend coverage similar to the distributed Wi-Fi approach, but repeaters act as independent nodes and do not coordinate with the central router or other repeaters (nodes) in the system. Therefore, unintelligent repeaters cannot adapt to the changing needs from the wireless network and can only be used to boost (repeat) the signal from the central router.
- Self Interference - Some Wi-Fi repeaters repeat the signal on the same channel, thereby reducing the overall capacity of the network by introducing self-interference.
- Clients choose the node - Devices operating on their own free will often not choose the path of maximum performance. For example, customers can experience extremely poor performance when clients “stick” to a distant repeater rather than connecting to the nearby router. Clients may also choose to connect to the node with strongest signal, even if that node has a poor connection to the router or is already overloaded.
- Difficult to manage - Finally, coordination of changes in the Wi-Fi network, such as channel or SSID changes, are hampered by the lack of a centralized authority. Typically, consumers changing their Wi-Fi network name or password end up in a tangle of reboots, disconnected devices, and partially connected networks.
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