user manual

12-2

Cisco Aironet 1200 Series Access Point Software Configuration Guide

OL-2159-05

Chapter 12 Special Configurations

Setting Up a Repeater Access Point

A repeater access point is not connected to the wired LAN; it is placed within radio range of an access

point connected to the wired LAN to extend the range of your infrastructure or to overcome an obstacle

that blocks radio communication.

Note Non-Cisco client devices might have difficulty communicating with repeater access points.

The repeater forwards traffic between wireless users and the wired LAN by sending packets to either

another repeater or to an access point connected to the wired LAN. The data is sent through the route

that provides the greatest performance for the client.

You can only set up one of the radios in your access point as a repeater, the other performs as a normal

root access point radio. When one of the radios is a repeater, the access point’s Ethernet port is blocked.

However, you can still configure the access point through the Ethernet port using a crossover cable when

the repeater link is deactivated. Figure 12-1 shows an access point acting as a repeater.

Caution To keep your network secure, make sure you set security levels on all access point radios. Security levels

in a dual-radio access point, regardless of whether they are repeater or root access points, must be set

separately. If you do not set security levels for both radios, unauthorized clients may be able to gain

access to your network.