Repeaters in Computer Network (original) (raw)

Last Updated : 21 Aug, 2025

A computer network is made up of various devices such as hubs, switches, modems, routers, and repeaters. Each of these devices plays a vital role in ensuring smooth communication between devices. Among them, the repeater is especially important for extending the reach of a network and maintaining the quality of data signals over long distances.

What is a Repeater?

A repeater is a network device that regenerates weakened or corrupted signals to restore them to their original form before retransmission. It operates at the physical layer (Layer 1) of the OSI model. Unlike an amplifier, which increases both signal and noise, a repeater reconstructs the original clean signal and forwards it, ensuring reliable data delivery over longer distances.

Repeater

Repeaters are widely used in both wired networks (Ethernet, telephone lines, optical fiber) and wireless networks (Wi-Fi, radio, cellular communication).

Features of Repeaters

• Regenerates signals without altering the original data.
• Works with both analog and digital signals (depending on the type).
• Extends the range of a network beyond distance limitations.
• Reduces errors and data loss caused by weak signals.
• Requires power to operate.
• Adds a layer of complexity in network design if used excessively.

Working of Repeaters

• Initially the source system transmits the signals. This source systems can be a mobile phone, laptop or radio.
• This transmitted signal from the source system travels in air if it's wireless network or through the cable if it is wired network. As the signal goes away from the source it's strength gets weak.
• The signal received to the repeater is not the actual signal sent by source system but a weak signal. Therefore repeater amplifies this weak signal to get it strengthen.
• The strengthen signal is now being sent from the repeater to its destination. This signal is more stronger and can travel at longer distance. In short, it extends the network without losing the quality of signal.
• Repeaters are therefore used in various wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi and wired technologies such as ethernet.

**In simple terms: Source -> Weak Signal -> Repeater -> Regenerated Signal -> Destination

This allows communication across distances that exceed the natural signal limits.

Types of Repeaters

According to the functions and features repeaters are divided into three types. They are as follow:

1. Based on Signal Type

According to the type of signal being generated by the Repeater they are classified as:

• **Analog Repeater: Analog repeaters are used to amplify only the analog signals. Analog repeaters receives the analog signal, amplifies it and then regenerates it as the output. Analog repeaters were mostly used in the older network technologies where analog signal was used.
• **Digital Repeater: Digital repeaters are the type of repeaters that does not amplify digital signal but regenerates it directly. Digital repeaters are mostly used in the modern technologies where digital signal is being used. Digital repeaters are also capable to reconstruct a distorted signal.

2. Based on Connection Type

Based on the type of network the repeaters can connect they are categorized as below:

• **Wired Repeaters: Wired repeaters are used in wired Local Area Networks(LANs). Wired repeater receives the signal and repeats it. This helps to extend the network travel data without loosing it's strength and data.
• **Wireless Repeaters: Wireless repeaters are used in wireless Local Area Networks(LANs) and Cellular networks. A router connected in the network sends wireless signal to the repeater. Once received, repeater broadcast the signal to increase the coverage of network.

3. Based on LAN Domain Location

Based on the location of the Repeater in network they are connected, Repeaters are classified as below:

• **Local Repeaters: Local Repeaters are used in Local Area Networks where the network is very small. The distance between the devices connected in network is very small.
• **Remote Repeaters: Remote Repeaters are used in Local Area Networks where network is very large. The distance between the devices connected in network is more.

4. Based on Technology

According to the technology used Repeater are further classified as:

• **Microwave Repeater: Microwave repeaters are defined as a type of repeater that are embedded between the source and destination that is transmitting station and receiving station. The use of microwave repeater depends upon the distance between two devices. In microwave repeaters high power transmitters and sensitive receivers are used.
• **Optical Repeater: Optical repeaters are defined as a type of repeaters that are used for the communication of fibre optic communication systems. Optical repeaters can amplify and reshape the operations before they are being transmitted. The optical repeater grabs all the signals from optical fiber cable into electronic form.
• **Radio Repeater: Radio repeater is a type of repeater that transmits all the received data into radio signals. Radio repeaters has two different ports namely radio receiver and radio transmitter. Radio transmitter is used to retransmit the data that is received from repeater and radio receiver collects all the incoming data in form of signals.
• **Telephone Repeater: Telephone repeaters are type of repeaters used for long distance networks. Amplifiers having transistors are used in telephone repeater. Telephone repeater is a bidirectional communication system. Telephone repeaters are majorly used for communication in submarines.

Advantages of Repeater

• **Better Performance of Network: Repeaters provide with better performance of network because they do not always depend on processing overheads at the time.
• **Cost Effective: Repeaters are more cost effective as compared to other network devices therefore they are cost effective.
• **Extends the network: Repeaters provides with an advantage to extend the available network for transmission of data.
• **No Physical barriers: Using physical devices can led to some barrier while transmission of signals. With the help of wireless repeaters such issues are resolved.
• **Enhanced Signals: When computer devices and routers are connected in a network over long distance it weakens the strength of signals. While using repeaters it improves the strength of signals even over long distances.

Disadvantages of Repeater

• **Network Traffic: Repeaters do not have features to segment the network traffic. Therefore repeaters do lack with the property to congestion.
• **Network Segmentation: As repeaters do not have feature to segment the network traffic repeaters cannot create a separate traffic from one cable to another.
• **Limited number of repeaters: Use of limited number of repeaters is supported by the network. If more number of repeaters are used that the specified one, it can even create collision of packets and increase the noise.
• **Collision Domain: The information is passed from various domains repeater is not able to separate the devices.