What are Repeaters and registers in Computer Network?

 

Computer networks are quintessential as they connect and help users to send data from any place to anyone. Under the concept of computer networks, there are various devices such as,

• Hub

• Bridge

• Repeater (also known as registers in computer)

• Switch

• Routers

• Brouter

• Gateway

• NIC

Particularly, we will be looking at repeater in computer networks, as it is the main source of keeping a network strong and away from becoming weak. We will further look into the repeater types and other related aspects.

What is a Repeater in Computer Network?

Whenever a network gets a signal, the register will regenerate it and then transmit it to the receiving network. As it helps to extend the network’s area, repeaters are also called signal boosters. 

Note that, the incoming data can usually be wireless, optical and such, which all will take its action in the OSI model alone, especially at its physical layer. Whenever these data come in, repeaters copy them line by line, analyze it and re-transmit it. Repeaters help in providing full security during transmission. 

Let us take a look at this example to understand repeater in computer network:

Have you wondered why there are so many antenna towers around us? It is because, usually the path that delivers two networks’ communications gets blocked. That is why antennas are placed to act as a transmitter.

Say, person X and person Y are near each other and communicate on their mobile phones. The communication will be easy as their path is free. Unlike, if there is some sort of a block in their path like a huge building, then with the help of the antenna, the communication is easily transmitted. This is the purpose of repeaters. As their connectivity is super strong, it has the power to convert and transmit signals.

Types of Repeaters

Repeaters come in various shapes and sizes. They mainly consist of four categories under which many repeater types are allocated. These categories are:

• Signal

• Connected Networks

• LAN Domain

• Technology 

1. Signal

There are namely two types of repeaters that affect the signal part of the data transmission. They are:

=> Analog Repeaters

If there is a boost required in the amplitude, then analog signals are the right way to do so. Analog repeaters use frequency division multiplexing and broadcast various signals easily. This in turn, gives a massive boost in the performance data transmission.

=> Digital Repeaters

Under digital repeaters, every data is transmitted as binary digits. Converting data into binary values like 0 and 1 makes it possible to communicate even when two networks are too far from each other. Digital repeaters can also employ retiming functions.

2. Connected Networks

Connected networks are pretty much everywhere around us, take for instance, bluetooth. Here are the two types of repeaters under this category.

=> Wired repeaters

This type of repeater is simply implemented in Local area networks as they’re all connected. An example would be optical communications repeater which is a device that is used to carry the signal range using a fiber optic cable. 

=> Wireless repeaters

Similar to the wired repeaters, these are also employed in LAN but only if they are wireless and cellular. Examples would be a radio or telephone repeater, which we will soon discuss about.

3. LAN Domain

Local area networks also carry its set of repeaters with multiple purposes being served. The notable repeaters are,

=> Local repeaters

When the LAN sections are segregated by short distance, then the local repeaters are utilized to connect them.

=> Remote repeaters

Likewise, when by long distance, the LAN sections are segregated, we employ the remote repeaters to connect them.

4. Technology-Based

These are the interesting sorts of repeaters that are employed in the real life world. The repeater types are:

=> Microwave repeater

Between the transmitting and receiving station, the microwave repeaters get embedded so that the transmission is done effectively. High power transmitters are one of the features which gets used here.

=> Satellite repeater

The cool fact about the satellite repeats is that it is placed accurately at 36,000 km from the surface of the earth. These repeaters help in covering a large area and data transmission can be done effectively. Firstly, these repeaters get the uplink signal from the earth, then amplify it to get the frequency. Then it finds the perfect downlink frequency as well. Finally the re-transmission process happens.

=> WiFi repeater

WiFi is capable of covering a larger region, wherever it is activated to work on. Imagine a family WiFi that is placed in your house. It usually can cover two to three rooms, and people can access it from these rooms alone. 

=> LTE repeater

LTE repeaters are the internet packs that we all day to day use. The examples are 4G, 5G internet available via sim companies.

=> Radio repeater

All the data gets transmitted into radio signals that have two ports which is the radio receiver and transmitter. The radio receivers grab information as signals, then re-transmit it into data which can be understood by the user.

=> Telephone repeater

Telephone repeaters help in accessing and transmitting data even if the networks have long ranges. Amplifier is used in this method and it grabs the audio signals, amplifies them and produces the output data.

6 Features of Repeater in Computer Network

Without repeaters, transmitting data through signals won’t be possible. Along with this use, there are several other notable benefits of repeaters, that are:

• Network interconnection is possible through repeaters

• It helps to receive signal, regenerate it before re-transmitting it to the cable sections.

• Repeaters help in figuring whether the signals are not weak before it is sent to the receiver.

• Repeaters strengthen the signal before it is broadcasted.

• Repeaters only work the OSI model’s physical layer and become invisible to other protocols. This transparency, 

• Every network’s size can be determined with the help of repeaters.

Final thoughts

A repeater in computer network helps to maximize the coverage of the network, strengthen signal and transmit data efficiently. We hope you have gotten enough insight regarding repeaters and register in computer networks and its utilities.