Which device is used to extend the range of a wireless network?

A wireless repeater is specifically designed to extend the range of a wireless network by receiving the existing wireless signal and amplifying it before retransmitting it. This process allows the repeater to boost the signal to areas that may be weak or unreachable from the original router, thereby increasing the overall coverage area of the network.

In contrast, a wireless router connects to the internet and creates a wireless network, allowing devices to connect to it, but it does not inherently extend the signal. Access points are devices that extend a wired network by adding wireless capabilities, but they don't amplify signals as repeaters do. A network bridge connects and filters traffic between two or more networks, but it also does not provide the specific functionality of extending signal range like a repeater does. Thus, the role of a wireless repeater directly addresses the need to enhance coverage in a wireless network environment.