Question : Problem: What are Repeaters ? and How they are better in repeating signals than Switches

Hi friends !

I want to know about the Repeaters. I have never used Repeaters. Are they different from switches ? Because we can use switches for repeating the signals so I want to know if we use repeaters for repeating the signals then Can we spread our network to 1 or 2 Kilometers ?

It will also be nice of you if you can provide me with a web link that gives me detailed information about the Repeaters which are used in present.

Thanks&

Hemant

Answer : Problem: What are Repeaters ? and How they are better in repeating signals than Switches

A repeater basically takes a network signal and cleans it/amplifies it for transmission over longer distances.  Yes, you could use repeaters to extend a network over a much greater distance than 1 or 2 kilometers, though you would need several repeaters over the route (unless using fibre, of course, which needs repeaters less often).

A switch is an intelligent network device that will both repeat and switch network traffic depending upon it's destination.  i.e. it doesn't just forward all the traffic (like a repeater or a hub does), it works out which of it's ports the traffic should be sent down to reach it's destination (it actually does more than this, but I am simplifying).

Overview here: http://www.comptechdoc.org/independent/networking/guide/netdevices.html