When two or more hosts ought to be connected with one another over the IEEE 802.11

IEEE 802.11

IEEE 802.11 is a set of standards for implementing wireless local area network computer communication in the 2.4, 3.6 and 5 GHz frequency bands. They are created and maintained by the IEEE LAN/MAN Standards Committee . The base version of the standard IEEE 802.11-2007 has had subsequent...

 protocol and the distance is too long for a direct connection to be established, a wireless repeater (also called wireless range extender) is used to bridge the gap. It can be a specialized stand alone computer networking device

Computer networking device

'Computer networking devices are units that mediate data in a computer network. Computer networking devices are also called network equipment, Intermediate Systems or InterWorking Unit...

. Also, some WNICs optionally support operating in such a mode.