"R D S" wrote in message
...
I don't know why but I never get results searching for stuff with
Thunderbird, maybe i've downloaded too much....

Anyway, i've a WiFi repeater (sub 10 quid cheapo from eBay), since using
it having no end of bother.
It works OK initially but i'll go away for a time, come back, find that
there's no internet and the repeater itself needing a hard reset

Yes, I did get that with the medion one I used for years,
but I had it under an upturned picking bucket with a brick
on it half way down by back neighbour's back yard and
the temperature there was way outside the specs.

and as often as not the PC will need a reboot too.

Never needed to do that with mine.

(I'm being thick here, but if it's set to repeat, should I still be able
to log into it via lan using its IP?)

That varys with the design, you usually can't with the cheapest ones.

Are more expensive branded ones likely to be better?

Yep. And there are full mesh systems which are
even better again but much more expensive.

Or do I need to learn how to use it properly WRT IPs and DNS and such?

You do have a choice with its SSID You can
have it present the same SSID as what its
repeating or a different one. The big
advantage with the same SSID is that
the more intelligent devices like
the better smartphones can connect
to the strongest signal automatically.

The big advantage with a unique SSID
is that its easier to see when its stopped
and needs to be restarted, usually by
cycling the power.