I'm mad as hell.

I've been using Asus RP-N12 Repeater as "media bridge" for long time.  Essentially, devices with only network port connects to the repeater (directly or via switch), and the repeater connects to your wireless router.  Just like one network switch connecting to another network switch.

It has 3 modes: repeater, media bridge, access point (AP) modes.  Anyways, I just found out that 

        (default) "repeater" mode = "media bridge" mode + "ap" mode.

In "media bridge" mode, "AP" mode is turned off.  In "AP" mode, "media bridge" mode is turned off.  In "repeater" mode, "media bridge" and "ap" modes are turned on.

So, why am I mad?

There were so many occasions when I had to walk up the stairs to get good signal, when I could've just operated it in the default "repeater" mode, and get "media bridge" for my devices and get "ap" mode for those crappy wifi devices.

My advice:  Just use it in the default "repeater" mode.