A hybrid wireless client apparatus including: a hybrid client controller, at least one antenna, and a plurality of shared and discrete components coupled to one another to form at least one transmit and receive chain each coupled to the at least one antenna for orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) wireless communications with a wireless access point (WAP). The hybrid client controller is coupled to the plurality of shared and discrete components and configured to determine an eligibility of at least one neighboring wireless client node on a wireless local area network (WLAN) as a relay target, and responsive to an affirmative eligibility determination to initiate on the hybrid wireless client apparatus both local communications with the WAP together with a relay of distinct communications between the WAP and the at least one neighboring wireless client node as the relay target.