TC as WDS remote to non-Apple (Belkin modem-router) main?

Question

I have a Belkin ADSL modem with built-in G wireless currently serving an MBP/10.5.3. I've just purchased a 512GB Time Capsule and have managed to set it up for wireless backup with some swearing.
I would now like to use the TC as a WDS remote to the Belkin main as I've a second wired Mac I'd like to connect to the TC for internet access, but so far have been unable to get this arrangement to work.
I've enabled Wireless Bridge/WDS in the Belkin and added TC's MAC address to its list of permitted clients. I've then added the Belkin's connection details to TC's AirPort>WDS>Wireless pane and entered the Belkin's MAC address into TC's AirPort>WDS>WDS Main field. Checked the settings and it all looks like it should work, but when the TC restarts it complains that it can't find the WDS or internet connection.
Apple docs are unclear on whether or not a TC is capable of connecting to a non-Apple network in WDS mode. (Though if not, why not?) Has anyone managed a similar arrangement, and if so, how? Alternatively, does anyone know if such an arrangement definitely won't work, in which case I won't waste any more time on it?
Thanks

Answer 1

I'd been having a similar problem. I was trying to extend a network using my time capsule; the original network is run off a 'BT HomeHub' router provided by the UK ISP British Telecom (I'm not sure what the actual model is, I think some kind of Thompson Speedtouch). I knew the BT router was capable of supporting WDS and dchao99 was absolutely correct (thanks for the really useful post) in that when I turned all encryption off the devices could talk. From what I've seen, this is the case for most non-apple routers that support WDS.
After looking around on other message boards, the encryption problem seems to be whether the routers allow you input passwords using ascii or hex. The TC will only let you put in a WEP password using 128-bit ascii (thirteen characters). Unfortunately it doesn't tell you that explicitly. The problem I'd been having when setting up WDS was that my non-apple router was asking for the password in hex; a 128-bit WEP password is 13 ascii characters but 26 characters hen translated into hex. So what I'd been doing was deciding on a 13 character pass key for the TC, and putting the same pass key into my non-apple router; the reason the routers couldn't talk is because the two passwords were different when the latter is read as a hex. Once I'd twigged this I just translated the 13 character ascii key into a 26-character hex string using a translator on the net, stuck that in my non-apple router, and now WDS works like a dream.
The WEP coding problem seems to be a really common reason why people can't get WDS to work with TC, and so if you're having trouble I'd suggest the following:
1) turn all protection off on all your routers and try WDS to see if they are in fact compatible.
2) if they work without protection, set your TC to WEP protection and make up a 13 character ascii password
3) translate this ascii string into a 26 character hex string using a translator and write it down (you can find one at http://centricle.com/tools/ascii-hex ; just remove the '%' symbols from the translated string)
3) in your non-apple router make sure you select 128-bit WEP encryption, figure out whether it wants a 13 letter ascii code or a 26 letter hex code, and use the appropriate one. If you can't tell which it wants you'll have to try both.