WRT54G as a base station in a wireless distribution system

I'd like to have my WRT54G connected to my DSL modem and in another part of the house use a repeater capable router to connect an ethernet capable only device to my network. Will that work? Any tips on getting it done?

Hi you can check the link below. It may give you answers
http://www6.nohold.net/Cisco2/ukp.aspx?vw=1&docid=8970793be6034830941854eb8b66b5a7_4194.xml&pid=80&r...
It says there how you can set WAP as wless bridge which means connecting 1 entire wless network to another 1 whole wired connection.
This connection only works with WAP54G to WAP54G or WRT54G.

Similar Messages

Do I need a Roaming Network or a Wireless Distribution System?

Hello - as the title says, I am confused about which type of network I should create.
My specs: Macbook Pro
Windows XP Toshiba Laptop
White UFO-shaped Airport Extreme Base Station
New White Square-shaped Airport Extreme Base Station
1 USB HP Deskjet printer
1 Ministack USB hub/external hard drive
1 LaCie USB external hard drive
I am in the process of finishing my basement and will finally have an "office" to place all of my stuff. I want to be able to hook up the USB printer and USB external hard drives at the same time for wireless availability, so I bought the new AEBS. I am concerned about placing the AEBS in the basement and its impact on wireless signal strength to the upper floors of the house, so I thought I would connect the older UFO-shaped AEBS into the system to extend the wireless range.
I am confused, however, about whether to set up a "roaming network" or a "Wireless Distribution System". I am not sure of the particular benefits of either system given my situation so any help someone could provide would be greatly appreciated.
My house is fairly new, and has a data line system to each room, and I have a cable modem and router in the basement and can share the internet connection to the whole house in this manner. My UFO-shaped AEBS was hooked up to the internet connection via this method with an ethernet cable into the back of the AEBS on the main floor of the house. The USB printer was plugged into the UFO-shaped AEBS. This worked well. Again, now that the new AEBS will be in the basement, I am concerned about signal strength, and would like to use my old AEBS to help out.
I have looked at the Designing Airport Extreme 802.11n Networks pdf document and while it is very detailed about how to set up each of these networks, it does not seem to adequately (in my opinion) address why I would choose one setup over another. For example, should I continue to connect the old AEBS to the ethernet wall connection to get internet connectivity, or should the old AEBS receive its connection wirelessly?
Thanks in advance.

I am confused, however, about whether to set up a "roaming network" or a "Wireless Distribution System".
A roaming network uses Ethernet to connect the base stations. Therefore they all transmit good quality wireless data signals. Physically adjacent base stations should be configured to use channels 3 or more apart to reduce interference with each other. Everything gets full bandwidth.
A WDS network connects the base stations via wireless. Therefore the remote and relay base stations can only transmit data with the same quality as they receive it wirelessly. So if a remote station receives a lousy wireless signal from the main base, all of the clients of that remote station will get a lousy data rate. Also each WDS link cuts the available bandwidth in half.
Since your house is already wired for Ethernet, I would use the "roaming network".

Wireless Distribution System on Aironet Devices

Hi All
Is it possiblie to run an aironet 1300 device participating on a wireless distribution system ?
It's configured as autonomous AP. I have 3 other Ap's from linksys running a wds and want this cisco one to join them.

Hi,
Yes 1300 can be configured as WDS.
Here is the config example section from the 1300 ap where you can find an example of WDS configuration:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps5861/prod_configuration_examples_list.html.
HTH,
Tiago
If this helps you and/or answers your question please mark the question as "answered" and/or rate it, so other users can easily find it.

Cisco 1242AP and wireless distribution system

Cisco AIR AG1242AP-E-K9
does the Cisco 1242 access point support WDS as in 'Wireless Distribution System'? (not wireless domain service). I'm trying to configure my 1242 as a wireless bridge to connect to an O2wireless box router but without success. The O2 router help files only refer to allowing connections using the Wireless Distribution System which I fear (as a newbie) might not be the same thing as allowing a wireless bridge device to connect. I'm a bit confused about this so thanks for any pointers.

Seen a few posts on other websites - regarding Netgear, Belkin wireless devices trying to connect using the WDS, no sucess stories :o(
Here is a Wikipedia link on the subject and vendors that support it:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_Distribution_System
HTH.

Problem consistently printing via new (summer 2011) AIRPORT EXTREME BASE STATION and Brother wireless printer (model HL5370DW). What am I doing wrong?

Thanks in advance for any help you folks can offer. I'm a newb here and will try to offer as much detail as I can about the dilemma at hand.
Scenario: Home network has been recently set up for wireless internet access via NEW Airport Extreme Base Station (purchased September 2011). Units accessing the network include: 2011 Macbook Pro, 2011 Macbook Air, 2007 Macbook, 2009 Macbook Pro, 2 iPhone 3GSs, and a 1st-gen iPad (and a partridge in a pear tree AEBS is configured to run WPA2 encrypted network, as well as a WPA2 guest network. I am attempting to yoke a BROTHER HL5370DW wireless B or G/ ethernet / usb-capable printer to the main network such that any and all units can print wirelessly or its equivalent (i.e., via printer hooked to AEBS through USB hub)
Problem: Despite configuring the Brother printer to recognize the main WPA2 network I created, I am unable to get wireless printing to work. My workaround was to physically connect Brother printer to AEBS via USB, specifically using a Belkin USB hub (after all, I wanted access to usb drives, as well as the printer). This workaround works ONLY SOME OF THE TIME. Generally, after a fresh boot of any computer or after a restart of the AEBS, any given computer will be able to print (i.e., any computer wirelessly connected to the main WPA2 network recognizes the printer). HOWEVER, at random times, printer access is gone (as is access to USB drives connected to AEBS's usb hub). Wireless networks are still up and running when that happens. IS THERE A WAY TO GET THE USB HUB's devices (i.e., printer and usb drives) to ALWAYS REMAIN AVAILABLE AS LONG AS THEY STAY CONNECTED TO THE AEBS? In other words, what accounts for the intermittent loss of the usb peripherals?
Sometimes, I just shut the airport off on whatever computer is having this problem, and the problem goes away. Sometimes, the problem is present across all computers in the house, sometimes only a few are affected. I can ALWAYS see the AEBS in the Airport Utility if the AEBS is connected to the particular computer via ETHERNET CABLE.
My theories:
- true wireless printing (i.e., without usb hub workaround) doesn't work because the N network somehow isn't backwards compatible with the Brother printer, which, i believe, is B/G. Although...isn't Wireless N networking supposed to work with BG devices? I did find a thread (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2570774?start=0&tstart=0 ) that explains some of the particulars of WPA2 encryption and Wireless B/G issues, but it was beyond my level of comprehension (I'm a psychologist, but not an Apple Genius
- The usb workaround is only intermittently viable because of some flaw in the Airport or Airport Utility that causes dropouts to happen when a Macbook Pro or Air's lid gets closed or one gets opened after having been at a different network (e.g., at my office).
QUESTIONS:
- Should I try to use my old router (7 year old Linksys WRT54G) as an access point and connect the Brother printer to that G-router? How do I do that?
- I wouldn't mind just relying on the usb hub method if I could just insure more consistency (i.e., no random dropouts of peripherals). How could I do this?
Rule out:
- wireless printing works on my printer - it was being recognized back before the AEBS. I had the Linksys router running a WEP network and had the wireless printer talking with no cables to the router and the computers. (I just don't want to revert to using WEP encryption given its lack of security and my trying to protect HiPAA related health information on behalf of patients)
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance!

13 ASCII characters = 104 (aka 128)-bit WEP
encryption
If turning off WEP works, then you just need to
provide the cameras with the "Equivalent Network Password".
One of the problems with WEP is that the actual
standard relies on a 10 character HEX key for 40bit
WEP and a 26 character HEX key for 128bit WEP.
In order to make things easier, vendors use certain
algorithms to convert simple alphanumeric passwords
(or passphrases) into HEX keys, thus enabling the use
of simple easy to remember WEP password rather than
lengthy HEX keys. The problem is that different
vendors use different algorithms to generate the HEX
key and therefore a ASCII password on an AEBS will be
hashed differently on a non-Apple client and vice
versa.
You may find the following article helpful:
- Apple article, especially the part about
"Third-party client to Airport".
Brilliant idea about trying the system with No encryption on... that DID solve the problem... almost.. once I turned off the encryption option, and restarted the Airport, I got a dialog box showing that the "Base station needs attention" but it didn't indicate WHAT kind of "assistance" it needed. Nonetheless, I closed out of the Airport program only to find that the indicator light, which had been Green, was now, flashing Yellow and I could not connect anything, including my computer. I opened the Airport program again and found the ONLY way I could get the Green light on was to select some sort of encryption option... then the light would go Green again but my cameras would not hook up again, and when I went back in and ONLY changed the option to NO encryption, I got the yellow flashing light and the "this base unit needs attention" warning...
I think your suggestions are almost on the mark... is there any way of reconciling the WEP coding between the cameras and the Airport??? Or turning off the encryption option and STILL have Airport work?
Thanks again for your help and suggestions... I really appreciate it.
geoff

Using Airport Extreme Base Station As A Wireless Card?

Hi,
I don't know if this is even possible but here's what I'd like to do:
I've started to share an internet connection with a cousin of mine that lives in my apartment building. The connection is in her apartment and as far as I can tell the wireless signal is coming from the modem she has, there is no stand alone router/ base station. So far I've just been connecting using my iBook with the aiport card in it. No problems. I just had to get the ip number and password from her and I was hooked right up.
Here's my real question:
I also have a G4 Mini with no wireless card in it at all and an Airport Extreme base station from before we started sharing a connection. In the time that we've been sharing I haven't connected to the internet at all using the Mini. Now I'm wondering if there is a way I can hook the Airport Extreme to the Mini and somehow use it as a replacement for a wireless card in the Mini. Thus using the Mini connected to the Airport to connect just the Mini to the internet.
I'm not worried about the iBook and do not wish to reconfigure the way I'm using/ connecting with it. Everything is peachy with that.
If this is possible, how can I do it?
Thank you in advance for any help with this.

Ernest Lohrer wrote:
Hi,
I don't know if this is even possible but here's what I'd like to do:
I've started to share an internet connection with a cousin of mine that lives in my apartment building. The connection is in her apartment and as far as I can tell the wireless signal is coming from the modem she has, there is no stand alone router/ base station.
She has an "integrated" modem/router/access point.
So far I've just been connecting using my iBook with the aiport card in it. No problems. I just had to get the ip number and password from her and I was hooked right up.
Here's my real question:
I also have a G4 Mini with no wireless card in it at all and an Airport Extreme base station from before we started sharing a connection. In the time that we've been sharing I haven't connected to the internet at all using the Mini. Now I'm wondering if there is a way I can hook the Airport Extreme to the Mini and somehow use it as a replacement for a wireless card in the Mini. Thus using the Mini connected to the Airport to connect just the Mini to the internet.
I'm not worried about the iBook and do not wish to reconfigure the way I'm using/ connecting with it. Everything is peachy with that.
If this is possible, how can I do it?
Set up the AEBSn as a "bridge" and connect the G4 Mini to one of the "wired" internet connections.

Airport Extreme Base Station as an wireless Extender to new Airport time capsule

After many months of time machine back up problems. (verify back up failing) I am considering biting the bullet and getting a new 2TB Airport extreme time capsule. Can I use the old (late 2013 801.11ac) airport extreme to extend wifi network?
A few other questions.
1.Does extending reduce wifi performance?
2. If using extreme as extender can I still plug in hard drive or hard drive to it?
3.
currently using imac 21.5 (late 2013) 1TB backing up to 6TB WD mybook live duo (connected to Extreme using ethernet), via airport extreme base station (ac wireless band to mac)
Any guidance appreciated.

Is it possible to quantify how much faster USB back up is compared to 802.11ac between mac and AirPort time capsule?
600GB should take 10 hours by ethernet. And it will be somewhat faster by USB3.. exactly how fast is difficult to predict as the first TM backup itself is slow due to many small files. In terms of raw speed maybe twice but it will depend on the disk used. USB you can use an SSD and get super huge speed. (not that I think you will be buying a 1TB SSD anytime soon).
In terms of raw speed it is cheese and chalk. The max speed of real world file transfer on AC wireless is around 430Mbps and that is using ideal world.
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/lanwan/router-charts/bar/113-5-ghz-dn-c?see=MAX
This has nothing to do with link speed.. this is how fast a file actually transfers. And that is assuming the iMac and the TC are in the same room. And everything is perfect with nothing else using connection.
The real world speed of USB3 is around 100MB/s to a spinning hard disk..
http://www.macworld.com/article/2039427/how-fast-is-usb-3-0-really-.html
which may indicate the limit is the actual disk speed. In bits per second you x 8.. so the USB3 is 800Mbps. The advantage of USB direct connection is that speed is available at all time. Not when your close or the load on wireless is low.
Further to your comments when extending. Is it only the area covered by extending that has reduced performance or all the wifi signal?
The speed will depend on hops..
So if the computer is using resources on a local router.. and only one wireless hop then it is fast.
If it is using resources via a second router so wireless goes.. computer--- router2----router1-- resource.
Your speed drops 50% at best.. at worst it is really bad.
For example.. computer 1 on router 1 accesses computer 2 hard disk on router2 with everything wireless.
Count the hops. C1-R1, R1-R2, R2-C2
That gives 3 hops. So each packet is transmitted.. along that chain.. each transmission can only begin after it is received in full. Now add some other computers using resources.. say C3 is using internet via R1.. that has to be time sliced. So you get 50% of 50% of 50% of 50%. It is obvious that wireless networks have a huge handicap.. they cannot transmit and receive at the same time.. nor can they talk to more than one client at a time.. so add time slicing to wireless hopping.
Now ethernet is entirely different. It can transmit and receive at the same time.. ie is duplex. And in a switch it can talk to several computers at the same time. That is why we say.. as much as you can ethernet.. and use wireless as the last single hop to a client that needs it.. ie iphone or ipad.. or laptop if you cannot plug in ethernet.
Can the ac wifi format be extended using AirPort Extreme and time capsule.
Over very short range yes. AC wireless is only on 5ghz and is poor penetration of solids.. so this will work but maybe only to the next room.

Connect to Internet Without Airport Base Station or Other Wireless Router

I have an iMac G5 w/Airport Extreme card, an eMac w/Airport card (not Extreme), and an iBook w/Airport card (not extreme). The iMac is connected to the internet via DSL (direct Ethernet connection - no router). I can succesfully network all three computers for file sharing but can not connect to the internet over the network using the eMac or the iBook. Is it even possible to use the iMac as a wireless base station for the other two computers or do I have to buy a wireless router or Airport Base Station?
Thanks.
iMac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.5) eMac 10.3.9, iBook 10.3.9

no1bass, Welcome to the discussion area!
The best solution is to get an inexpensive wireless base station.
However, you can use the iMac to share the Internet connection. Go to the iMac's Sharing preference pane and enable Internet Sharing. If you have the iMac's firewall enabled, you will need to also enable Web Sharing or otherwise configure the firewall to open the correct ports.

Airport Extreme Base Station and xBox wireless

We have 2 macs with Airport Extreme Base Station connecting to Cable modem for internet connection.
Recently bought an xBox with a USB wireless adaptor. When xBox is connected to the wireless network, internet connection of other computers dropped out and no longer can use internet until xBox is disconnected from the wireless network. It is the same problem even other computers are connected to Base Station with Ethernet cable.
Any settings in Airport Utility might fix this problem ?

We didn't have any problem before using the xBox wireless.
There are 2 Macs (iMac 20" & Macbook Pro 15") and they're connected to the Base Station via wireless.
The cable modem is Motorola Surfboard SB5100i and there is no login required from ISP for internet connection. Yes, the modem is connected to the WAN port of the Base Station.
With the Clients computer network settings, we are using DHCP. We have also tried with static IP and didn't make any differences.
I thought it could be the compatibility issue between the xBox wireless adaptor and the Base Station and on the other hand, the wireless protocols (802.11N/g/b) are industry standard and it doesn't matter who made them, they should work together.
The only idea that I have now is to try with other brand of wireless router and it might be a quick solution for this problem.
thanks,
David

HT4262 Can I extend a wired remote base station network via wireless WDS Remote to a Wireless WDS main base station?

I have a wired nework in a remote closet (3 PC's to a 100/1000 Linksys switch). I have an Apple Extreme network connected to the Internet in another remote closet allowing wireless PC's and wired PC's access to the internet and printers. I do not have the ability to connect the two networks together via wired although they are 50' apart.
My objective is to configure two Airport Extreme devices so the remote wired PCs can connect via the remote/relay Airport Extremen to the main Airport base station for DHCP, internet and intranet.
One Aiport Extreme base station is Model # A1034 and the other is Model A1408.

Can I extend......?
Yes, this is possible. But sometimes, the fact that something can be done does not necessarily mean that it should be done. In a case like this....Upsides are far outweighed by Downsides.
Upsides
You will have more wireless coverage (but 50 feet is a long way if there are multiple walls or ceilings in the signal path...I am not optimistic about this)
The Ethernet ports will be enabled on the remote Extreme.
Downsides
The required WDS configuration will drop the performance of your newer "n" Extreme down to wireless "g" levels.
In addition, the bandwidth on the entire network will drop by 50%. In effect, you will have a "g" wireless network running at half speed
WDS is difficult for most users to configure. It is very easy to make a mistake and literally impossible to recover without starting all over again with the configuration attempt
It might work. But things are going to be extremely slow. Might be OK for general Internet browsing or light email. Any file transfers or copies from one device to another are going to take a very long time.
You also might want to review the WDS setup required to get an idea of what is involved here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4262
As you know, a far better way to do this would be to connect the two AirPort Extremes using an Ethernet connection. If you cannot run the Ethernet cable, you might want to consider a pair of Ethernet Powerline Adapters.
These devices send an Ethernet signal over the existing AC powerlines in your home. So, you already have the wiring in place....you just need the adapters. I've used these devices for runs up to 70-80 feet or so with good results. But, you need to understand that there are number of factors that can affect performance here.
So, if you want to try the powerline adapters, I would strongly recommend that you understand the store's return policy in advance. The bottom line is always this.....you won't know how they will work until you install them in your home.
Apple's instructions for a setup using Ethernet are here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4260

I have an airport extreme attached to cable, then one airport express to extend the range. when i try to add an additional airport express to extend range in another area of house, can't get it to work. unility says it has found a new base station

i have an airport extreme attached to cable, then one airport express to extend the range. when i try to add an additional airport express to extend range in another area of house, can't get it to work. utility says it has found a new base station and asks if i want to use it. if i click yes, then the old setup is disabled.

Ok, thanks for clarifying which models you have. Please see the following Apple Support article on how to configure these older base stations for a Wireless Distribution System (WDS).

Anybody use an Apple AirPort Express Base Station (windows)

http://store.apple.com/uk/product/MB...mco=MTIxODk3Mw
Im thinking about getting one of these and just wanting people opinions on it working with windows.
Just im a little confused, can i use it as a wireless router insted of my net gear, or will i still have to use my net gear router. My internet comes from the telephone wire if that helps?
Many thanks James

Hello jshrubb. Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
Since you didn't include the model of your Netgear router, it will be a little hard to determine if the AirPort Express Base Station (AX) could replace all of its functions.
So, here's what the AirPort Express is, and is not to help you decide:
o The AX is an Internet wireless router.
o The AX does not have a built-in modem: DSL, ADSL, Satellite or cable ... so one of these will still be required.
o The AX does not have a built-in Ethernet switch. It does have an Ethernet port, but that ports primary function is to be connected to the modem. However, it could be used to connect a wired client, but only if the AX is reconfigured as either a remote or relay base station in a Wireless Distribution System (WDS). The bottom-line here is that if you need to support wired clients, the AX would not be the appropriate choice for your network.
o The AX does support iTunes audio streaming so that when connected to either a pair of powered speakers or an audio system, you can stream iTunes to speakers wirelessly.

Extend an existing non-Apple wireless network using an Extreme base station

I have an existing wireless network via a Belkin modem/router. I would like to add my Airport Extreme base station to this existing wireless network, however this appears difficult. Can anyone help me please?

Hello IanWhite. Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
I have an existing wireless network via a Belkin modem/router. I would like to add my Airport Extreme base station to this existing wireless network, however this appears difficult.
Unfortunately, most non-AirPort routers are not compatible with Apple's implementation of Wireless Distribution System (WDS)...so it very unlikely that your Belkin router can be extended wirelessly with the AirPort Express Base Station (AX).
The few that are known to work are:
o Linksys WRT54G or WRT54GS (not v5)
o Belkin F5D7230-4 and F5D7231
o BT Voyager 2091
o Netgear WGR614 v6
o Buffalo WGR-G54
Is your Belkin one of the models in the above list?

Confused: Wireless router V's base station

I have a g5 imac.
I want to make my broadband connection wireless.
I would also like to share my broadbad connection with another mac (which already has an airport extreme card)
My understanding is that I will need to
1. buy an airport extreme card for my mac (it doesnt have one)
2. Buy either a wireless router or a base station. (my current broadband connection is USB and my ISP does not supply ethernet modems)
Firstly.. is this correct?
secondly, which is better?
Im just so confused.

Apple's Airport Base Station is a wireless router. They're a little pricey, but have a lot of features and are supposedly easy to set up.
Some features it has that cheaper ones may not:
Supports 50 connections
USB port (for sharing a printer)
Built-in 56k modem
External antenna connector
Wireless bridging
If you don't need any of those things, then you're probably better off getting a wireless router of another brand.
The Base Station connects via ethernet, so if you need USB, then you'd need another brand, or some kind of adapter. I'd look into getting your internet connection over ethernet though.

My Airport Base Station does not appear in the Airport Admin Utility

I cannot see my airport extreme base station in the Airport Admin Utility nor in Airport Setup Assistant via Airport. It worked yesterday but when I was trying to set up a network something must have changed but I don't know what it is. (The setup didn't work so I am only using one base station right now.) The only way I can configure/reconfigure the base station is by physically connecting via an ethernet cable. Then no problem. I have two computers and neither can access the base station with Airport Admin Utility via Airport. I have installed the latest Airport Update but nothing has changed. What happened?

You should be able to use the second Airport Extreme
Base Station as a wireless print server. What I
suggest you do is:
1. run the Airport Admin Utility and clean up
settings on your existing Base Station:
- under the Airport tab, make sure you have not
selected to "create a closed network"
- under the Access Control tab, clear out all
settings
- under the WDS tab, clear out all settings
- under the Network tab, make sure the box is checked
to "Distribute IP addresses" and "Share a single IP
address using DHCP and NAT".
- update settings to the Base Station if you changed
anything.
2. do a hard reset of your second base station per:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107451
3. for now, put both base stations and the Mac in the
same room. Run the Airport Setup Assistant, and use
its guidance to configure the second base station as
a new base station that "extends" the wireless
network of your main base station.
That should do it.
Thanks very much. The printer works great from both computers via my second airport base station. And I can see both my base stations in the Airport Admin Utility.

WRT54G as a base station in a wireless distribution system

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