Bridging Two Wireless AP-Routers together. (I cant seem to figure it out)

[joe4324]

Ok, here is the situation.

In my house I have a Linksys BEFW11S4 Wireless 4 port cable/dsl router installed. Conected to a Netgear hub with a few computers using it as a DHCP server and using it to access the net on my cable modem. There is one wireless computer on this network working properly. Ok this is a fairly typical setup.


Now, I want to hook up a Belkin F5D6050 Wireless 3 port cable/dsl router with another computer connected to it via ethernet. This ap-router will NOT have internet and will only be used as a 3 port router and a means to talk to the other AP-router (for the net and lan connection).

For setup purposes I have the two ap-routers within a few feet of each other so I know connection isnt an issue. The new belkin seems to be working properly. But I cannot get them to bridge the two networks together.

Here is the stats copy/pasted for each AP,

Linksys
Host Name: lara
Firmware Version: 1.42.7, Apr 03 2002

Login:
Disable

LAN:
(MAC Address: 00-06-25-7B-AF-43)
IP Address: 192.168.1.1
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
DHCP server: Enabled


WAN:
(MAC Address: 00-D0-09-DE-34-12)
IP Address: 12.215.151.232
Subnet Mask: 255.255.254.0
Default Gateway: 12.215.150.1
DNS: 204.127.202.4
216.148.227.68
0.0.0.0
DHCP Remaining Time: 3 days 23:18:41

****************************************************

Belkin Wireless Router

INTERNET
Cable/DSL : DISCONNECTED

GATEWAY

IP Address: 192.168.2.1
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
DHCP Server: Enabled
NAT: Disabled
Firewall: Enabled
Wireless Channel: 6
Wireless SSID: linksys
INFORMATION

Connected Clients: 1
Runtime Code Version: V1.10.008
Boot Code Version: V1.00
LAN MAC Address:
00-30-BD-49-7E-26
WAN MAC Address:
00-30-BD-49-7E-27
Hardware Version: 01
Serial Num: A214008978



Neither ap has had the firmware updated. (if there is updates)


I'm kind of at a loss. I figured with the same channels it would just work, WEP is disabled btw.

Any questions idea's? thanks in advance.

 

[JackMDS]

I can not follow clearly your concoction.

However, the Access Point (AP) that are part of a Wireless Cable/DSL Routers can not talk one to the other. None of the Wireless Cable/DSL Routers can be configured as a bridge or as Client. Most independent APs can work in these modes, but not the one that are part of a Router.

If you want to connected the Routers via CAT5 cable. You have to connected a regular port on the Linksys with a crossover cable to a regular port on the Belkin, and disable the DHCP on one of the Routers.

When using Entry Level Routers you can use only one WAN port per Network.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

1,The two AP's are not on the same subnet. 192.168.2.1 is what your belkin is you should change it to 192.168.1.2, your subnet mask is correct but don't forget the rules of class b and c networks.
2.Also you have too many dhcp servers, disable one of them, your hosts will be a lot less confused.
3.And make sure you are using the same wireless channel if you are creating a wireless bridge, as they won't communicate with each other if they are on differenct spread frequencys.
4.Any machines you don't want on the Internet will have to be dissabled on either your wan router(if it has the capability) for a specific ip/mac address or on the pc itself.

 

[joe4324]

@JackMDS I'm looking to bridge the two routers. wirelessly. I cant run cable over a public road and I want to use these ap routers to reach to each other across the street. Basically create a remote wired network that can talk to my wired network (with the linksys) using the belkin ap-router. does that make sense?

I hope your wrong about these two routers not being able to talk to each other wirelessly, that would screw the whole thing.



@lobadobadingdong the subnets need to be the same even if I am trying to bridge the rotuers with wireless?


feel free to point me to any links that help to educate me on the subject

 

[rw120555]

I strongly suspect Jack is right -- I don't think you can do what you want with this equipment. But, go ahead and get the latest firmware. If the Belkin then has an option to configure it in client mode, you might be able to make it fly. Or, if both wireless routers could be configured to work in point to point bridge mode, that could do it too.

You'd have a much better chance of success if (a) instead of the Belkin, you had a Linksys Wet11, or (b) you had two Linksys Wap11s. One could be configured as AP and the other as client; or, they could both be configured in point to point bridge mode.

 

[joe4324]

Ok, does that WET11 just plug into the wall and you connect to it with a CAT5 cable? is that how that works? If so thats just the thing I've been looking for! I bought the belkin AP router because I didnt think a Accesspoint would act like a remote adapter.

I dont NEED the router functions of the belkin I just need to get a computer in the same location as the belkin onto my existing wireless network. And I cant use a standard PCI adapter because were the PC is located it cannot get a connection to my AP. So I need something that can be about 50Ft from the pc. (this is were the belkin was going to come into play. I was just going to stick it in a window and run cat5 to it.)

does what I'm trying to do make sense?

 

[rw120555]

I think the Wet11 is what you want. Put the Wet11 in an optimal location, get a long cable, and connect the wet11 to a switch. Then, connect any other pcs or ethernet devices to the same switch. If you want to connect the wet11 directly to your pc, I think you'll probably need a crossover cable instead. Even if you only have one PC, I'd still get a switch in case you expand or want to temporarily connect a laptop or want to add a print server or xbox or whatever. This diagram illustrates it.

 

[joe4324]

I dont understand the different betweent he WET11 and the normal Access point. the WET11 is $100 online... the same price as an acess point. Why not get an AP?

 

[rw120555]

Jackmds has a nice detailed explanation on this, but for now I'll give the quick version. If you buy an AP, depending on its feature set, it may be configurable in various ways, such as:

1) Regular Access Point (the defualt)
2) Client Mode. It will function similar to, say, a USB wireless client card, but it has an ethernet connection, and can be connected to a switch. The Wet11 works in Client Mode
3) Point to Point Bridge -- Each WAP is usually connected to a switch, hence the Waps connect 2 ethernet networks. It is like using wireless instead of cable to connect the 2 networks. BUT, a laptop with a client card would not work wirelessly in this setup
4) Point to Multi-point -- there are 3 or more waps, which connect 3 or more ethernet networks.

Note that in AP mode, one AP can't communicate with another -- an AP (Mode 1) communicates with clients (Mode 2). That is what has been killing you, you've been trying to get two APs to tlak to each other and it doesn't work that way.

Now, to answer your question: A Wet11 will supposedly work in conjunction with any brand of AP, e.g. Linksys, DLink, etc. However, WAPs which are configured in anything other than the default AP mode may have trouble communicating with other brands.

Given that your router is a Linksys, you may be fine with a Linksys WAP11 configured in client mode. The WAP11 would also give you more flexibility if you ever wanted to put it to a different use someday. But, I think the WET11 is more likely to work OK for the specific purpose you have in mind. So me, I'd get the Wet11, even if the Wap11 is a few bucks cheaper.

 

[rw120555]

Also, there is a 5th mode, repeater mode, that is available on some new DLINK APs. They basically let you extend the range of your wireless network, at some cost in speed. e.g. have WAP1, 100 feet away is WAP2 in repeater mode, 100 feet away from that is PC with wireless client card that is too far away to receive from WAP1 but can receive from WAP2. I don't think that is what you want though, it sounds like you wanted a wired connection for your pc, i.e. it has an ethernet nic but not a wireless clinet card.

Also not sure how much you can mix and match brands with these repeaters -- although there was a post the other day where they said they got a dlink repeater to work ok with another brand, after some fiddling.

 

[joe4324]

Ok, thanks a TON for your information. There is no easier more through way for me to learn this stuff. I've spent countless hours doing research befor I bought anything. But as you can tell it doesnt really help much untill specific questions are answered... I will screw with the belkin for a few minutes and if I still get nothign I will take it back and pick up a WAP11 at radioshack. then try it again

 

[rw120555]

As long as you don't mind returning stuff, it may not be a bad idea to try Linksys Wap11 next and then go to the Wet11. Wap11 has more features (so long as they work!) Wet11 is more limited but may be more likely to work. You might even grab both a wet11 and a wap11 and return whichever one you don't want.