cheapest way to bridge a wireless connection?

[imported_yeahyeah]

I have two Linksys wireless B routers - one is a BEFW11S4 v.4 wireless-B router and the other one is a BEFW11S4 v. 3. I'd like to bridge these two routers but I've been told that it won't work. I also have a BEFSR41 (non wireless) router that could be used to get the job done.

What's the cheapest way to bridge my wireless connection given the existing hardware? Thanks!

 

[JackMDS]

Bridging is a Mode that has to be part of the Hardware design.

There is No way to bridge wirelessly with the above posted hardware since none of them have Bridging Mode.

Link to: Wireless Network - Configuration Modes. )

If you would describe functionally what you need to do might be that we can help in combining these Hardware with inexpensive additional hardware that you might need to buy.

:sun:

 

[imported_yeahyeah]

I read through that link - saw it previously in another thread. Thanks.

Here's what I want to do: I have a series 1 Tivo in the basement, modded with an Ethernet card. It's too far from the wireless router to run a cable, so I was trying to figure out the best way to get it on the network. I have a spare computer that I was going to put in the basement for recording stuff from the Tivo, maybe even use it to feed audio/video to the receiver. I thought that I might be able to stick a wireless card in the computer and then turn on ICS and hook the Tivo up to it. A wireless bridge would be easier - I could just hook it up to the wired router in the basement and hook the computer and the Tivo up to it.

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[JackMDS]

To Bridge you need at list one client. A client Card for a TIVO is more expensive (over $60) than a computer Client Card.

It you set a computer near the TIVO (pending on distance and obstructions) you might find a USB Wireless Client for less than $20. Using the Wireless USB and a Wired NIC in the TIVO WinXP Pro can Bridge, WIN98 and XP Home ICS.

:sun:

 

[imported_yeahyeah]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
To Bridge you need at list one client. A client Card for a TIVO is more expensive (over $60) than a computer Client Card.

The Tivo already has an Ethernet card. I thought the easiest way to do it would be to get a bridge and plug it into the wired router. What's the cheapest wireless bridge out there?

A wireless USB card is probably the cheapest way to go, but if I could find a cheap one, I wouldn't mind getting a bridge.

 

[mjia]

There are some cheap wireless routers that are capable of operating as bridges. They go on sale pretty frequently and sell for practically nothing. Here is the one I am using: http://www.gigafast.com/products/product_detail/WF719-CAPR.htm

Costed $3 after rebate. Works fine as a bridge (terrible as a router though).

 

[imported_yeahyeah]

Originally posted by: mjia
There are some cheap wireless routers that are capable of operating as bridges. They go on sale pretty frequently and sell for practically nothing. Here is the one I am using: http://www.gigafast.com/products/product_detail/WF719-CAPR.htm

Costed $3 after rebate. Works fine as a bridge (terrible as a router though).

Where did you find it? I've never seen it before. Thanks!

 

[mjia]

I'm in Canada, but i would think similar deals exist elsewhere as well. The gigafast (and other identically rebranded ones) has gone on sale at Best Buy and Futureshop (same parent company as Best Buy) every few weeks for less than $10.

 

[DainBrammage]

You need an el cheapo bridge ie. Linksys WET 11 or the like do a search on the FS/FT forum fro a member named grunt03 He has lots of this kind of stuff. Hell, i might even haveone I'd sell you for 35.oo shipped paypal.

 

[DidlySquat]

the wrt54g router can do that with the use of special firmware

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=36&threadid=1513386&enterthread=y

contrary to what's been said above, the only real hardware requirement to build a wireless ethernet bridge is to be able to transmit and recieve wireless and have ethernet ports, which most router do. But their firmware does not allow bridging mode. Like you said, you can achieve that with a PC which has a wifi card, and just tell windows to bridge it with the ethernet port and your PC will then serve as a wireless bridge for the ethernet port (and the tivo attached to it). But this would require you to keep the PC on all the time, or at least anytime you want to use the tivo.

So using a special firmware with the wrt54g which makes it operate like a bridge is a good choice. Another alternative is to use WDS mode but for that you will need two WDS capable wifi routers.