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Have a great router, need a great bridge

R

Rio Rebel

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
I need a bridge (or a router in bridge mode). I would prefer not to spend another $130+ , but I'm streaming HD and can't go cheap.

I am using a Netgear 3700 (version 2). Would there be any significant difference between a wndr3700 and a 3400 as the bridge? Or if I went Linksys/Cisco, would I see a difference between the E2000 and E3000?

Right now, I am using a TrendNet 433gr acting in WDS bridge mode, and my throughput isn't cutting it at all (around 15 mbps).
 
Rio, I have the E2000 I use for my main router and Linksys WRT160N I flashed with dd-wrt's frimware and use it as a repeater/bridge (wireless) and the signal I get is always strong. The conversion at first was tricky if you've never done it before. Also dd-wrt has firmware exclusive to both the E2000 and 3000. You can even get the WRT 160N, already flashed with the dd-wrt firmware on ebay for about $50.00.
 
WDS cuts the bandwidth into half past the WDS device.

You are better Off using two inexpensive Routers flashed with DD-WRT. One working as a Wireless bridge, and the other connecting with a cable to the Bridge working as an Access Point.

You can do so with a pair of these, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...Tpk=wrt%20400n


P.S. Many of the more expensive End-Users Routers cost more Not because they are better Wireless, but because they have Giga ports. You do not need Giga ports for this purpose.



😎
 
Thanks, Jack.

Actually, I don't need my bridge to act as an AP at all. In fact, I have tried to turn off that function on my TrendNET, but I don't have that option. (From reading on dd-wrt on the net, I can see that dd-wrt allows you to turn off the AP function in WDS mode, which I assume strengthens your bridge function.)

I will be keeping the 3700 as my main router. I can keep my TrendNET that is currently acting as a bridge, and I could turn off the wireless, letting it simply be a wired router. Then all I need is the strongest possible wireless connection to the main router (Netgear 3700). If there is some device to plug into the TrendNET to give me that wireless connection, that would be ideal. Or it may be best to just replace the TrendNET with a router capable of outstanding bridge function.

When it comes to N signals, what is the strongest connection I can make here? Is it worth it to look for a high powered router to send signals back to the 3700? Or is there really no appreciable difference? What confuses me is the fact that most of the testing I've seen is run with a standard N client. Would a strong router be getting an even better throughput than an N adapter?

Thanks
 
Jack, I ended up buying the WRT400N, and it seems to be the answer. I had to flash it to DD-WRT, and it is giving me about 20-21 sustained mbps in bridge mode.

I still can't read blu-ray iso's, but if I convert them to folders, it plays like a champ with no stuttering.
 
Rio Rebel

thums-upB.gif
 
Well, so much for the "no stuttering". For some reason, I've started getting wide variations on throughput.

Still like this router, and love dd-wrt, but it's taking all my free time playing with it. I may just go back to the tried and true method of attaching an external hard drive to my media player for the blu-rays, and only stream the dvd movies.
 
Rio Rebel said:
Well, so much for the "no stuttering". For some reason, I've started getting wide variations on throughput.

Still like this router, and love dd-wrt, but it's taking all my free time playing with it. I may just go back to the tried and true method of attaching an external hard drive to my media player for the blu-rays, and only stream the dvd movies.
Click to expand...

The nature of the beast. The price to pay for wirefree ethernet. wide variations in throughput can be anything from a neighbor, to interference, to environment, solar flares, relative humidity, plant growth, etc. Microwave RF (upon which 802.11(anything) is based) is usually a line of sight prospect. It does work through walls, but not that great.

Reorient antennas, eliminate barriers, try reducing power or increasing power, try an antenna with more gain (taking into account the effective radiated power limits set forth by your country for the band you are using).
 
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