wireless AP SSID to extend the wireless coverage area, a bridge is used to extend the wired network ... Wireless Distribution System (WDS)
Here are instructions to configure a repeater. The steps are similar for a bridge, the only difference would be to click on the Ethernet Bridge/Wireless Client radio button instead of the Repeater button. This will disable the AP function on the Bridge only the wired LAN ports could be used. A repeater will repeat the wireless AP SSID to extend the wireless coverage area, a bridge is used to extend the wired network using the devices as a wireless client.
Wireless Distribution System (WDS) WDS is used to expand the coverage area of a wireless network using multiple Access Points. Each AP that is added as a repeater to the WDS decreases the overall bandwidth since packets may be repeated from AP to AP using a single wireless channel. WDS can be used with WEP and a key. It is currently not supported with WPA or WPA2. To configure WDS – Repeater mode one AP is selected to be the Root AP. Record the Root AP’s Local IP address, Wireless MAC Address and the SSID name (see the Status web page). Only the first SSID should be repeated if the Root AP is configured with multiple SSIDs. No configuration changes are necessary on the Root AP. Figure 3: Applications Web Page
On the repeating AP enable WDS on the Applications web page (see Figure 3: Applications Web Page) by performing the following steps:
1.
Click the WDS Enable radio button. This will automatically disable DHCP server.
2.
Enter the Root AP’s MAC address in the MAC Address of Root Access Point field.
3.
Enter the SSID in the Root Access Point SSID field. This must match exactly including spaces (the default SSID bwifi – 0 includes two spaces one before and one after the dash.)
4.
Enter a unique Local IP Address for the Repeating AP.
5.
Enter the Root AP’s IP Address in the Root AP’s Local IP Address field.
6.
Click the Submit button found at the bottom of the web page.
7.
If the SSID has been configured with a key for WEP then proceed to the Wireless page on the Repeating AP and enter the key as it appears on the Root AP (see Figure 4: Wireless Page Per-SSID Settings). If you have configured multiple SSIDs on the Root AP only SSID 1 can be repeated. So you must configure the SSID that you want to repeat as the first SSID on the Root AP. The repeating AP can only operate as a repeater for one AP and should only enable one SSID.
8.
Click the Submit button found at the bottom of the wireless web page if you updated the key in step 7.
9.
Click Reboot button at top of page.
Note that at this point your Local IP address may have changed (step 4) for the Repeating router so you will have to type it into the web browser to check the status when the router reboots. The repeating AP upon reboot must successfully associate with the Root AP before it can completely boot. If the repeating AP does not connect it will continuously reboot and try again. If it is unsuccessful you must hold the reset button in for 10s (until the status light goes out) to revert to factory default values to try to re-configure WDS.
