Bridges?

I am confused as to exactly what a wireless bridge will do / is used
for. Is it simply a transceiver used on a client machine in a
client/server setup? Would you ever hook one up to a router (like an
AP)? TIA for any help on this....

"Kristy" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news(E-Mail Removed)...
> I am confused as to exactly what a wireless bridge will do / is used
> for. Is it simply a transceiver used on a client machine in a
> client/server setup? Would you ever hook one up to a router (like an
> AP)? TIA for any help on this....

Think of a (radio) Bridge as a point-to-point connection. Not necessarily a
point-to-multipoint. For instance, you needed to connect two computers
via-wireless remote and this is the only configuration intended. Two Access
Points are needed in a "Bridged" mode will act as if a wire connected the
two.

If you needed to connect in a configuration where a single computer was
perhaps a gateway to the Internet, then you will not use the "Bridged Mode"
to connect to other devices.

I do not use a "Bridge Mode" in my home/business configuration, because I
want all computers to share an Internet connection as well as File Sharing
and Printer.

John Garcia
Via-Wireless Network LLC

Perhaps I can provide some additional information on "bridges".

First, let's start with a simple wireless network. It will have a Access
Point (AP) and 1 or more wireless clients. If the AP is set-up in
"infrastructure mode", multiple wireless clients can connect to the AP
concurrently. Now to the clients.

Most wireless users fall into 2 camps, those with laptops/PDA's, and those
without. If your using a laptop or PDA, that's a single user computer. The
wireless connection from your laptop links you back to the AP, then onto the
LAN/WAN and Internet. If you had a desktop with an internal wireless card or
maybe a USB wireless device, your still only making a single wireless
connection back to the AP. (Note: I'm saying single wireless connection,
meaning your using a single IP address)

Now, consider what you would do if you had a remote room with multiple PC's
that needed to connect to an AP across the hall or in the next building.
You could purchase a seperate wireless device (card or USB) for each
machine, but this could add up quickly if you had 10, 20 or more machines.

Presto! The WIRELESS BRIDGE. First, connect the machines in the remote
room to a hub/switch. Next attach a Wireless Bridge (like a Linksys WET11 or
equivalent) to the hub/switch. The bridge device will associate back to the
AP and support MULTIPLE IP connections via a single radio link. Much more
cost effective. This also permits a mix of laptops, PDA's and desktops
connnecting back to the AP.

So, in summary, if you have a requirement to support multiple remote
devices, a bridge is a reasonable way to go!

I put a system in recently at an appartment. 8 people in 4 different
appartments wanted to share an internet connection. We used a single AP
(with 2 locale people hardwired) and 3 WET11's, 1 in each remote apartment.
Each WET11 supported two (2) PC's or laptops. Worked Great.

THANK YOU!! This and the previous post really helps!!!

/kb

On Wed, 10 Sep 2003 00:17:26 GMT, "Jim \(MI\)" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>Perhaps I can provide some additional information on "bridges".
>
>First, let's start with a simple wireless network. It will have a Access
>Point (AP) and 1 or more wireless clients. If the AP is set-up in
>"infrastructure mode", multiple wireless clients can connect to the AP
>concurrently. Now to the clients.
>
>Most wireless users fall into 2 camps, those with laptops/PDA's, and those
>without. If your using a laptop or PDA, that's a single user computer. The
>wireless connection from your laptop links you back to the AP, then onto the
>LAN/WAN and Internet. If you had a desktop with an internal wireless card or
>maybe a USB wireless device, your still only making a single wireless
>connection back to the AP. (Note: I'm saying single wireless connection,
>meaning your using a single IP address)
>
>Now, consider what you would do if you had a remote room with multiple PC's
>that needed to connect to an AP across the hall or in the next building.
>You could purchase a seperate wireless device (card or USB) for each
>machine, but this could add up quickly if you had 10, 20 or more machines.
>
>Presto! The WIRELESS BRIDGE. First, connect the machines in the remote
>room to a hub/switch. Next attach a Wireless Bridge (like a Linksys WET11 or
>equivalent) to the hub/switch. The bridge device will associate back to the
>AP and support MULTIPLE IP connections via a single radio link. Much more
>cost effective. This also permits a mix of laptops, PDA's and desktops
>connnecting back to the AP.
>
>So, in summary, if you have a requirement to support multiple remote
>devices, a bridge is a reasonable way to go!
>
>I put a system in recently at an appartment. 8 people in 4 different
>appartments wanted to share an internet connection. We used a single AP
>(with 2 locale people hardwired) and 3 WET11's, 1 in each remote apartment.
>Each WET11 supported two (2) PC's or laptops. Worked Great.
>