Good wireless bridge?

I want a wireless bridge (is that redundant?) to act as an ethernet
converter, connecting to different brand APs (one at a time, of course).
Would like to buy only 1 bridge and have it work with other brands of APs. An
external antenna connector would be a plus.

I hear good things about D-Link's DWL-900AP+, rev C.

Do you have a favorite? If so, what do you like about it?

Thanks,
--
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ask a question here if I hadn't done that already.

DaveC
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In article <(E-Mail Removed)> ,
DaveC <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
:I want a wireless bridge (is that redundant?)

No, most WiFi equipment these days does not have a briding mode
[at least not in the shipped versions.] Some of the more stable and
reliable bridges that have been on the market for years are quite
restricted as to which systems they will connect to -- sometimes
only to the exact same model, sometimes only to devices by the same
manufacturer.

Wireless bridges that follow a standard and so should interoperate
[in theory] use 'WDS', "Wireless Distribution Standard". If a device
you are examining does not advertise WDS, then it isn't the right one
for you [short of replacing the firmware]; if the devices you want to
connect to are not WDS, then you might not be able to connect to them
from anything other than a device made by the same manufacturer.


:to act as an ethernet
:converter, connecting to different brand APs (one at a time, of course).
:Would like to buy only 1 bridge and have it work with other brands of APs. An
:external antenna connector would be a plus.

:I hear good things about D-Link's DWL-900AP+, rev C.

I have no particular models to suggest at the moment, just general
comments:

1) Read the reviews in places like pcmag and tomsnetworking and amazon .
When I was last looking around a few weeks ago, it was quite
discouraging: the top-rated consumer-level 802.11g devices were
at 6 out of 10 or less in customer satisfaction. Mass sales is no
guarantee of quality.

2) Read the reviews again, and read the informal reports in places
like alt.internet.wireless and dslreports.com, this time with a view
to what customers are saying about their support experiences with the
companies. -My- quick summary, looking at those reports, would be

"If one of the devices works for you in -your- circumstances, then
Great! -- but that doesn't mean it will work for everyone. If you
are having a problem with it, and it is from any of the well-known
commodity WiFi manufacturers, chances are that you will be
disenchanted by the support organization, with a significant chance
that you will end up swearingly up and down that you will never
EVER buy from that manufacturer again."

Or to put things another way: If it works for you, then it works
for you; if it doesn't work for you, then be prepared to throw it
out (or sell it on eBay). You seldom get serious support attention
from a WiFi manufacturer unless you have paid several times the
going commodity-device price.
--
History is a pile of debris -- Laurie Anderson

"DaveC" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) t...
> I want a wireless bridge (is that redundant?) to act as an ethernet
> converter, connecting to different brand APs (one at a time, of
course).
> Would like to buy only 1 bridge and have it work with other brands
of APs. An
> external antenna connector would be a plus.
>
> I hear good things about D-Link's DWL-900AP+, rev C.
>
> Do you have a favorite? If so, what do you like about it?
>
> Thanks,
> --
> Please, no "Go Google this" replies. I wouldn't
> ask a question here if I hadn't done that already.

I think what you are looking for is an ethernet bridge or a workgroup
bridge.
One that will bridge multiple clients. The Zyxel g-405 is one example.
They should talk to any AP but there is no guarantee.

In article <42726fa4$0$1909$(E-Mail Removed)>,
(E-Mail Removed) (Airhead) writes...
>
> "DaveC" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed) t...
> > I want a wireless bridge (is that redundant?) to act as an ethernet
> > converter, connecting to different brand APs (one at a time, of
> course).
> > Would like to buy only 1 bridge and have it work with other brands
> of APs. An
> > external antenna connector would be a plus.
> >
> > I hear good things about D-Link's DWL-900AP+, rev C.
> >
> > Do you have a favorite? If so, what do you like about it?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > --
> > Please, no "Go Google this" replies. I wouldn't
> > ask a question here if I hadn't done that already.
>
> I think what you are looking for is an ethernet bridge or a workgroup
> bridge.
> One that will bridge multiple clients. The Zyxel g-405 is one example.
> They should talk to any AP but there is no guarantee.


A WiFi access point is simply an ethernet to WiFi bridge, so I
assume what the OP wants is just a recommendation for a WiFi AP?

Since WiFi AP's these days tend to be more expensive than WiFi
routers, and because (according to Jeff Liebermann) most WiFi
routers have an undocumented "AP" mode which can be used simply
by plugging an ethernet cable into the LAN side and leaving the
WAN side unconnected, you may want to consider that direction
if price is an issue.





--
* Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which *
* differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are *
* even incapable of forming such opinions. -- Albert Einstein *
* *
* To send email, remove numbers and spaces: pjkusenet64 @ ekahuna27 . com *
* Simple answers are for simple minds. Try a new way of looking at things. *

On Fri, 29 Apr 2005 17:17:14 -0700, Philip J. Koenig wrote
(in article <(E-Mail Removed)>) :

> A WiFi access point is simply an ethernet to WiFi bridge, so I
> assume what the OP wants is just a recommendation for a WiFi AP?

Terminology (correct me if I'm wrong):
AP is "point-to-multipoint" device; connects wireless clients to a wired
network (a WAN, for example).

Client is "multi-point-to-point" device, connecting wired network (or single
computer) to the AP, via wireless signal.

I want to connect a wired subnet to a remote AP (this device already exists
and cannot be changed or replaced). As I understand it, I can use an AP
device used in Client mode (talks to APs) or a Bridge (also talks to APs).

> ...most WiFi
> routers have an undocumented "AP" mode which can be used simply
> by plugging an ethernet cable into the LAN side and leaving the
> WAN side unconnected...

So a router can be used in Client mode? It can talk to APs?

Thanks,
--
Please, no "Go Google this" replies. I wouldn't
ask a question here if I hadn't done that already.

DaveC
(E-Mail Removed)
This is an invalid return address
Please reply in the news group

"DaveC" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) t...
> On Fri, 29 Apr 2005 17:17:14 -0700, Philip J. Koenig wrote
> (in article <(E-Mail Removed)>) :
>
> > A WiFi access point is simply an ethernet to WiFi bridge, so I
> > assume what the OP wants is just a recommendation for a WiFi AP?
>
> Terminology (correct me if I'm wrong):
> AP is "point-to-multipoint" device; connects wireless clients to a
wired
> network (a WAN, for example).
>
> Client is "multi-point-to-point" device, connecting wired network
(or single
> computer) to the AP, via wireless signal.
>
> I want to connect a wired subnet to a remote AP (this device already
exists
> and cannot be changed or replaced). As I understand it, I can use an
AP
> device used in Client mode (talks to APs) or a Bridge (also talks to
APs).
>
> > ...most WiFi
> > routers have an undocumented "AP" mode which can be used simply
> > by plugging an ethernet cable into the LAN side and leaving the
> > WAN side unconnected...
>
> So a router can be used in Client mode? It can talk to APs?

Only if it supports AP Client Mode otherwise a wireless router AP
wont talk to another wireless router AP. The other issue is how many
MACs will an AP client pass.. 1 for sure, note the word client and not
clients. AP client mode is really acting as a wireless adapter
converting
a non-wireless device to wireless. Allot of devices such as myWAP54G
use WDS and has AP, Bridge, Repeater and Client mode.
Repeater mode and Client mode will talk to an AP, Bridge mode
talks to another bridge.



>
> Thanks,
> --
> Please, no "Go Google this" replies. I wouldn't
> ask a question here if I hadn't done that already.
>
> DaveC
> (E-Mail Removed)
> This is an invalid return address
> Please reply in the news group
>

On Sat, 30 Apr 2005 05:25:03 -0700, Airhead wrote
(in article <427378f3$0$1908$(E-Mail Removed)>) :

> Repeater mode and Client mode will talk to an AP, Bridge mode talks to
> another bridge.

Thanks for that. Now that I've got the terminology down, I'm looking for a
device (regardless of what it's called) that can operate in client mode.
Since I the existing remote AP cannot be changed, bridge mode it out of the
question.

I like a lot of the D-Link devices, many of which operate in client mode.

Thanks again,
--
Please, no "Go Google this" replies. I wouldn't
ask a question here if I hadn't done that already.

DaveC
(E-Mail Removed)
This is an invalid return address
Please reply in the news group

Philip J. Koenig wrote:

> A WiFi access point is simply an ethernet to WiFi bridge, so I
> assume what the OP wants is just a recommendation for a WiFi AP?
>
> Since WiFi AP's these days tend to be more expensive than WiFi
> routers, and because (according to Jeff Liebermann) most WiFi
> routers have an undocumented "AP" mode which can be used simply
> by plugging an ethernet cable into the LAN side and leaving the
> WAN side unconnected, you may want to consider that direction
> if price is an issue.
>
>

What I did, was connect a Wifi router to a 3rd NIC on my Linux firewall.
This way, Wifi is outside my firewall and the only way in, is via ssh or
VPN. I also have WEP enabled.

Airhead wrote:

>> So a router can be used in Client mode? It can talk to APs?
>
> Only if it supports AP Client Mode otherwise a wireless router AP
> wont talk to another wireless router AP. The other issue is how many
> MACs will an AP client pass.. 1 for sure, note the word client and not
> clients. AP client mode is really acting as a wireless adapter
> converting
> a non-wireless device to wireless. Allot of devices such as myWAP54G
> use WDS and has AP, Bridge, Repeater and Client mode.
> Repeater mode and Client mode will talk to an AP, Bridge mode
> talks to another bridge.

FWIW, there are some Linksys models than run on Linux and can be configured
to do things far beyond what the designers intended. There is even one
package available, that's essentially a "hot spot in a box", for use in a
coffee shop etc.

On Fri, 29 Apr 2005 17:17:14 -0700, Philip J. Koenig
<See_email_@ddress_below.This_one_is.invalid> wrote:

>
>Since WiFi AP's these days tend to be more expensive than WiFi
>routers, and because (according to Jeff Liebermann) most WiFi
>routers have an undocumented "AP" mode which can be used simply
>by plugging an ethernet cable into the LAN side and leaving the
>WAN side unconnected, you may want to consider that direction
>if price is an issue.

Most routers do NOT support client mode, however, which is needed for the
far end of a bridge, at least not without doing custom linux firmware
hacking or whatever.