WDS and DHCP woes...

Good afternoon everyone,

I've been reading through this group trying to find the answer to my
problem, but to no avail.

I'm trying to extend the range of the 802.11g here in my office, and
after some research, decided to pick up a DWL-7200AP to run as a
repeater.

The source AP is a DWL-700AP, connected to the local lan. DHCP is
disabled on the unit, as there is a DHCP server on the lan asigning
IP's to clients.

Internet - LAN --- DWL-700AP --- DWL-7200AP -- wireless clients
|
wireless clients

I hope that "diagram" makes sense.. clients who connect wirelessly to
the 700ap have no problems reaching either the internet or the lan.
Clients who connect to the 7200ap are unable to reach either the
internet OR the lan, and are unable to obtain an IP via DHCP. A
hardcoded IP will work on the 700ap connected clients, but not on the
7200ap connected clients..

The 7200ap was tested as an "ap client" (connecting wirelessly to the
700ap), with a laptop connected via ethernet to the lan port on the
7200ap, and all was well.. DHCP worked, hardcoded ips worked as well.

I've also tried turning down the speed of both AP's to 11mb, to no
avail.

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding this whole process, but I thought that
using the 7200ap in "repeater mode" would do just that, "repeat" the
signal to increase the range.

I have the most recent firmware on both the 700ap and the 7200ap, and
dlink support has been of little help. ("Well, it SHOULD work..." isnt
an answer. )

Can anyone suggest anything else here?

Thanks in advance,
-Luke

Luke122 wrote in alt.internet.wireless:

> Good afternoon everyone,
>
> I've been reading through this group trying to find the answer to my
> problem, but to no avail.
>
> I'm trying to extend the range of the 802.11g here in my office, and
> after some research, decided to pick up a DWL-7200AP to run as a
> repeater.

The DWL-7200AP is a dual mode 802.11a/b/g access point. Your DWL-G(sic!)
700AP is a 802.11b/g access point. Have you disabled the 5 GHz radio in the
DWL-7200AP?

"Luke122" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...
> Good afternoon everyone,
>
> I've been reading through this group trying to find the answer to my
> problem, but to no avail.
>
> I'm trying to extend the range of the 802.11g here in my office, and
> after some research, decided to pick up a DWL-7200AP to run as a
> repeater.
>
> The source AP is a DWL-700AP, connected to the local lan. DHCP is
> disabled on the unit, as there is a DHCP server on the lan asigning
> IP's to clients.
>
> Internet - LAN --- DWL-700AP --- DWL-7200AP -- wireless clients
> |
> wireless clients
>
> I hope that "diagram" makes sense.. clients who connect wirelessly to
> the 700ap have no problems reaching either the internet or the lan.
> Clients who connect to the 7200ap are unable to reach either the
> internet OR the lan, and are unable to obtain an IP via DHCP. A
> hardcoded IP will work on the 700ap connected clients, but not on the
> 7200ap connected clients..
>
> The 7200ap was tested as an "ap client" (connecting wirelessly to the
> 700ap), with a laptop connected via ethernet to the lan port on the
> 7200ap, and all was well.. DHCP worked, hardcoded ips worked as well.
>
> I've also tried turning down the speed of both AP's to 11mb, to no
> avail.
>
> Perhaps I'm misunderstanding this whole process, but I thought that
> using the 7200ap in "repeater mode" would do just that, "repeat" the
> signal to increase the range.
>
> I have the most recent firmware on both the 700ap and the 7200ap, and
> dlink support has been of little help. ("Well, it SHOULD work..." isnt
> an answer. )
>
> Can anyone suggest anything else here?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> -Luke

Hi,

I have a number of DWL-7100's. They are the same as your DWL-7200, minus
Power-over-Ethernet.

The repeat mode in the DWL-7200 uses WDS, rather than just a generic
"garbage in - garbage out" repeat mode.

In order to repeat with the DWL-7200 (as with my DWL-7100), the AP you want
to repeat from has to also support WDS.

Your DWL-700AP doesn't support WDS.

AP's that do support WDS: DWL-900AP+ DWL-1000AP+ DWL-2100AP DWL-2200AP
DWL-2210AP DWL-2700AP DWL-3200AP DWL-7100AP bDWL-7200AP DWL-7700AP
DWL-8200AP DGL-4300

Another caveat, even with two DLink AP's that support WDS with one
repeating: not only does the pipe get cut in half, but you can't use WPA.
You have to use WEP.

WDS repeating is nasty and inefficient. I used to do it before really
looking closely at what was going on with SNMP utilities.

Instead of repeating, look for a way to extend by running that DWL-7200 as a
second AP. Either running CAT5 to it, or perhaps getting a
wireless-ethernet adapter to put in front of it and then assign the 802.11g
band on the DWL-7200 the same SSID as on the DWL-700 but on a different
channel. DLink client harware seamlessly "switch over" in such a setup.
I.e., when I walk into range of a stronger AP on my network (same SSID,
different channel), my laptop will switch to that SSID. All my DWL-7100's
are "standalone AP's", none are repeating.

"Axel Hammerschmidt" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:Xns984DF31B664A1hlexahotmailcom@62.243.74.163 ...
> Luke122 wrote in alt.internet.wireless:
>
>> Good afternoon everyone,
>>
>> I've been reading through this group trying to find the answer to my
>> problem, but to no avail.
>>
>> I'm trying to extend the range of the 802.11g here in my office, and
>> after some research, decided to pick up a DWL-7200AP to run as a
>> repeater.
>
> The DWL-7200AP is a dual mode 802.11a/b/g access point. Your DWL-G(sic!)
> 700AP is a 802.11b/g access point. Have you disabled the 5 GHz radio in
> the
> DWL-7200AP?

Hi,

The DWL-7200 will not repeat a non-WDS AP such as the DWL-700, however if
the DWL-7200 were used to repeat an 802.11g only WDS AP, you don't have to
disable the 802.11a on the DWL-7200.

You can repeat with the 802.11g/b and have the 802.11a run as an AP. Within
the DWL-7200, the 802.11a is interconnected with the 802.11g to pull network
traffic.

I have many DWL-7100's (same as DWL-7200, but lacks Power-over-Ethernet).
Different firmwares have different caveats though -- and don't count on
DLink to be of any help. Its all trial and error.

I don't use the most recent firmware with my DWL-7100's as an older firmware
gives me more flexibility.

"Eric" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:uRNTg.7063$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Luke122" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...
>> Good afternoon everyone,
>>
>> I've been reading through this group trying to find the answer to my
>> problem, but to no avail.
>>
>> I'm trying to extend the range of the 802.11g here in my office, and
>> after some research, decided to pick up a DWL-7200AP to run as a
>> repeater.
>>
>> The source AP is a DWL-700AP, connected to the local lan. DHCP is
>> disabled on the unit, as there is a DHCP server on the lan asigning
>> IP's to clients.
>>
>> Internet - LAN --- DWL-700AP --- DWL-7200AP -- wireless clients
>> |
>> wireless clients
>>
>> I hope that "diagram" makes sense.. clients who connect wirelessly to
>> the 700ap have no problems reaching either the internet or the lan.
>> Clients who connect to the 7200ap are unable to reach either the
>> internet OR the lan, and are unable to obtain an IP via DHCP. A
>> hardcoded IP will work on the 700ap connected clients, but not on the
>> 7200ap connected clients..
>>
>> The 7200ap was tested as an "ap client" (connecting wirelessly to the
>> 700ap), with a laptop connected via ethernet to the lan port on the
>> 7200ap, and all was well.. DHCP worked, hardcoded ips worked as well.
>>
>> I've also tried turning down the speed of both AP's to 11mb, to no
>> avail.
>>
>> Perhaps I'm misunderstanding this whole process, but I thought that
>> using the 7200ap in "repeater mode" would do just that, "repeat" the
>> signal to increase the range.
>>
>> I have the most recent firmware on both the 700ap and the 7200ap, and
>> dlink support has been of little help. ("Well, it SHOULD work..." isnt
>> an answer. )
>>
>> Can anyone suggest anything else here?
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>> -Luke
>
> Hi,
>
> I have a number of DWL-7100's. They are the same as your DWL-7200, minus
> Power-over-Ethernet.
>
> The repeat mode in the DWL-7200 uses WDS, rather than just a generic
> "garbage in - garbage out" repeat mode.
>
> In order to repeat with the DWL-7200 (as with my DWL-7100), the AP you
> want to repeat from has to also support WDS.
>
> Your DWL-700AP doesn't support WDS.
>
> AP's that do support WDS: DWL-900AP+ DWL-1000AP+ DWL-2100AP DWL-2200AP
> DWL-2210AP DWL-2700AP DWL-3200AP DWL-7100AP bDWL-7200AP DWL-7700AP
> DWL-8200AP DGL-4300
>
> Another caveat, even with two DLink AP's that support WDS with one
> repeating: not only does the pipe get cut in half, but you can't use WPA.
> You have to use WEP.
>
> WDS repeating is nasty and inefficient. I used to do it before really
> looking closely at what was going on with SNMP utilities.
>
> Instead of repeating, look for a way to extend by running that DWL-7200 as
> a second AP. Either running CAT5 to it, or perhaps getting a
> wireless-ethernet adapter to put in front of it and then assign the
> 802.11g band on the DWL-7200 the same SSID as on the DWL-700 but on a
> different channel. DLink client harware seamlessly "switch over" in such
> a setup. I.e., when I walk into range of a stronger AP on my network (same
> SSID, different channel), my laptop will switch to that SSID. All my
> DWL-7100's are "standalone AP's", none are repeating.

Oh, if you really want to repeat, try this:

Put the DWL-7200 where the DWL-700 currently is, which would be better since
the DWL-7200 is the better AP, anyway.

Then, try repeating the DWL-7200 with the DWL-700.

That just may work...

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I have a second 7200ap, and I'll try
to run that as a source AP to see if the repeating works, but if I can
avoid repeating, I'm all for it.

The reason for the repeating is that we are in a fairly large office
building (one floor only) and a single AP cannot cover the entire
space. However, we do want to have seamless transitions between AP's,
so users dont have to do anything when roaming throughout the building;
they arent the most computer literate people so I need this to be as
automatic as possible.

Next, none of the clients are using Dlink hardware.. all notebooks are
using internal Intel 2200's. Will these switch automatically between
AP's if the proper setup is achieved?

Lastly, I've read that if I setup the second AP with the same SSID and
settings, but on a different channel, that users can then roam
throughout the building and will automatically connect to the stronger
AP signal.. is that accurate? The windows XP wifi utility (zero config
garbage) can only see one instance of a name for an AP, so if there are
two we may have an issue.. I'm hoping that what I've read about using a
different channel will let this setup work. I'll be testing it later
today.

Any more thoughts or concerns anyone?

-Luke

"Luke122" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) ps.com...
> Thanks for the feedback everyone. I have a second 7200ap, and I'll try
> to run that as a source AP to see if the repeating works, but if I can
> avoid repeating, I'm all for it.
>
> The reason for the repeating is that we are in a fairly large office
> building (one floor only) and a single AP cannot cover the entire
> space. However, we do want to have seamless transitions between AP's,
> so users dont have to do anything when roaming throughout the building;
> they arent the most computer literate people so I need this to be as
> automatic as possible.
>
> Next, none of the clients are using Dlink hardware.. all notebooks are
> using internal Intel 2200's. Will these switch automatically between
> AP's if the proper setup is achieved?
>
> Lastly, I've read that if I setup the second AP with the same SSID and
> settings, but on a different channel, that users can then roam
> throughout the building and will automatically connect to the stronger
> AP signal.. is that accurate? The windows XP wifi utility (zero config
> garbage) can only see one instance of a name for an AP, so if there are
> two we may have an issue.. I'm hoping that what I've read about using a
> different channel will let this setup work. I'll be testing it later
> today.
>
> Any more thoughts or concerns anyone?
>
> -Luke

Hi,

Two, or more, 7200's should play very nice together.

In fact, I bought my second 7100, initially, to be able to repeat a 7100.

(Bought the first 7100, likewise hoping to repeat a non-WDS router. It
didn't work. Ended up just hanging the first 7100 off the router and
repeated with the second. Worked fine, but I'm no longer repeating.)

I liked the 7100 enough that I ended up getting two more of them for other
purposes... One is open a different network through a captive portal.
Another travels in my laptop bag. With its multiple uses, its handy while
traveling. I've used it to repeat hotel's SSID's, used it to setup a quick
"HUB" for multiplayer games with coworkers when no other network is around,
let people borrow it to use it as a simple ethernet/wireless bridge if they
don't have any wireless hardware, etc...

The trick is in the firmware. Some firmware releases are better for some
functions, while other firmware releases are better for others. Don't
expect DLink to be of any assistance of which are better. You have to play.
I found v2.0 to be the most versatile release for my 7100's.

Seamlessly roaming... I can roam seamlessly with (most of) my DLink client
hardware, whether the 7100's are WDS repeating or seperate AP's with same
SSID on different channels. On my laptop, when I'm in Windows, I use
DLink's client utility and not Win Zero Config. It seamlessly switches to
the stronger AP. In Linux under ndiswrapper, it automatically switches to
the stronger AP, but re-connects. On my PDA, with a DLink DCF-660W (CF)
card, it also switches seamlessly. On my HP/C, with a Cisco Aeronet card, it
"re-connects". You'll have to play and see what the behavior of your Intel
cards are with it...

Other stuff: If you haven't already, grab the "AP Manager" off
http://support.dlink.com/products/vi...d=DWL%2D7200AP

The "AP Manager" makes it easier to work with multiple AP's as you can get
to everything from within just one program instead of HTTP'ing to each of
them.

Grab the MIB as well. A SNMP viewer will give you a close look at what is
really going on. I used the trial version of PRTG for a little while. It
was after looking at my 7100's through SNMP that I stopped doing the
repeating thing. For repeating just an internet pipe, its fine, but for
WLAN traffic -- yuck.

I'm happy with my 7100's. They can do a lot of cool stuff, but it does take
some playing... One thing I'm wanting to try with them next is Radius.. I
have Win2k3, but haven't gotten around to to installing and configuring
everything for Radius yet..

Have fun!

Thanks for the tips.

I actually did get this to work by setting both AP's up with the same
SSID but different channels. The Intel software worked great, and the
windows one seems to be dealing ok with reconnecting to the stronger AP
as well. It's not as if these users need a completely uninterrupted
connection as they move from point to point, but I do want them to
reconnect automatically without any input from the users.

So far, all seems well.

Dlink's tech support is terrible. Each technician gave me different
information, and none of them mentioned other possible methods of
expanding the range on the network.

Oh well, thanks to this group I'm up and running.


-Luke

"Luke122" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...
> Thanks for the tips.
>
> I actually did get this to work by setting both AP's up with the same
> SSID but different channels. The Intel software worked great, and the
> windows one seems to be dealing ok with reconnecting to the stronger AP
> as well. It's not as if these users need a completely uninterrupted
> connection as they move from point to point, but I do want them to
> reconnect automatically without any input from the users.
>
> So far, all seems well.
>
> Dlink's tech support is terrible. Each technician gave me different
> information, and none of them mentioned other possible methods of
> expanding the range on the network.
>
> Oh well, thanks to this group I'm up and running.
>
>
> -Luke

Hi,

Great! Glad you have everything up and burning!

Yeah, DLink tech 'support'... I'm with you there... DLink tech support was
the first time I ever contacted a tech support for anything
electronic/computer related -- and that was because I was trying to do
something 'funky' that was said to be supported, but not documented. Well,
you know the drill with DLink tech 'support': its a kid in India with a
generic flow chart, asking if your [whatever] is powered up, connected, and
has the latest firmware... It only took one call to realize that I'd have
to be my own tech support. To be fair, I suppose all the "cheap"
manufacturers (DLink, Linksys, Belkin, ect) are like this. They just throw
this stuff together from parts from others so quickly that they can't be
intimate with it.. For intimate support, (someone that can give 1-2-3 steps
for something 'funky'), you'd have to go with Cisco..

All good though!