Question

Access Point or Bridge?

Asked by: -CyberIT-

I have my wireless router in the basement of my home and I have a few PCs wired into it. I however have my laptop roaming all over the house. The signal isnt the greatest on the 2nd floor. Id like to get a better signal.

I also purchased a BLU-RAY player that has network access but I dont have any wired connections around the house so Im trying to extend my wireless connection to have a RJ45 connection for the BLU-RAY player.

What would be the best option to do?

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Asked On
2009-10-28 at 13:56:23ID24852723
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Wireless Networking

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Wireless Technologies

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Wireless Local Area Network

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Answers

 

by: ITSPPosted on 2009-10-28 at 14:16:32ID: 25688412

This would work...

NETGEAR - WIRELESS PRINT SERVER 54MBPS W/4PORT SWITCH WGPS606NA

You can link up to your current wireless signal like a printserver would, but also have a 4 wired ports available to use through the same connection.

 

by: -CyberIT-Posted on 2009-10-28 at 20:43:16ID: 25690517

Im not looking for a print server though.  I currently have a DLink DIR-655 wireless router. I want to boost the signal for my laptop on the 1st and 2nd floor. However, my main concern though is to get a data connection to my BLU-RAY player when my router is in the basement and the BLU-Ray is on the 1st floor.  Im trying not to run a Cat5e cable from the basement to the 1st floor.

 

by: Darr247Posted on 2009-10-29 at 12:16:18ID: 25697204

Powerline adapter starter kit
http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=DHP-303
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001U0IO3O

5-port switch
http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=494  (refurbished from D-Link is cheaper than new 'street' price)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FIVDIA


For an AP, it depends what your needs are... if you have only 802.11g equipment now, the least expensive option would be an 2.4GHz only AP like the (discontinued) DWL-G700AP (~$50 at amazon or newegg). If you want to upgrade to 802.11n it will cost a little more (I do not recommend this level, though your existing router might fit this category); 802.11n dual band will be more (note that if the description does not say "simultaneous dual band" it will likely work on only 1 band at a time because of power supply limitations); 802.11n simultaneous dual band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) will be the most expensive.

 

by: -CyberIT-Posted on 2009-10-29 at 19:01:51ID: 25699748

Would one of these do the job too?

Wireless-N Ethernet Bridge with Dual-Band
http://www.linksysbycisco.com/US/en/products/WET610N

DAP-1522 XTREME N DUO WIRELESS BRIDGE/ACCESS POINT
http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=663


 

by: -CyberIT-Posted on 2009-10-29 at 19:04:41ID: 25699755

would either of those boost the signal at the same time?

 

by: caseman22Posted on 2009-10-30 at 05:50:22ID: 25702377

The basement is the worst place for a wireless router/AP. Having the dual band AP would help(5GHz mode), this will be better at trasmitting through walls and ceilings, however the range may be a little less(5GHz). A brdige is for a device that has networking capability does not have a wireless capability. An Access Point is a device that receives connections from other wireless devices to provide a wireless network to places that did not previously have a wireless network. I woul buy the Access Point in your situation. The bridge would not server your purpose unless it is also an AP like the second one you provided.
DAP-1522 XTREME N DUO WIRELESS BRIDGE/ACCESS POINT

Does this help?

 

by: -CyberIT-Posted on 2009-10-30 at 06:03:39ID: 25702484

My main purpose here is to get internet to my Blu-Ray Player and my wireless router is in the basement where my work bench is. I dont want to reconfigure everything to bring the wireless router upstairs. This would mean that I would have to run cable from upstairs to downstairs.  I was trying to wirelessly connect my Blu-Ray player to the internet.  I figured at the same time, if there was such of a device, Id like to boost the signal too.

 

by: caseman22Posted on 2009-10-30 at 06:07:01ID: 25702511

Buy the access point, put it on the first or second floor, connect the access point to the router(via wireless connection). Now you can connect your Blu-Ray player and laptop to the access point. The access point basically extends your wireless network.

 

by: -CyberIT-Posted on 2009-10-30 at 06:08:56ID: 25702529

Do you know of any other access points instead of the DAP-1522 which is a bridge too?  Like you said, I dont really need a bridge for this purpose.

 

by: -CyberIT-Posted on 2009-10-30 at 06:14:36ID: 25702586

Wait one second, actually wouldnt I need a bridge to connect my Blu-ray player to the internet also?  

A bridge is for a device that has networking capability but does not have a wireless capability. Case in point, my Blu-Ray player.

 

by: caseman22Posted on 2009-10-30 at 06:15:38ID: 25702594

Which model blu-ray player do you have?

 

by: -CyberIT-Posted on 2009-10-30 at 06:17:51ID: 25702614

Panasonic DMPBD80

 

by: -CyberIT-Posted on 2009-10-30 at 06:29:06ID: 25702708

Can I use the DAP-1522 as both... AP and Bridge as the same time or is it one or the other?

 

by: caseman22Posted on 2009-10-30 at 06:36:37ID: 25702775

Yes you need the access point and bridge. Your BD player does not have wireless.

 

by: -CyberIT-Posted on 2009-10-30 at 06:38:53ID: 25702793

Is that player any good?  

Can I use the DAP-1522 as both... AP and Bridge as the same time or is it one or the other?

 

by: caseman22Posted on 2009-10-30 at 06:41:50ID: 25702822

No, it can run as AP, Bridge or Auto. It Can't do both at the same time. Let me check other ones.

 

by: caseman22Posted on 2009-10-30 at 06:54:53ID: 25702937

You can only run in one mode, bridge or AP. You would need to purchase an additional AP to extend your wireless network. You should not have any problems accessing the router from the first floor with the wireless brdige connected to your DB player. You may want to try to reposition your router, while keeping it in the basement. Or adjust the antena. This may help.

 

by: -CyberIT-Posted on 2009-10-30 at 06:56:55ID: 25702961

Auto: it will choose between the two when needed I assume. Well if that is the case that is fine... when we are using the player then the laptop will need to connect to the router instead of the AP.

I assume due to that I would have a wireless bridge/AP and a wireless router , I would have two wireless networks in the house?

I know with the router I have, DLink DIR-655, I can have two profiles.  My profile and a guest. I assume with that I can secure my profile and with the guest profile just let internet access through?

 

by: -CyberIT-Posted on 2009-10-30 at 07:00:14ID: 25702992

Im getting a signal on the 1st floor for the laptop to work... a good signal, no complaints.  Im getting a signal on the 2nd floor, a little weaker of course but able to still use it.

I was just trying to kill two birds with one stone here. If I was going to try and get internet to my BD player with a wireless connection, Id like to boost the signal for the 1st and 2nd floors at the same time.

 

by: caseman22Posted on 2009-10-30 at 07:17:30ID: 25703154

This one actually works in both modes at the same time.
http://www.ecost.com/detail.aspx?edp=41665359&source=ecostdeal&cm_mmc=CSE-_-Shopping.com-_-ecostdeal-_-Networking

http://us.zyxel.com/Products/details.aspx?PC1IndexFlag=20040520161256&CategoryGroupNo=PDCA2008028

Text from 1522 user manual
Auto Mode
If the switch on the back panel of the DAP-1522 is set to Auto, the device will wait for 30 seconds, looking for a DHCP server from the ethernet ports. If an IP address is assigned, it will automatically shift to AP mode. If an IP address is not assigned from a DHCP server, the DAP-1522 will automatically shift to Bridge mode.

A little bit confusing. I believe what they mean is when you switch it to auto if it receives a signal from a DHCP server (your router VIA ethernet not wireless) and an IP address is asigned then it goes into AP mode otherwise it goes into bridge mode.

So you would have to connect this to your router, you dont want this one unless you just purchase to use a bridge.

 

by: -CyberIT-Posted on 2009-10-30 at 07:46:53ID: 25703454

It looks like the Zyxel has 4 modes but still only works in one mode.

"The ZyXEL NWA570N is a Four-in-one 802.11n Draft 2.0 Wireless Access Point, can be operated in one of the following 4 modes, including AP, client, repeater and point to point bridge."


OK, I understand the auto mode now. It does the work for you, for the majority of home users that dont want to worry about configuring it.  AP cant be done wireless but the bridge can.

The benefit of this device is that it gives you 4 jacks to use in bridge mode. The other device only gave you one jack.  So I would be able to connect my XBox360 to this device instead of having the WiFi add-on for the XBox360.  

So in short ... I wont be able to boost the signal at the same time trying to connect my BD Player to the internet.

 

by: caseman22Posted on 2009-10-30 at 07:57:54ID: 25703600

Look at page 27
http://us.zyxel.com/upload/download_library/NWA570N_1(1).pdf

Looks like it can be a wireless bridge and AP at the same time.

 

by: caseman22Posted on 2009-10-30 at 08:07:07ID: 25703691

Nevermind, allows access for your wireless clients plus acts as an AP.

You could try this to extend the range of your router.
http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=545

 

by: -CyberIT-Posted on 2009-10-30 at 09:21:00ID: 25704468

Interesting looking device there.  So I guess if I wanted to do both things at once, Id have to get both DLink devices.

 

by: Darr247Posted on 2009-10-30 at 09:24:02ID: 25704505

You would have to connect the BD player to a bridge with ethernet cable, so why not just connect it to the 5 port switch with ethernet instead, and eliminate the bridge?

Have the wireless just for laptops/gaming. For what those bridges that you cited cost, you can buy a simultaneous dual-band router... and nearly any router can be converted to an AP by disabling its DHCP server and connecting it to the network by one of its LAN ports instead of the WAN/Internet port.

 

by: caseman22Posted on 2009-10-30 at 09:25:27ID: 25704522

the antena would plug into your router's current antena connections, then you run the new antena across the room and place in the rafters or where ever the signal would be better. Basically it just allows you to get the antenas closer to the 1 st floor and allow the router to stay put. It could help your 2nd floor signal.

 

by: -CyberIT-Posted on 2009-10-30 at 09:26:52ID: 25704539

I could connect it to a switch... however I dont have ethernet at this location which is bringing me to the bridge.

 

by: -CyberIT-Posted on 2009-10-30 at 09:30:22ID: 25704582

Darr247: I already have a DLink DIR-655 router.  

 

by: caseman22Posted on 2009-10-30 at 09:33:00ID: 25704605

Dart 247 - He doesn't want to have to run an ethernet cable from the Blu-ray player on the first floor to the router in the basement.

 

by: -CyberIT-Posted on 2009-10-30 at 09:37:58ID: 25704657

Exactly...  Where it is located it will be hard to run ethernet cable.  

If I was able to run ethernet cable, all I would have to do is purchase a GB switch and run one cable to the location and I would be all set, correct?   Then I could buy an AP or wireless extender for a signal boost, correct?

 

by: -CyberIT-Posted on 2009-10-30 at 09:54:14ID: 25704811

However, if I was able to run an ethernet cable to this location then I would put the router at this location and buy a 5-port switch and put it at my work bench and call it a day.  By having the router on the 1st floor instead of the basement .. it would give me a better signal all over the house which means no AP needed.  All PCs downstairs are not using the wireless, they are connected directly into the wireless router.

By being able to have access to run cable would be the cheapest way possible.

 

by: caseman22Posted on 2009-10-30 at 10:23:33ID: 25705082

There is no way to run the ethernet? Do you have a finished basement? You could easily drill a hole in the floor, in the corner or behind the TV where you couldn't really see it.

 

by: -CyberIT-Posted on 2009-10-30 at 10:52:07ID: 25705311

I was trying to stay away from doing that but I will have to rethink this out.

Do you have any suggestions on CAT5e or CAT6 cabling?  Brand, etc?

 

by: Darr247Posted on 2009-10-30 at 12:02:02ID: 25705893

>  could connect it to a switch... however I dont have ethernet
> at this location which is bringing me to the bridge.

That's what the Powerline adapters do.
Please refer to http:#25697204

 

by: caseman22Posted on 2009-10-30 at 12:04:53ID: 25705922

You would be fine with Cat5e, it's not rated for gigabit but it will run at gigbit speed. Cat6 is alot more expensive and in your case not needed.

 

by: huntleyjPosted on 2009-10-30 at 12:05:50ID: 25705927

Use a bridge for the Blu-ray player and an Access point in "repeater mode" to increase your wireless coverage

 

by: -CyberIT-Posted on 2009-10-30 at 12:18:43ID: 25706023

Darr247:  I saw your post about the Powerline adapters. However they are more expensive than the bridge from what I found that is.

huntleyj:  Thanks for your suggestion. That requires two devices as we found through this discussion.


If I can figure out a way to bring Cat5e cabled to this location then I will go with the switch idea.  If not then I will most likely need to go with the bridge idea.  Signal strength will have to go with another device but this is for the house so I guess I can live with what I have.

 

by: Darr247Posted on 2009-10-30 at 14:57:24ID: 25707081

> However they are more expensive than the bridge from what I found that is.

They'll also provide about 4x more real bandwidth than a wireless bridge.  And they're cheaper than a spool of cat5e cable, let alone the labor to install it. The wireless bridge is going to see the same obstructions a wireless card in a laptop does, too.

But of course, cat5e or cat6 cabling IS the preferred method if it's economically feasible, since the cable will easily support up to 1000Mbps, which is 5x faster than the maximum of the powerline adapters.

 

by: -CyberIT-Posted on 2009-10-30 at 17:09:28ID: 25707646

I can get a spool of Cat5e cable for $55.  The powerline last I saw was $120.

Im going to see if I can find a way to run a line of ethernet... if so, im going to put my wireless router next to my BD player and put the switch in the basement.

Now I just need to get a splitter for my cable line. My broadband comes through my cable line.

 

by: Darr247Posted on 2009-10-30 at 19:22:51ID: 25708086

> I can get a spool of Cat5e cable for $55.

For what it's worth, if running between floors it should be rated Riser or Plenum (CMR or CMP, respectively), to meet NFPA code.

 

by: -CyberIT-Posted on 2009-10-30 at 19:39:35ID: 25708116

Yes I understand but for home use or making patch cables I believe the following would be OK.  If Im going to do up a building or a whole house then yes I should go with Plenum.

Features
4-pair unshielded twisted pair cable
24AWG stranded bare copper conductor
Stranded core for flexible patch leads
Meets or exceeds Cat5e specifications
High-density polyethylene insulation, PVC jacket
Foot-marked cable packaged in EZ pull box
Ideal for 10Base-T(IEEE 802.3), 100Base-TX(IEEE 802.3u), 1000Base-TX, 100 Vg-AnyLAN(IEEE 802.12)
Token Ring(IEEE 802.5), TP-PMD(ANSI X3T9.5), 350 Mbps CDDI, ATM 155, voice and multimedia
CM rated for manufacturing patch cables
Verified compliant with EIA/TIA standards by ETL
CSA listed

 

by: -CyberIT-Posted on 2009-10-30 at 19:55:57ID: 25708159

Actually my bad. I already have about 900' of Homechoice by Belden Computer and Telephone wire. I bought it years ago and didnt use it all.  

Features:
CAT 5e 200Mhz
4 pair Unshielded data cable
24 AWG
(UL) Type CMR 75C
C(UL) Type CMR
Verified (UL) Category 5e
HC2500R 006 (BLULT)

 

by: -CyberIT-Posted on 2009-10-30 at 20:01:28ID: 25708171

The only thing I dont like about the cable is it is 200Mhz, not 350Mhz.

 

by: -CyberIT-Posted on 2009-10-30 at 20:27:24ID: 25708233

I may need to split my cable line too if I bring my router upstairs.  Got any recommendations on cable splitters?  MHz wise, I mean.

 

by: Darr247Posted on 2009-10-30 at 20:51:13ID: 25708312

Probably at the time they didn't think to test it beyond the cat6 spec, which is 200MHz... but it already exceeds cat5e specs (100MHz).

 

by: Darr247Posted on 2009-10-30 at 20:55:01ID: 25708332

> Got any recommendations on cable splitters?

I'm not sure to what you're referring. If you mean passive coax splitters, each termination generally adds 0.5dB of loss.  Use a powered splitter to eliminate those losses.

 

by: -CyberIT-Posted on 2009-11-18 at 13:31:12ID: 31647225

These experts both answered the question with different options.

I ended up finding a way to run a CAT5e cable to my 1st floor from my basement.  I then brought my wireless router to the 1st floor and put a 5port GB switch in the basement. Everything connects and has internet access.

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