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Extend wireless network with a second wap

Greetings Experts. Here is the question. I have a client that just had a new home built and they want it to have wireless throughout the house. He does not want any drilling done. His internet connection, cable modem and wireless router are all in his office on the second floor. What device can I use to extended the wireless network? Can I use a second linksys wireless router and have the two devices talk? Any help would be great appreciated.

weareit

You would need a wireless bridge, then a Wireless Access Point... The bridge will bridge the two wireless devices together so that you do not have to have a direct cable connection from the wap to the wireless router...

-saige-

weareit

You might even need a second bridge depending upon the configurations that the existing wireless router supports.

-saige-

samiam41

ASKER

Thanks for the post. So if I have a Linksys wireless router setup on the office, could I buy a second wireless router and make it into a WAP?

weareit

You could but if you cannot physically connect the Wireless Access Point to the router, you will have to bridge the two devices wirelessly...

-saige-

samiam41

ASKER

I'm not trying to be difficult, but I am not sure what you are stating.

Here is my assumption: I will need to purchase two wireless routers, make one a bridge and the other an access point that connects to the bridge.

Is that correct?

There will be no physical connection available for the two wireless routers. It will be all wireless.

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jekl2000

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samiam41

ASKER

jekl2000- Essentially I need to get the repeater (i.e., wap54g) and plug his computer and laptop into the repeater and it will see the wireless network in his office?

samiam41

ASKER

Just so I am clear, I couldn't use a second wireless router (ie, WRT54GS) and make it into a repeater could I?

SOLUTION

weareit

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samiam41

ASKER

You guys are great! Looks like I have a solid solution for this guy's network. I appreciate the follow up and wireless knowledge you provided. I am splitting the points 50/50 unless one of you express an objection. Take care!!

Regards,
Aaron

lbertacco

Well actually YOU CAN "use a second wireless router (ie, WRT54GS) and make it into a repeater".
With 2 caveats:
1- this second wireless router must be within the wireless range of the main one
2- both wireless router must support WDS bridging and repeating and afaict the wrt54gs with stock firmware doesn't support wds, but it does with other firmwares, see e.g. http://www.linksysinfo.org/forums/showthread.php?t=47118 or http://www.polarcloud.com/tomato

samiam41

ASKER

lbertacco - I wish I would have known that a couple of days ago. You would also have earned yourself some points. I appreciate the information and will research your idea further so I can use it on future projects. Have you used a wireless router as a repeater?

lbertacco

Actually, not yet. I need this for a situation like yours but before buying hardware, I'd like to figure out the protocol differences between a WDS system and rage extenders. Unfortunately it seems that no one as any clue (I suspect the range extender to perform worse) and I can't find any technical documentation about either one.

BTW: you might find this interesting too: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_Distribution_System#Technical

samiam41

ASKER

Turns out that is actually pretty helpful. I want to "play" more with the wireless networks and see how I can tweak them a little more. I have to setup that wireless network I spoke of in the question above this weekend or I would try getting another wireless router and make it happen. Let me know what you find out once you set it up. I would appreciate expanding my wireless knowledge. Take care!