Turning a Router into a Bridge

[Nolicense]

Hey guys - this is probably more appropriate for HWZ - but you're all cleverer and I prefer to talk here, so will try first...

 

Recently got our fiber Broadband with Starhub.

 

So got a nice spanking new D-Link router...

 

Decided to turn my old TP-Link into a bridge to boost the signal to the bedroom....but CANNOT!!!

 

I have changed the settings, turned of DHCP, given it a new IP address so that it connects to the D-Link BUT....it refuses to let me up to the internet..

 

No doubt some here have got the same D-Link router from Starhub - anybody got any ideas on how I can do the bridge?

Most home routers do not work that way.

 

Off hand tips to help you trouble shoot:

 

First check if your Bridge can join 2 different SSID network at the same time. what you described requires this as a pre-requisite. The first router's SSID network signal will have to be picked up by the Bridge router and then routed as a different SSID network, It cannot rebroadcast and it cannot function as repeater in this case.

 

most home router's Bridge function will work only for PC linked by Ethernet cable to the router acting as the "wireless" Bridge

 

in any case, the bridge must be part of 2 networks. i.e. 192.168.1.2 and 192.168.2.1 (192.168.1.1 is your first router)

some bridge routers may need route table to direct traffic to the first router (192.168.1.1)

 

Basically you just want to read up on how routers work.

once you understand that you know how to go about it regardless it is wireless or wired.

but most home routers do not have features to do the above.

[Darryn]

Most home routers do not work that way.

 

Off hand tips to help you trouble shoot:

 

First check if your Bridge can join 2 different SSID network at the same time. what you described requires this as a pre-requisite. The first router's SSID network signal will have to be picked up by the Bridge router and then routed as a different SSID network, It cannot rebroadcast and it cannot function as repeater in this case.

 

most home router's Bridge function will work only for PC linked by Ethernet cable to the router acting as the "wireless" Bridge

 

in any case, the bridge must be part of 2 networks. i.e. 192.168.1.2 and 192.168.2.1 (192.168.1.1 is your first router)

some bridge routers may need route table to direct traffic to the first router (192.168.1.1)

 

Basically you just want to read up on how routers work.

once you understand that you know how to go about it regardless it is wireless or wired.

but most home routers do not have features to do the above.

Supposedly the TP has a bridge function - you access it by turning OFF the DHCP, which is supposed to leave it to the main router to assign the IP.

 

I can simultaneously connect to the bridge, and see that the bridge is connected to main router (via reading the mac address)

Connected via cat 5 I also got the bridge to display its own IP,

 

Would it be a good idea to have a static IP on both WAN and LAN for the bridge? Then reserve DHCP from the main router to assign to the bridge? is that a workable solution.

 

Is it possible that I am not getting an IP on the bridge client at it is not passing through? So the solution is to assign it a static IP, and let the bridge client run in a different IP range? (i.e 192.168.1.1 and 192.168.0.1? ) Can I assign different WAN and LAN IP range? (hmmmm...this one I never quite comprehensively tried, perhaps that will work out)

Buy a signal repeater aka range extender is easier. Somemore range extender can repeat at least 2 frequencies as your main wireless router.

 

Get the new tech stuff. Easier to setup for regular users.

I like this solution the best - especially as the new router is dual band....

[ins1dious]

Most home routers do not work that way.

 

Off hand tips to help you trouble shoot:

 

First check if your Bridge can join 2 different SSID network at the same time. what you described requires this as a pre-requisite. The first router's SSID network signal will have to be picked up by the Bridge router and then routed as a different SSID network, It cannot rebroadcast and it cannot function as repeater in this case.

 

most home router's Bridge function will work only for PC linked by Ethernet cable to the router acting as the "wireless" Bridge

 

in any case, the bridge must be part of 2 networks. i.e. 192.168.1.2 and 192.168.2.1 (192.168.1.1 is your first router)

some bridge routers may need route table to direct traffic to the first router (192.168.1.1)

 

Basically you just want to read up on how routers work.

once you understand that you know how to go about it regardless it is wireless or wired.

but most home routers do not have features to do the above.

 

I have an Asus RT-N66U and an Apple Airport Extreme. The main router is the Dark Knight connected to a 1Gbps fibre.

 

The AE could act as an access point on bridged mode by repeating the 66U's wifi but was too flaky. So swapped the 66U with this and used the AE as the main router and the Dark Knights as a pure AP.

 

Recently replaced the AE with a Time Capsule (TC) which can also be used as a pure AP instead of the router.

 

Now I have trunked a Cat6 to a point in the middle of the house where I've connected the TC on bridged mode. With this, there is only one local network IP. The TC does not serve any DHCP but does extend the wifi range by having its own SSID. The 66U has reverted to becoming the main router and things are a lot more stable and fast now.

 

@Darryn Wireless repeating is too flaky in my opinion. See if you can connect the TP Link to the router by a simple trunking. Or you can try what I did with the old AE. Continue using your TP as the main router and use the D-Link as the AP. Newer routers I'm sure can do that easily.

Edited October 25, 2014 by ins1dious

[Galantspeedz]

I also trying to do the same as darryn but i totally don't understand what is being said lol

[Darryn]

I also trying to do the same as darryn but i totally don't understand what is being said lol

I've given up -

 

this morning at 3am I had it working via a wired link, but just tried to logon again, and it is not working...so screw it!!

[Lala81]

Buy a signal repeater aka range extender is easier. Somemore range extender can repeat at least 2 frequencies as your main wireless router.

 

Get the new tech stuff. Easier to setup for regular users.

 

Don't repeaters halve the bandwidth?

Based on my basic knowledge of routers/repeaters.

I also trying to do the same as darryn but i totally don't understand what is being said lol

 

http://blog.dlink.com/the-difference-between-bridges-and-access-points/

 

 

 

The Difference Between Bridges and Access Points

Let’s refresh: As I’ve previously described, a network bridge can connect wired devices to a wireless network. The benefits are obvious: say goodbye to the miles of cable you’d otherwise need to connect faraway wired devices to your router. When you connect wired devices to a bridge, they can communicate wirelessly with your router and all of the devices on your network.

Got it?

The confusion sets in when the term “bridge” is interchanged with the phrase “access point.” Calling a device a bridge is a shorthand way to say that it supports network bridging, but you won’t often see a standalone bridge for sale. Instead, you’ll find wireless access points with bridging capability built in — and switching between either mode is as easy as flicking a switch on the rear of the access point. An access point connects to your home network with an Ethernet cable and creates a new sphere of wireless coverage, letting you add wireless devices to your home network. Access points can either be used to add wireless capabilities to a non-wireless router or improve the speed and range of an existing wireless network. When devices connect to your access point’s SSID, they join your preexisting wired LAN.

To avoid confusion, resist the urge to call this bridging. (While an access point might appear to bridge the connection between wireless devices and a network, it’s not connecting separate networks.) The distinction is important: A wireless access point connects users to a network by creating a wireless signal they can use. A bridge, in contrast, connects separate networks —your preexisting wireless home network to ­all of the devices connected to the bridge.

- See more at: http://blog.dlink.com/the-difference-between-bridges-and-access-points/#sthash.0dqXNbKO.dpuf

Hey guys - this is probably more appropriate for HWZ - but you're all cleverer and I prefer to talk here, so will try first...

 

Recently got our fiber Broadband with Starhub.

 

So got a nice spanking new D-Link router...

 

Decided to turn my old TP-Link into a bridge to boost the signal to the bedroom....but CANNOT!!!

 

I have changed the settings, turned of DHCP, given it a new IP address so that it connects to the D-Link BUT....it refuses to let me up to the internet..

 

No doubt some here have got the same D-Link router from Starhub - anybody got any ideas on how I can do the bridge?

 

i warn u that this DIR865 does not have a good range. Especially with closed doors.

 

Stay in a standard 5 rm BTO. Router is at TV console. Can hardly receive in my MBR. my wife's macs can but signal erratic. Closed door can forget about it.

Both my toilets door closed also zero signal for my Xperia phone.

 

I'm waiting for Black Friday to hoot a Asus AC66U or 68U.

My friend's condo is a more compact space, no long hallway. also close door severely affected the range. He also changed to asus.

Edited October 26, 2014 by Lala81

[AndrewLee72]

Hi TS - try hard reset the TP Link :-)

[Nolicense]

 

I have an Asus RT-N66U and an Apple Airport Extreme. The main router is the Dark Knight connected to a 1Gbps fibre.

 

The AE could act as an access point on bridged mode by repeating the 66U's wifi but was too flaky. So swapped the 66U with this and used the AE as the main router and the Dark Knights as a pure AP.

 

Recently replaced the AE with a Time Capsule (TC) which can also be used as a pure AP instead of the router.

 

Now I have trunked a Cat6 to a point in the middle of the house where I've connected the TC on bridged mode. With this, there is only one local network IP. The TC does not serve any DHCP but does extend the wifi range by having its own SSID. The 66U has reverted to becoming the main router and things are a lot more stable and fast now.

 

@Darryn Wireless repeating is too flaky in my opinion. See if you can connect the TP Link to the router by a simple trunking. Or you can try what I did with the old AE. Continue using your TP as the main router and use the D-Link as the AP. Newer routers I'm sure can do that easily.

I think Darryn wants a wireless Bridge/Extension.

 

Your solution is a wired AP serving its own SSID with the same IP range from the main router's DHCP.

This is the best solution but requires trunking.

 

A bridge connects 2 different networks with different IP range.

 

Wireless Bridge is something that I have not really seen in the home market. Not sure if high end commercial stuff may have. I have lost touch with hardware liao.

[Gadgeter]

I've given up -

 

this morning at 3am I had it working via a wired link, but just tried to logon again, and it is not working...so screw it!!

 

Have you tried this?

http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?wdc_lang=en&fid=wdsfMyNetN900

 

Personally, i have been using home plug.

http://www.aztech.com/sg/prod_homeplug.html

[Little_prince]

I've given up -

 

this morning at 3am I had it working via a wired link, but just tried to logon again, and it is not working...so screw it!!

 

just get one of those aztech home plugs?

 

plug and play. save yourself the headache.

[Darryn]

 

Have you tried this?

http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?wdc_lang=en&fid=wdsfMyNetN900

 

Personally, i have been using home plug.

http://www.aztech.com/sg/prod_homeplug.html

Aztech looks good -

 

I suspect I will end up buying a new (more powerful) router..

 

I may go back to my TP link as primary, and put the D-Link as secondary first though...just try try

 

just get one of those aztech home plugs?

 

plug and play. save yourself the headache.

That's looking best - I may have to do it, just didn't want to spend any money

[Gadgeter]

Aztech looks good -

 

I suspect I will end up buying a new (more powerful) router..

 

I may go back to my TP link as primary, and put the D-Link as secondary first though...just try try

That's looking best - I may have to do it, just didn't want to spend any money

 

 

Alternatively, you can try this too.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Western-Digital-WD-Livewire-WDBABY0000NBK-Network-HomePlug-Certified-Adapter-Kit-/141038753300

[Enye]

why so poor signal?

 

i can access internet from anywhere in my flat with my old wrt54g in the living room even through closed doors.

[Darryn]

why so poor signal?

 

i can access internet from anywhere in my flat with my old wrt54g in the living room even through closed doors.

Wah lau...

 

You ask me I ask who?

 

Really no idea man

[Kklee]

why so poor signal?

 

i can access internet from anywhere in my flat with my old wrt54g in the living room even through closed doors.

 

IIRC, distance is the trade off for the increase in speed.

[Mustank]

http://www.netcommwireless.com/information/press-releases/industrial-strength-routing

[Nolicense]

 

just get one of those aztech home plugs?

 

plug and play. save yourself the headache.

using this. but keeps getting dropped link. keep rebooting the appliances from modem to AP every now and then

[KilluaX]

Nowadays those bloody manufacturers disable the wireless repeater mode in the router's firmware so that you have to pay for a dedicated one. I

 

Try to google if your TP-link router can load a customized firmware which has the repeater function.