802.11g/n bridging routers?

May 01, 2006 5 Replies

Hi, I've recently moved into a duplex apartment and I would like to put ethernet ports into 2 rooms and have the backplane be 802.11g (or preferably n or mimo, or even a proprietary 108mbps connection). However, none of the wireless 4-port routers I've seen bridge. All I've seen are expensive bridging APs that you slap onto switches. I think the multiple boxes thing is aesthetically unpleasing, and I would like to just have one box that does it all on each floor. So the question is, which 4-port wireless routers can bridge? I have found none so far. I may just end up getting the damn APs and switches, the combo price is not that much more than the routers given how cheap switches have gotten, but it just means more wall warts and it's unpleasant to my sensibilities. OTOH upgrading the 'backplane' means not having to throw the switch away...



TIA,



- Matt


Use a wireless router as a wireless bridge by:

  • turning off DHCP
  • connecting to wired with a LAN port instead of the WAN port

Look at the CompUSA brand 802.11g router. This has the most flexibility of any router that I have looked at, including running in repeater mode.

The best news is the price. Earlier this year it was on sale for $9.99 after rebate. The firmware is rock solid.

Mike Schumann

The various 3rd party firmwares for the Linksys WRT54G/GS/GL routers will let you do this. These packages also run on some other routers, notably some from Buffalo. I've used Sveasoft, DD-WRT and OpenWRT successfully in similar applications.

Just be sure not to get a v5 WRT54G if you plan to run third party software.

Thanks everybody, but being the lazy person that I am, I've decided to go with a couple of Buffalo WDS-capable routers (WHR-HP-G54, WHR-G54S). I woulda gone with the CompUSA, but I bought one MIMO router for the 'master' and one 'standard' g and it took like 5 mins to setup properly.

Here's hoping the final n draft includes mandatory support for bridging/meshing/repeating...

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required