hi all,
i was wondering how the repeater mode works and how effective it is. i currently have 3 ap's running ap bridge-point to point mode and one running ap bridge-point to multi point. i would like to add another but don't have line of site. both sites have a common point which we do have line of site and we have permission to put a repeater on. question is how? do we need anything more than the ap? (pc etc). what modes do we need to run? is repeater mode less secure than bridge-point to point?

------------------------repeater?
------------------------- ___
site a ---------------- /------\
site b --------------- /--big---\
site c -------------- /---hill-----\ --------------- site e
site d ------------- /-------------\

ignore all ----

i hope the text diagram above helps. currently all my ap's are running 2.39 fireware with 86 day uptime and no issues. all static ip assigned.

thanks in advance for any or all help that may be provided

Hi there,

You have a couple of different options.

What type of antenna's are you most likely to need on the hill ? Two directionals, one pointing to E and one pointing to one of the left-hand nodes ? If you are going to need two directionals then I would just setup 2xMNWAPB, one hooked up to each antenna with a cross-over cable between them and both AP's in bridge P-T-P mode.

If you think you can get away with a single antenna (i.e. an omni) then you may be able to have a single MNWAPB in WDS mode. WDS mode is built for what you want todo but the power levels of the AP are cut almost in half due to the fact that all packets incoming on the wireless interface need to also be sent back out the same interface.

Hope that helps.

Regards,
S.

thanks for the info and good to know that with one antenna that the signal is halved.
will bridge wds work with the others in bridge p-t-p mode?

i was thinking of using one antenna (360deg wave guide).

Yes, WDS and Point-to-point bridging modes are compatable

S.

how do you exactly set it up on the router? im trying to set it up from a wlb-2203 ap to the minitar then to a PCI wireless card and i cant get the minitar to work as a functioning repeater. Can you offer me some help please?

Ensure both devices have WDS enabled, the same ESSID, the same channel and the same security parameters (WEP, etc). Then in the MNWAPB you need to enter in the MAC address of the other router in the listing on the Wireless Settings page. I would assume you would need todo the same thing on your other router as well.

S.