Repeating Mode Comparisons
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Revision as of 13:33, 27 August 2008 (edit) Soulstace (Talk | contribs) m (some general guidelines) ← Previous diff |
Revision as of 13:55, 27 August 2008 (edit) (undo) Soulstace (Talk | contribs) m (→I'm still confused! Which mode should I use? - better) Next diff → |
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==I'm still confused! Which mode should I use?== | ==I'm still confused! Which mode should I use?== | ||
- | The following are just some general guidelines for helping you choose | + | The following are just some general guidelines for helping you choose the proper repeater mode. |
- | *Use [[WDS Linked router network|WDS]] if you have control over all routers '''and''' they each have compatible WDS implementations. | + | *Use [[WDS Linked router network|WDS]] if |
- | *Use R ([[Wlan Repeater|Repeater]]) if you don't have control over the host | + | **you have control over all routers '''and''' they each have compatible WDS implementations. |
+ | **you want to repeat your wireless signal and/or connect multiple networks together. | ||
+ | *Use R ([[Wlan Repeater|Repeater]]) if | ||
+ | **you don't have control over the host access point/router. | ||
**you want to repeat a wireless signal coming from your ISP. | **you want to repeat a wireless signal coming from your ISP. | ||
**you're staying at a hotel and want to boost an otherwise weak wireless signal to your laptop. | **you're staying at a hotel and want to boost an otherwise weak wireless signal to your laptop. | ||
- | *Use RB ([[Repeater Bridge]]) if | + | *Use RB ([[Repeater Bridge]]) if |
+ | **your host router/access point doesn't support WDS. | ||
+ | **you want to repeat a wireless signal and have all clients on the same network (same subnet). | ||
== See Also == | == See Also == |
Revision as of 13:55, 27 August 2008
Contents |
WDS vs R (Repeater) vs RB (Repeater Bridge)
This is a summary of issues related to repeating using "WDS" vs "Repeater" vs "Repeater Bridge" modes. Please note that some lines require to be confirmed ("TODO: Confirm"). If you experiment other results than those here indicated, please add your comments providing also your HW and DD-WRT version.
- On both WDS and R/RB (both R and RB), the repeater can broadcast another SSID. On WDS with WPA, both routers need to have the same SSID (TODO: Confirm).
- On WDS, both routers need to have the same SSID, which will be broadcasted by both routers (TODO: Confirm).
- On R/RB, the physical SSID will not only be used for joining the main-router, but also be repeated by the repeater (TODO: Confirm).
- On R, two SSID with the same name will collide (give problems) (TODO: Confirm). On RB, having the same SSID on the main-router and the repeater allows to "roam", ie. keep a connection active ¿or reconnect? (TODO: CONFIRM) when a client nears the other router.
- After RC6.2, virtual interfaces have BSSID with MAC address 02:XX:XX:XX:XX:01 for R mode. If the main-router and the repeater broadcast a BSSID with the same MAC, they probabilty will collide. For RB mode the MAC address is 00:XX:XX:XX:XX:01. - redhawk
- WDS and R/RB both will reduce bandwidth in half (but not necessarily for wired clients (TODO:Confirm))
- WDS must be configured on both routers (requires access) and require a compatible WDS implementation. R/RB only needs to configure the repeater and doesn't rely on the main-router's HW or firmware version.
- WDS may not support WPA2, it can be setup, but is just ignored (TODO: Confirm). R/RB support all encryption algorithms.
- WDS supports building a network of routers, where each repeater can connect to multiple other "main-routers" (WAN-routers) at the same time (TODO: Confirm). R/RB only connects to one router at a time, by SSID. Both WDS and R support connecting multiple repeaters in series ("repeat a repeater"), however a RB must connect to a DHCP serving unit.
- WDS does not perform MAC address translation (MAT). R/RB does translate MACs : the main-router sees all connections from clientes which connects through the repeater belonging to the same MAC as the repeater. This causes problems with some applications which relies on a MAC address.
I'm still confused! Which mode should I use?
The following are just some general guidelines for helping you choose the proper repeater mode.
- Use WDS if
- you have control over all routers and they each have compatible WDS implementations.
- you want to repeat your wireless signal and/or connect multiple networks together.
- Use R (Repeater) if
- you don't have control over the host access point/router.
- you want to repeat a wireless signal coming from your ISP.
- you're staying at a hotel and want to boost an otherwise weak wireless signal to your laptop.
- Use RB (Repeater Bridge) if
- your host router/access point doesn't support WDS.
- you want to repeat a wireless signal and have all clients on the same network (same subnet).