This site is a fantastic resource, and I have learned a lot by reading the articles and reviews, but I don't feel 100% confident setting up this bridge and wanted to check.
My 30 Mbps SMC cable modem/router is on the wrong wall in my 2-person office. All I need is a simple wireless bridge from the SMC to the LAN. I managed to set up a bridge using a pair of WRT54G's with the one on the LAN side using Tomato, but the speed isn't there - the most I get is about 10 Mbps to the Internet.
I have ordered a couple of TP-Link TL-WR702N's to replace the WRT54G's. I think what I need to do to setup the bridge is:
1. Configure the WAN unit in Access Point mode with a static IP outside the SMC's DHCP range.
2. Configure the LAN unit in Client mode with another static IP, with the WAN unit's SSID as its gateway.
3. Configure security on both units
4. Connect the WAN unit to an Ethernet port on the SMC.
5. Connect the LAN unit to the LAN switch.
I have some questions and I hope the experts here don't mind my asking:
1. Is that right? It seems odd to not be using "Bridge" mode for a bridge, but I don't need wireless repeating, which seems to be the purpose of "Bridge" mode.
2. Should performance be adequate for my 30Mbps Internet connection? The units will be less than 15 feet apart.
3. How will the orientation of the TP-Link units affect their signal strength? Can I stick them to the wall, or do they need to stand upright?
4. Would I get better performance for the occasional wireless client by adding a higher-spec AP attached to the LAN switch?
5. What is the best way to avoid interference? There are 14 wireless networks in range of my Samsung netbook!
Thanks!
My 30 Mbps SMC cable modem/router is on the wrong wall in my 2-person office. All I need is a simple wireless bridge from the SMC to the LAN. I managed to set up a bridge using a pair of WRT54G's with the one on the LAN side using Tomato, but the speed isn't there - the most I get is about 10 Mbps to the Internet.
I have ordered a couple of TP-Link TL-WR702N's to replace the WRT54G's. I think what I need to do to setup the bridge is:
1. Configure the WAN unit in Access Point mode with a static IP outside the SMC's DHCP range.
2. Configure the LAN unit in Client mode with another static IP, with the WAN unit's SSID as its gateway.
3. Configure security on both units
4. Connect the WAN unit to an Ethernet port on the SMC.
5. Connect the LAN unit to the LAN switch.
I have some questions and I hope the experts here don't mind my asking:
1. Is that right? It seems odd to not be using "Bridge" mode for a bridge, but I don't need wireless repeating, which seems to be the purpose of "Bridge" mode.
2. Should performance be adequate for my 30Mbps Internet connection? The units will be less than 15 feet apart.
3. How will the orientation of the TP-Link units affect their signal strength? Can I stick them to the wall, or do they need to stand upright?
4. Would I get better performance for the occasional wireless client by adding a higher-spec AP attached to the LAN switch?
5. What is the best way to avoid interference? There are 14 wireless networks in range of my Samsung netbook!
Thanks!