Wireless Bridges

I would always recommend going for a bridge from the same manufacturer as your router as compatibility between manufacturers is utter pants!

And do a search for your chosen model on this forum before buying too, as some bridges seem to have problems talking to the TiVo drivers unless there's a cheap network switch interposed between them...

 

Until last week, I was using a WGE101 with a separate switch, that would allow me to support both my TiVo and another device. Although the bridge was powered htrough a surge-supressor, it failed at around the time of a thunderstorm; maybe due to a wireless surge.

I didn't see the WGE111 as being a valid replacement, since the 'games adapter' type of bridge is usually crippled to only allow one connected device. So I bought a WGPS606 print server off eBay, which replaces both the bridge and the switch. I only installed it today, but it seems fine. Unlike the WGE101, it also supports WPA-PSK encryption.

I use all Netgear, since I use a WG602 access point with a DG834 router.

 

I'm using a WGE101 on my TiVo without any problems. Its upstream connection is to a NetGear WG602v2.

 

My kitchen player is powered by a Slimp player in bridge mode

http://www.slimdevices.com

WARNING Don't Click On The Above Link Or You May See Your Next "Must Have" Purchase

Also get to listen to radio station all around the world with it from Sydney AUS to Los Angeles etc

Automan.

 

wge111 works fine for me

Jimus

 

I use a Linksys WRT54G (V3) running DD-WRT to convert the Linksys wireless router to a multiport wireless bridge. My first one cost £32 many moons ago.

I have 3 and they all work fine, just sit there and wirelessly bridge devices (NAS, print servers, kids PC's, TiVo etc) to my NetGear DG834G.

 

Been there, done that...

 

HI
I have a belkin Wireless 125 High Speed Mode router with integrated printserver but it seems belkin don't make bridges (at least you can't find 'em on their website)
So what is the best way for me to hook my tivo into my wireless network? I have XP so guess I need to download / buy some software to "talk" to the tivo.

Am still looking around the site in case this is posted someplace else and I've missed it.

Gaz

 

Sorry for so many questions, but this sounds like the way to go vs. a USB adapter...

Is it necessary to run DD-WRT to convert to a bridge? Or does Linksys f/w also provide a bridging option? If I need DD-WRT does it need to be on both routers?

I'm also curious as to whether or not the bridge will affect wireless performance for the non-bridged devices connected to my primary wireless router (i.e. not the Tivo router). There was a caution posted on one of the Linksys forums about performance issues. Do you have any insight into that?

Lastly, there are a number of negative articles re: WRT54G v5.0. Do you have any idea which f/w versions avoid these issues?

Thanks for any of these ques. you can help with.

 

I don't think the stock Linksys f/w supports bridging so you will need to install an after-market firmware such as DD-WRT, Openwrt or Sveasoft (I use the latter, am happy with Talisman 1.2 in client routed mode - costs $20 though)

Possibly - if you configure both WRT54Gs in WDS mode (aka repeater), each router has to receive then resend wireless data so throughput of the wireless network can be halved. If your firmware supports it you would be better off with "client routed" mode (certainly supported in Sveasoft, maybe others too) for your TiVo-router and leave your main wireless/gateway router in infrastructure/access point mode.

No firmware version will avoid the issues present in the v5 - the hardware is rubbish, just avoid it! Buy only the Linux-based WRT54GL or WRTSL54GS, or from eBay buy only pre-v5 WRT54G or pre-v4 WRT54GS.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WRT54G

 

1. Make sure the WRT54G is not V5, it has only 1/2 the FLASH. PC World had loads of the WRT54G's V4 couple of months ago for £42. Or get WRT54GS which I did on my 3rd WRT to guarantee I didn't get a V5 WRT54G (if you see what I mean).

2. Load DD-WRT.

3. Set it up and select as in my attached picture the wireless client bridge mode.

4. Use the status page on DD-WRT to see the wireless status and see access point it is connected to. My WRT's connect no issues to a NetGear DG834G. I didn't fiddle with much else, just the required wireless WPA parameters etc and it all worked first time no problem.

5. Plug in 4 ethernet cables and away you go....

 

Another vote for the WGPS606 Wireless Print Server.

I have one of these connecting my Tivo, xbox and Mac Mini to my Netgear wireless AP upstairs. Works brilliantly.

 

Are you using this just to connect Tivo, xbox and Mac Mini, or do you have printers connected downstairs? If you are using this without printers, why? Is it better/cheaper that a WGE111? Would a WGE111 and a switch do the same job?

 

I also use the WGPS606 to connect two TiVos, a Netgem iPlayer and printer. It has worked faultlessly for many months. The two Linksys WET-11 bridges that preceded it were total rubbish but I got them cheap (false economy).

 

Ah yes, that makes lots of sense! I was seeing a Print Server with builtin Wireless Bridge, when I should have been seeing a Wireless Bridge with builtin Print Server

I have no experience of bridging - can you answer a simple question? Does this just give a direct (but wireless) connection between the plugged in devices and, in my case, my wireless ADSL router and then to other wireless devices? To clarify, I'm presently working on my wireless laptop in the lounge where the tivos, xbox, etc are. My wireless ADSL router is on the other side of the house. If I was using a wireless bridge, to network the tivos, my laptop would not see the bridge as another wireless network (or at all?), but would be able to connect (wirelessly) to the connected devices, via the router not the bridge?

Practically, would the fact that the bridge would be located down behind the TV, Tivos, Sub, etc, affect the quality of the wireless signal?