2 edits | Enabling WDS Mode on the Motorola WR850G Enabling WDS Mode on the Motorola WR850G Router (5.13 Firmware):
On Networking/DHCP Server Page, disable the DHCP Server on the Router being used as a repeater. Set the second unit to a LAN Private IP Address of 192.168.10.2, subnet mask to 255.255.255.0.
On WIRELESS BASIC Page:
Set both SSID's to the same thing (Capitalization counts)
Set both to the same channel.
Set both Operations Modes to the same thing (Compatibility 802.11b/g)
On WIRELESS SECURITY Page:
Enable SSID Broadcast
Set ESS Authentication to "Open System"
Set Encryption Status to "None"
Disable "Wireless MAC Address Control"
On WIRELESS ADVANCED Page:
Make sure Short Preamble and Frame Bursting are disabled.
Enable WDS Mode (on 4.03 firmware do not check this box as WDS is already enabled)
Enable WDS Restrict Mode
Enter the other routers WIRELESS MAC address in the others WDS Restrict MAC Address Area (Both routers have to have the others Wireless MAC entered here)
Once you have this working you can then turn on security. ONLY WEP is currently supported in WDS Mode (WPA will be supported in the new firmware). When you enable security it must be identical on both units (ESS Authentication and Encryption Status need to be identical, as well as the WEP Key). If you decide to enable "Wireless MAC Access Control List" on the Wireless/Security page, you must enter the Wireless MAC of each router in here as well as the Wireless MAC of any clients (in both routers).
Hope this helps! |
|
Samora
join:2003-01-17
Schenectady, NY | Thanks. I am pretty sure I have already tried this. Perhaps I missed something. I will try it when I get some time. |
|
| I just want to thank you for posting this. I bought two (2) of these routers for just that purpose. I tried (for a couple hours) to get it to work. I couldn't understand why it wouldnt't work until I saw your post and noticed the version number. One of the routers had the 4.03 version. Stupid Motorola doesn't bother telling anyone. Oh well. Thanks again.
Adam |
|
| Glad I could help! |
|
| I do have one more question. In theory, the WDS is supposed to work without having to change any settings, but is there a way to tell that my laptop is receiving the signal from the second router (repeater)? How can I tell which router is giving me the signal? Thanks
By the way... I have netstumbler and have attached a screenshot of it. Notice the * and + next to the channel number.
Adam |
|
| reply to WirelessGuy0
Thanks, it worked fine with the WEP only note and starting open then applying security. It'll be good to switch to WPA when v6.x firmware arrives. |
|
| reply to adam9280
Actually in the Motorola Utility under the Site Survey you should see both access points, you will see the signal strength from both as well, you should be able to determine from your Connection Status which access point you are associated with. |
|
|
|
| I'm not sure why, but I'm fascinated by WDS. Poking around the internet, I found strangely little info about it, but I did find this document that explains things in quite a bit of detail:
»www.orinocowireless.com/support/···-046.pdf
quote:
Actually in the Motorola Utility under the Site Survey you should see both access points
I would think if you set the ssid the same, you will only see one (the stronger one, i guess?). BUT you do not have to use the same ssid so you can set two differnt ssid's and that way the client can tell, or indeed be forced to connect to a particular one or the other.
I have a WA840G and WR850G set up with WDS and initially had the ssid set the same -- but I just changed one of them, rebooted everything, and the WDS appears to operate just fine, i can connect to one or the other selectively, and see both in the site survey.
Keep in mind you absolutely have to have the same security settings in both. |
|
| WDS is very cool.. The ONLY downside to it that I have found is the hit to the bandwidth, and this would really only apply to LAN transfers as even with the bandwidth hit WAN transfers would still be well above most people's Broadband connection speed...
I have a WR850GP wired to a WA840G... I have it wired beause 1) it was in a location easy to wire 2) I wanted to use WPA-PKS/AES security... (6.xx does solve the WEP Only issue in WDS)
I also have a second WR850GP that I am going to set up in WDS Mode and put it near a window and see if I can get a signal at a park that is LoS about 1/5 mile from me and I can surf while my kids play at the park this summer...
I like playing around with this stuff, it is certainly a lot of fun! |
|
| "see if I can get a signal at a park that is LoS about 1/5 mile from me"
I'm thinking there is no way that could work with the standard antenna. ? Keep up posted!
my WR850G has a fixed antenna, but i think i heard that some have the connector... my particular WA840G has a removable antenna. |
|
| said by ebeighe:"see if I can get a signal at a park that is LoS about 1/5 mile from me" I'm thinking there is no way that could work with the standard antenna. ? Keep up posted! my WR850G has a fixed antenna, but i think i heard that some have the connector... my particular WA840G has a removable antenna. I will probably make one of those homemade reflectors for the antenna and see what happens...
All of my WR850G/GP's have removable antennas. From what I understand the v3 WR850G's (the black ones) don't have a removable antenna, but I haven't personally worked with one yet... Here is a link with a little info on the internal hardware... »openwrt.org/OpenWrtDocs/Hardware···dware%29
It looks like the v2 & v3's have a 200Mhz processor where as the original v1 had only a 125Mhz processor... |
|
 zvoltsPremium
join:2005-02-04
Mikado, MI | said by WireLessGuy:
From what I understand the v3 WR850G's (the black ones) don't have a removable antenna
I have the v3 and the antenna is not removable.  |
|
| said by zvolts: said by WireLessGuy:
From what I understand the v3 WR850G's (the black ones) don't have a removable antenna
I have the v3 and the antenna is not removable. Well if you are handy, you could always open the case and install an external antenna adapter off of the current antenna connections on the mainboard... That really wouldn't be very hard... |
|
zvoltsPremium
join:2005-02-04
Mikado, MI | Gee, I wonder if that would void my warranty?  ;) Kidding of course.
Do you know of a web site with information on this specific to the MOTO routers? |
|
| Nothing really, but it should be a pretty basic unit inside... When you open it, it should be very obvious where you would solder the new pigtail... |
|
| This unit would no-longer be replaceble under motorola's replacement parts warranty unfortunatly, that is, if you did follow through with this procedure. Also these units's circuits are pre-tested so, with this being stated, the units are already tested to work the most proficient. With the antenna that is provided. |
|
gromer
join:2005-03-23
Cedar Park, TX | reply to WirelessGuy0
Are you sure both units need the same SSID? I have a WR850G and a Linksys WRT54G setup with WDS. The Moto unit is the repeater and it's SSID is "repeater" yet the Linksys SSID is different. Everything works fine. |
|
| said by gromer:Are you sure both units need the same SSID? I have a WR850G and a Linksys WRT54G setup with WDS. The Moto unit is the repeater and it's SSID is "repeater" yet the Linksys SSID is different. Everything works fine. Will your client roam freely between the two? Typically the "Client" will roam based on the SSID and its place on the Preferred Network list. If you main AP is above your repeater on the list, the Client will stay associated with the Main AP as long as there is a usable signal, only after loosing that signal will it switch... If you set the SSID the same on both, it will switch to the one with the strongest signal, even if both have a usable signal... |
|
gromer
join:2005-03-23
Cedar Park, TX | Oh damn, I didn't think about that. So all I would need to do to change that is make the SSID's the same? |
|
| said by gromer:So all I would need to do to change that is make the SSID's the same? Yup, that should be it... The should be identical (capitalization counts) |
|
