How to wireless bridge my 2 networks?

[Lord_Moebius]

Hi!

My current network consists of a WL500g "X" connected to ADSL and a few systems hooked up using UTP.
X is using Oleg's modded 1.7.5.6 and is in "gateway" operation mode (Sytem Setup) with extended mode "access point" (Wireless->Interface).
My wife has a separate laptop and uses WiFi to connect to the WL500g, but too often she seems to suffer from poor signal.

So I just bought a second WL500g "Y" with the idea to put it somewhere in between X and my wife's favorite working spots and boost her signal.
I want Y to function as a wireless bridge (WDS?) but also want to be able to connect devices using UTP and possibly a webcam and a printer.
I flashed it with the newest firmware 1.8.1.9.

I can't seem to get it to work though...
I tried putting Y in Access Point mode (System Setup) and Hybrid (Wireless->Bridge), with the MAC address of X in the Remote Bridge List, and setting both X and Y on the same channel, but alas... Y just can't seemed to connect to X even though WEP keys and Access Control are set correctly.
I also tried putting Y's Operation Mode on "ether bridge" (Wireless->Interface), putting both X and Y in hybrid mode, but without success.
When in "ether bridge" mode, Y's System Log states "Connecting to <SSID>" but never seems to get there.
As a nasty extra, whenever Y is activated, my wife's laptop seems to loose its IP-configuration and getting bogus instead.

How can I set this up correctly? I think it's a text book case, but the Asus docs are not really helping me here.
What settings do I need to configure on X and Y to get this working?

Thank you so much!

Erwin

[geethreeforce]

Hi,

My collegue had the same problem creating wireless bridge.
He solved the problem by running the latest asus firmware 1.8.1.9 on both his WL500G boxes. With the CR builds he also couldn't get this to work.

Hope this helps.
Although you have to give up the CR release with it's lovely extra functions.
I dont know if there are plans for a CR release based on 1.8.1.9

Maybe Oleg or Antiloop can shine some lite on that matter.

Regards Niels

[Antiloop]

try using the same custom firmware at your WL500g (Y) if you haven't tried yet..

i can also suggest you to probably solve the problem with using a broadcom based wireless card if you aren't using one yet

[Oleg]

Although you have to give up the CR release with it's lovely extra functions.
I dont know if there are plans for a CR release based on 1.8.1.9

Well, I've started porting things to 1.8, but it's now halted due to the lack of time... Volunteers with linux knowledge needed to help me porting all the stuff we've in the 1.7.5.9.
In fact, once custom firmware will be ported to 1.8, we will have ~400k of free space in the flash, so we will be able to add more features, this is the only reason for migration.

[tonia]

Same problem with coverage in my house, so:

I'm using 1.6.5.3 on both wl-500g, and it works! Both are set to "hybrid" - same channel, X is "home gateway" and Y is "access point". Using WEP-64.

BUT, my second PC using wl-138g has problems, the wireless keeps loosing connection with Y, this is really a pain.
I do have a satellite tuner with cable-network-connection to "Y" and there is no problem with this.

To make sure the second PC only connects to Y, I have omitted its MAC in X access control.

All PC using same subnet, and the same 192.168.1.x-series.

[tonia]

Same problem with coverage in my house, so:

I'm using 1.6.5.3 on both wl-500g, and it works! Both are set to "hybrid" - same channel, X is "home gateway" and Y is "access point". Using WEP-64.

BUT, my second PC using wl-138g has problems, the wireless keeps loosing connection with Y, this is really a pain.
I do have a satellite tuner with cable-network-connection to "Y" and there is no problem with this.

To make sure the second PC only connects to Y, I have omitted its MAC in X access control.

All PC using same subnet, and the same 192.168.1.x-series.

And voila, did uncheck the "activate IEEE802.x ....." in advanced setting, and now everything is working flawless!!!!!!!

BUT, using WEP-64, want to use WPA...which might be a challenge later.

[P Still]

Same problem with connecting as Lord Mobius but in my case, “X” is an AP in a big W WAN (Symbol tech.) so I can’t fix it with firmware. I have installed 1.8.1.9 on Y.

Setting up my WL-500g (Y) as: Home gateway (want to share IP-address for my 3 PC’s (wired to WL-500g, no wireless)), WDS only, bridge mode, fixed IP on WAN, default on LAN with DHCP. No NAT-settings, no Internet firewall settings, Also want to share printer from WAN and LAN side, share a ftp-server on internet.
Result: Connecting to AP is OK, but 0.0.0.0 is showing as IP-address in the WAN (I have access to the switch). In wl-500g web home page everything looks OK.

Next step: changing IP and subnetmask on LAN-side to the WAN IP and subnetmask 255.255.255.192
Result: IP showing on WAN seems OK but no connection to internet (gateway IP ?). Web home page have now changed WAN IP-address and subnetmask. Can ping wl-500g from LAN or from WAN but not through. If I connect to web page from WAN-side, WAN IP and subnetmask is different from web page from LAN.

Next step: Entering WAN gateway IP as gateway IP on LAN (still impossible to enter the right IP on WAN, wl-500g change it to 1.1.1.1 and subnetmask 255.0.0.0)
Result: web page have changed WAN /default gateway IP,
wl-500g is acting on WAN with the gateway IP as it’s IP-address= KAOS.

During this tests I must have caused a lot of wrong traffic, because our ISP have shot down the Gateway 3 times now as a result of my trials. Meaning I’m now not willing to test “in the dark” anymore.
I have also tested different settings ( AP-mode, hybrid – AP, …… ) always with some of the results mentioned above.

Now, what to do ? Sell my wl-550g cheap to someone with more (or less) knowledge and buy 5 adapters/bridges ?
Or have information from someone here on this forum !

[P Still]

Well
The commercials about wl-500g was talking about a great HW.
But it looks like it was a bit overrated.
More just a toy for connecting to other ASUS stuff. Not according to open standard, 802.11... .

So far no help or solutions from neither ASUS or this forum.

So the conclusion is:
I will sell my wl-500g (cheap) and not recommend it to others.

[brubber]

Same problem with connecting as Lord Mobius but in my case, “X” is an AP in a big W WAN (Symbol tech.) so I can’t fix it with firmware. I have installed 1.8.1.9 on Y.

Setting up my WL-500g (Y) as: Home gateway (want to share IP-address for my 3 PC’s (wired to WL-500g, no wireless)), WDS only, bridge mode, fixed IP on WAN, default on LAN with DHCP. No NAT-settings, no Internet firewall settings, Also want to share printer from WAN and LAN side, share a ftp-server on internet.
Result: Connecting to AP is OK, but 0.0.0.0 is showing as IP-address in the WAN (I have access to the switch). In wl-500g web home page everything looks OK.

Next step: changing IP and subnetmask on LAN-side to the WAN IP and subnetmask 255.255.255.192
Result: IP showing on WAN seems OK but no connection to internet (gateway IP ?). Web home page have now changed WAN IP-address and subnetmask. Can ping wl-500g from LAN or from WAN but not through. If I connect to web page from WAN-side, WAN IP and subnetmask is different from web page from LAN.

Next step: Entering WAN gateway IP as gateway IP on LAN (still impossible to enter the right IP on WAN, wl-500g change it to 1.1.1.1 and subnetmask 255.0.0.0)
Result: web page have changed WAN /default gateway IP,
wl-500g is acting on WAN with the gateway IP as it’s IP-address= KAOS.

During this tests I must have caused a lot of wrong traffic, because our ISP have shot down the Gateway 3 times now as a result of my trials. Meaning I’m now not willing to test “in the dark” anymore.
I have also tested different settings ( AP-mode, hybrid – AP, …… ) always with some of the results mentioned above.

Now, what to do ? Sell my wl-550g cheap to someone with more (or less) knowledge and buy 5 adapters/bridges ?
Or have information from someone here on this forum !

If you want some sensible answers you may wish to start with a proper description of you LAN setup.

Is the wl500g connected directly to your WAN (modem)? If so what is the gateway adress of your modem? Do you have an active DHCP server on your modem? If yes, what are the settings?

I really don't understand what you are doing with the IP adresses and subnetmasks and gateway

If your modem is connected directly to the wl500g you may wish to try Automatic IP for your WAN (That is if the modem has an active DHCP server)

What is the IP adress range / gateway of your WAN

What do you mean by sharing an IP adress for 3 PC's

Any firewalls active by chance

Don't give up so soon!!

[P Still]

Simple set up but strange effects when configuring.

As described I want my wl-500g to be wireless connected to an AP (Symbol) in a big (wireless) WAN = No modem. In the WAN we all have fixed IP-addresses.

Hoped to use the wl-500g with at least 1 PC (or 3) and network printer and ftp-server connected by wire to it. All with just one IP-adress on WAN and Internet. Latest firmware installed.

But setting up wl-500g (= se my first post) just resulting in these examples:
1. sending it's IP-address to the AP as 0.0.0.0 or
2. 192.168.1.1 (=LAN-IP) (if I changed to station mode)
SO I changed the LAN-IP-address to value of WAN-IP and now it's showing right IP-address on WAN-side. Ping OK from WAN, not from Internet or LAN (Gateway-value missing or wrong? + .... on LAN-side?).
SO testing with just changing to ethernet bridge mode => now the Gateway-value is seen as IP-address for the wl-500 on the WAN = kaos on the WAN
=> ISP shuting down the gateway for the whole WAN.......


So, best result so far (tested a lot of alternatives) is "Home gateway", "WDS only" and "station mode". Then I can at least ping from WAN, but not from Internet or LAN. Same with printing.

How to get it working from Internet and LAN ?

[Styno]

I concur with Brubber. The reason why you haven't got any answer here is because its difficult to understand what your (planned) network setup is and where the problems are. I've read your posts three times and I still haven't got a clue to what you want. So I can't respond to your question, and uless I'm really simple, so will most other forum menbers.

The Asus router is indeed not without problems (never believe marketing talk for that matter), but it certainly has lots of advantages over the other gray products which crowd the market. Look at it as a raw diamond, it just needs crafted handling and a beautiful jewel will emerge.

Try to elaborate more and post a picture (scheme) here of your setup. Then we'll see what we can do to help...

[Antiloop]

hmm make a clear visio drawing and attach it to your post

[P Still]

This is my wanted setup.

So, how should this be accomplished ?

[chipanzee]

Basically, you just exchange WAN with WIRELESS. But I believe there is a few things that you need to change :

bridge

The default configure bridge WIRELESS and LAN. You may need to break this or all your LAN port may be opened to the world, though I read somewhere that wireless bridge this way may not work at all.

firewall/SNAT

You would need to change the firewall rules so it blocks things from WIRELESS instead from WAN and SNAT on outgoing through WIRELESS instead of WAN.

put WIRELESS in client mode

So your WIRELESS interface act the same as the "notebook" in the diagram.

That should be it. Don't ask me how though as I am using openwrt and not the ASUS firmware but they should be pretty similiar in terms of setup.

[P Still]

Your thoughts are about the same as mine when I started.
Now I don't know

Bridge: I set "WDS only" in bridge settings. Open ports?
Well, when making a port scanning the only port reply I get is from 21-ftp, 80-www, 515-printer and sometimes 5431-ParkAgent (?) and that is from both LAN-side and WAN/wireless side. Different firewall or NAT-setting don't change that.

Wireless in Client mode:
Well, that option is not on the standard meny. That is also what ASUS Tech support Center answered "WL-500g can not be a wireless client".
And I've tested Olegs 1.7.5.9 and setting: nvram set 13_x_ClientMode=2 ....
No luck. Sure it's working ?
Looking into this forum, openwrt seems to demand some deeper knowledge in programming or codes. I don't have that.