Wireless Repeater To wired Question

[Durvelle27]

Guys i have a question. I'm currently in the process of adding on a office to my home that will house various devices and a plex server. My question is what mode do i use on the wireless repeater to connect to my current router and than use the LAN port on the repeater to drive a rack Ethernet switch ?

The modes available are

AP
Client
WDS
AP+WDS

 

[Kursah]

What model of repeater?

I've setup a few Linksys/Cisco RE-6500's (iirc), and they obtained their network connection over WiFi, then re-broadcasted that WiFi signal and the Ethernet ports were treated as switch ports. Made things handy in those extremely rare cases where I couldn't authorize or get a cable run accomplished. Wondering if the device you has works in the same way.

AP mode may be what you want instead, again depending on device, as that would rely on an Ethernet connection for network access and would broadcast the SSID you setup on it. Whether you choose to setup any other WiFi networks or repeat what your main WiFi router broadcasts would then be up to you.

 

[Durvelle27]

What model of repeater?

I've setup a few Linksys/Cisco RE-6500's (iirc), and they obtained their network connection over WiFi, then re-broadcasted that WiFi signal and the Ethernet ports were treated as switch ports. Made things handy in those extremely rare cases where I couldn't authorize or get a cable run accomplished. Wondering if the device you has works in the same way.

AP mode may be what you want instead, again depending on device, as that would rely on an Ethernet connection for network access and would broadcast the SSID you setup on it. Whether you choose to setup any other WiFi networks or repeat what your main WiFi router broadcasts would then be up to you.

Not sure what model it is honestly. Just was digging around and found it in the bottom of some boxes. The no devices will use the wireless off of it. Just straight LAN connectivity.

 

[Kursah]

Okay, well can you take pictures or look to see if it has a label on it?

I would test it, but most LAN ports (switch arrays) in home-grade routers can be used as simple switches by disabling DHCP (and possibly other features like firewall, static routing, etc.).

I use an Asus router as an AP, with an Ethernet run going to it's WAN port providing LAN connectivity, leaving the 4 ports to act as switch ports. It's proven to be quite useful honestly. Not sure if the device you found at the bottom of a box will do that or not without more info from your end tho.

 

[Durvelle27]

It has a label on it but everything is faded off of it

but this is how the web interface looks

 

[Kursah]

Seeing that it has WAN and LAN status, what are the items listed under Network, Wireless and Advanced?

Does it have a dedicated WAN port and some LAN ports?

That MAC address comes up as TECNOMEN OY, which I know nothing about. But if it has dedicated ports and is in router mode, you should be able to disable all extra features (DHCP, DNS, Firewall, etc.) and run it as a switch in theory.

 

[Durvelle27]

Seeing that it has WAN and LAN status, what are the items listed under Network, Wireless and Advanced?

Does it have a dedicated WAN port and some LAN ports?

That MAC address comes up as TECNOMEN OY, which I know nothing about. But if it has dedicated ports and is in router mode, you should be able to disable all extra features (DHCP, DNS, Firewall, etc.) and run it as a switch in theory.

Yes it has both a WAN and LAN Ports

 

[Kursah]

So I'd disable the WLAN interface, disable DHCP, DNS, Firewall/NAT. That should allow you to use it as a switch. The question would be if it will allow the WAN port to be included in that or not...I'd test it if I were you and connect as I have explained above.

Main Router -> Ethernet -> WAN port on this device, then connect a test device (laptop or whatever) to one of the LAN ports and see if traffic passes. If so you've got a functioning simple switch.

If not, try bypassing the WAN port altogether and just using the LAN ports to see if it works.

Main Router -> Ethernet -> LAN port

 

[eidairaman1]

What does it have Under Lan Setting IE Icon?

Lol

I don't think you need WDS unless you can't use an Ethernet cord on the Main Transmitter. You are trying to use it like a wifi plug link.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_distribution_system

https://eu.dlink.com/uk/en/support/...nge-extenders/what-do-the-modes-mean-on-my-ap

 

[Durvelle27]

What does it have Under Lan Setting IE Icon?

Lol

I don't think you need WDS unless you can't use an Ethernet cord on the Main Transmitter. You are trying to use it like a wifi plug link.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_distribution_system

https://eu.dlink.com/uk/en/support/...nge-extenders/what-do-the-modes-mean-on-my-ap

Yes I want to use it like a extension via WiFi than to Ethernet as where the office is located I can’t get any hardlines into it and I don’t want to have to buy 2 WiFi adapters for the desktops

 

[Toothless]

I actually use something like your setup for two of my desktops, and for me anyway the speeds are trash. Hope you get yours figured out.

 

[newtekie1]

I think you might just wan to set it to Client mode. That will make it connect to your main WiFi network as a client and it should share that connection with the LAN port.

 

[Durvelle27]

I actually use something like your setup for two of my desktops, and for me anyway the speeds are trash. Hope you get yours figured out.

How did you do yours and hopefully the speeds don’t be to bad for me. My ISP is 300/50

 

[eidairaman1]

Yes I want to use it like a extension via WiFi than to Ethernet as where the office is located I can’t get any hardlines into it and I don’t want to have to buy 2 WiFi adapters for the desktops

Set to Wireless Client mode or bridge for the one hooked to the computer, the one hooked to the router probably AP mode...

 

[TheLostSwede]

You do realise that you're going to get terrible network performance on the devices in your office, right?
Ideally you should use 5GHz Wi-Fi between the main router and the wireless bridge in your office, as long as the distance isn't too long.
Using some random old hardware is going to be far from ideal, as it'll limit the throughput for all the devices that are connected to it.
Even worse, other devices will still be able to connect to the Wi-Fi, so if someone else in your home connects to it, you'll lose whatever bandwidth they're using on top of it.

It would appear that you have a Medion P85032 or something similar, which is an OEM version of various Chinese device according to http://blog.friedzombie.com/tag/ws-wn523n2/
It's at least a 2x2 MIMO 300Mbps device, but as you say you have a 300Mbps internet connection and this thing isn't going to push anywhere near its rated speed...
If you're lucky, you might be able to max out the 10/100Mbps Ethernet ports on the device, but I doubt even that is possible. You're most likely going to top out somewhere around 50-70Mbps depending on how good that repeater is, but it might also be less, as the hardware inside is some very old Realtek gear. Realtek isn't know for offering the best in terms of performance, unfortunately...

Do yourself a favour and get some decent hardware. At least you'll be able to take advantage of the internet connection you're paying for that way. I've got a couple of wireless repeaters/range extenders around my place and they all connect with 5GHz to the main router and although I don't get the full 200Mbps speed I get on the same floor as the main router, I do get 150Mbps+ from them.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Durvelle27]

Alright so after setting it to Client mode I was able to get it to work over Ethernet to my desktop. Speeds seem to be hovering between 14MBs-24MBs which I’m betting it because the device is only 2.4GHz capable and can’t utilize my routers 5GHz band.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Wow, that's even slower than I expected. How far are you from the main router?

 

[Durvelle27]

Wow, that's even slower than I expected. How far are you from the main router?

Maybe 20ft at most

 

[TheLostSwede]

Wow, that must be a really bad repeater then. It obviously has no external antennas, which doesn't help, but even so, at that distance, you should get twice that speed.
5GHz won't be a problem at all then, assuming your router supports it.

 

[eidairaman1]

Alright so after setting it to Client mode I was able to get it to work over Ethernet to my desktop. Speeds seem to be hovering between 14MBs-24MBs which I’m betting it because the device is only 2.4GHz capable and can’t utilize my routers 5GHz band.

Yup, try switching channels if possible.

 

[Toothless]

How did you do yours and hopefully the speeds don’t be to bad for me. My ISP is 300/50

Modem>Wired>Router>Wireless>Extender>Wired>Computers. I'm at 80/15 and getting like 20/5 at the end.

 

[Durvelle27]

Wow, that must be a really bad repeater then. It obviously has no external antennas, which doesn't help, but even so, at that distance, you should get twice that speed.
5GHz won't be a problem at all then, assuming your router supports it.

Nope it’s all internal antennas

My router supports N 450MBs/AC 1300MBs

Yup, try switching channels if possible.

On the repeater

Modem>Wired>Router>Wireless>Extender>Wired>Computers. I'm at 80/15 and getting like 20/5 at the end.

That ratio decrease is still much better than mine

But I tested on my iPhone in the same room just to see the results

On 5GHz I pull 179/24 and on 2.4GHz I pull between 8/15 - 40/20

 

[eidairaman1]

Are you using it as a repeater?

 

[Durvelle27]

Are you using it as a repeater?

I think I did hit repeater in the settings

 

[Toothless]

Nope it’s all internal antennas

My router supports N 450MBs/AC 1300MBs


On the repeater


That ratio decrease is still much better than mine

But I tested on my iPhone in the same room just to see the results

On 5GHz I pull 179/24 and on 2.4GHz I pull between 8/15 - 40/20

Mine is all on the 2.4 band. My extender doesn't use 5.