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Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Can anyone recommend a good WiFi router for bridging?


752 posts

Ultimate Geek
Topic # 84755 7-Jun-2011 18:56 Send private message

I have a couple of units in one room that I want to connect to the network, and cabling isn't feasible.

Needs to be wireless N as I will be streaming video (have tested with a WiFi dongle and throughput is fine), and N300 not the crappy half-speed N150 some vendors seem to be pushing.

Selectable (2.4Ghz or 5.8Ghz) would be an advantage, as my modem-router does both, as does the WiFi dongle on the upstairs WD TV Live. Will allow me to separate web-surfing on the laptop (at 2.4Ghz) from video streaming. However, I don't want to spend a fortune, so could give way on this.

Does anyone have any recommendations, thoughts or experiences to share with routers that are:
-  affordable;
-  capable of running in bridge mode;
-  N300 capable; and
-  desirably, but not essentially, 5.8Ghz compatible?

Thanks

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71 posts

Master Geek
  Reply # 478771 7-Jun-2011 22:13 Send private message

My recommendation would be for you to pick up a router that can run dd-wrt and/or tomato open source software. Manufacturers seem to stop updating the software for their routers after a year or two, and on the whole they tend to be unreliable. In contrast, the open source software gets continuing updates and I've found it to be rock solid.

I'm personally running tomatousb [tomatousb.org] on Linksys e2000 and WRT320N routers, which are essentially the same and tick all your boxes. In the time I've had them, they have never crashed or needed rebooting. I think you can pick up an e2000 new for about $170, although that model is about to be discontinued.

1600 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted
Subscriber
  Reply # 480809 13-Jun-2011 23:26 Send private message

Just to be clear, bridging means wireless device to wireless device then the output is a lan cable.
So if you have a wireless only client device like a tv or printer without a network plug, it wont work unless you have a 3rd unit to act as another access point. 

Also wireless repeating wont work at the speeds you want as it usually more than halves the speed required, and i am not entirely sure on the status of N repeating. 

So if the end devices can be plugged into a network switch, then the switch can be plugged into a client bridge then you are good to go. 

I cant recomend any decent client bridge except maybe the D-link ones. Their AP's lately have a switch on the back where you can select AP or Client mode, and it just acts as a client bridge to the AP or router you program it for. I am not sure about the client option in the newer N series devices though their slightly older G series AP's were good for this mode.  

Edit: typically you will be looking for an Access point only device with client mode - NOT a router with built in access point.




Ray Taylor
Napier, NZ
www.taylorcommunications.co.nz 

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