Help set up home wireless distribution system (WDS)

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Help set up home wireless distribution system (WDS)

lancedefrance

24 posts

Geek

#223074 11-Sep-2017 16:40

I would really appreciate it if someone can help me with my setup. I have a fibre connection at home that is connected to a Spark wifi router (Huawei HG630b). I get a signal downstairs and want to connect a desktop computer and a LAN printer to my network. The printer doesn’t have Wifi only Ethernet connection. I have a spare TP-Link TD-W8968 router that I would like to use.

My idea is that I would connect the TP-Link wirelessly to my Huawei router and then plug an Ethernet cable from the TP-Link to the desktop and another Ethernet cable to the printer.

I tried using WDS and read about it online however I am struggling to get it to work. These are the steps that I followed:

Huawei Config:

Set the DHCP range to start at 192.168.1.100 (I read that you need to make sure that there is available range so I removed any IP addresses below the .100 so that they are not available to be assigned by DHCP)

Turn on WDS on Huawei and enter the MAC Address of the TP-link

Set the wifi channel to 1

Restarted the device

TP-link Config

Turn off DHCP on the TP-Link

Set it up in Bridge mode

Set up wifi channel to 1

Scan wifi signal to select the wireless network that is being broadcasted by Huawei

Enter the Huawei MAC Address in TP-Link

Enter the wireless network password

Set up a new wireless network on TP-Link to have the a different name as the one currently being broadcasted by Huawei and assign a password for testing purposes

Restarted the device

I tried to connect the desktop to the TP-Link router by Ethernet cable however there is no internet connection on the desktop.

I am not really sure what I am doing wrong. I would appreciate it if someone can help please trouble shoot this as I have spent hours on it and I just can’t figure out why it is not working so any help would be greatly appreciated.

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#1862472 11-Sep-2017 18:01

First off WDS is the last thing you want to be using. It's typically not compatible between different brands of equipment and isn't going to do what you want to do anyway. It's for extending wireless - not acting as a wireless bridge.

You want something to act as a wireless bridge to convert wireless to Ethernet. TP-Link make several and some of their devices can act as a bridge and also provide Ethernet ports.

GoodSync

GoodSync. Easily back up and sync your files with GoodSync. Simple and secure file backup and synchronisation software will ensure that your files are never lost (affiliate link).

lancedefrance

24 posts

Geek

#1862516 11-Sep-2017 20:15

sbiddle:
First off WDS is the last thing you want to be using. It's typically not compatible between different brands of equipment and isn't going to do what you want to do anyway. It's for extending wireless - not acting as a wireless bridge.

You want something to act as a wireless bridge to convert wireless to Ethernet. TP-Link make several and some of their devices can act as a bridge and also provide Ethernet ports.

Thanks for the response, I am trying to do this on the cheap without buying any more equipment as my set up at this place is temporary for another 3 months and then I go to a new place so didnt want to spend any money on it.

Shame really, so I should just stop wasting my time. I have spent hours on this and conceptually in my head I cant see why it wouldnt work. Having said that I am not a network engineer and just a guy that reads different things online trying to make it work.

Any device recommendation? perhaps I would consider it if it was cheap enough.

Cheers

yitz

2041 posts

Uber Geek

#1862535 11-Sep-2017 20:40

You could look into flashing third party firmware that does support wireless bridge as WAN onto the router.

What is it that you are trying to do with the printer that requires network access? As a temporary measure could it somehow be done through the wirelessly-connected host PC? You could also consider bridging the wireless and wired LAN interfaces in Windows.

ANglEAUT

2294 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1862542 11-Sep-2017 21:00

lancedefrance: ... I am trying to do this on the cheap without buying any more equipment ... Any device recommendation? perhaps I would consider it if it was cheap enough. Cheers

Instead of connecting via wireless, have you considered Powerline adapters (Ethernet over Power)? In your situation, I think this would be a good alternative. They are easier to configure than WDS, more reliable & also portable to you next location.

Please keep this GZ community vibrant by contributing in a constructive & respectful manner.

richms

27982 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1862545 11-Sep-2017 21:03

WDS was a half finished standard. The good thing is that cheap TP links that do it are only a few bucks, and you have one already. works great as a bridge when I have done it on TPlinks to get network between buildings. Just be aware, if you have the same AP doing WDS and as an AP for clients it will murder your thruput.

WDS also doesnt really have the ability to change speed or deal with devices dropping off or coming back reliably, you have to put the mac address of each other on the opposite ends of the link - auto is a problematic mess, and if the signal is bad you will need to lock it to the speed that works yourself, since again, auto is just terrible.

I have at one time had 4 TPlink cheapies in the windows of buildings that could see each other making a 2 hop connection for one of them, and it worked well enough to pass an adsl connection down to an out building untill someone could be bothered putting nicer proper gear on the roof.

Richard rich.ms

lancedefrance

24 posts

Geek

#1863078 12-Sep-2017 22:05

Thanks for the input and the responses, really informative. So from the feedback I have the following conclusions to make.

1. WDS is not a reliable solution

2. WDS does not work between two different brands of routers

3. need to consider purchasing TP Link or ethernet over power line solution

This is what I did to temporarily fix the issue

I have an old spare laptop that can connect to the wireless network

I have set up ICS on the laptop and connected it to the desktop by ethernet cable

I have also connected the printer to the laptop

This allows me to see the printer from anywhere in the house (untested yet but I assume that I can turn print sharing on). It also allows me to have internet access to the desktop computer through ICS.

Only thing is that I need to keep my laptop on which is fine for a short term solution that didnt cost me anything.

Any feedback or comments welcome as I would like to know if you have better ideas that I should consider.

ANglEAUT

2294 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1863088 12-Sep-2017 22:24

Sounds like you got what you needed. Problem solved.

Here are some extra tips.

You didn't tell us you had an additional laptop available.
If the printer can connect to the laptop (presumably via USB), why not connect it directly to the desktop? Why must the printer be accessible across the network?
As the laptop issues DHCP address for ICS, you could connect the TP-Link to the laptop. Then you can connect the printer & desktop to the TP-Link. All three devices will get IP addresses assigned by the laptop.
ICS doesn't allow IP management, so no configuration of lease length or reservations (if that was required)
Remember, ICS is a one way communication. Devices upstream of the laptop, i.e. connected to the Huawei; will not be able to communicate with the desktop & printer
The power usage of your laptop over the next three months will most likely be lower than the cost of any device.
Any temporary IT solution is likely to turn into a permanent solution.

Please keep this GZ community vibrant by contributing in a constructive & respectful manner.

lancedefrance

24 posts

Geek

#1864578 13-Sep-2017 15:42

IcI:
Sounds like you got what you needed. Problem solved.

Here are some extra tips.

You didn't tell us you had an additional laptop available.
If the printer can connect to the laptop (presumably via USB), why not connect it directly to the desktop? Why must the printer be accessible across the network?
As the laptop issues DHCP address for ICS, you could connect the TP-Link to the laptop. Then you can connect the printer & desktop to the TP-Link. All three devices will get IP addresses assigned by the laptop.
ICS doesn't allow IP management, so no configuration of lease length or reservations (if that was required)
Remember, ICS is a one way communication. Devices upstream of the laptop, i.e. connected to the Huawei; will not be able to communicate with the desktop & printer
The power usage of your laptop over the next three months will most likely be lower than the cost of any device.
Any temporary IT solution is likely to turn into a permanent solution.

1. I didnt think it was applicable to my potential solution. The requirement was for the desktop and printer to be connected.

2. I thought it would be nice to have the printer available for other computers on the network as opposed trying to use drop box folder to share documents for printing

3. thats a great suggestion, so laptop would connect to wifi and have ICS over ethernet. Router would plug into the laptop (using WAN port I assume?) and have the desktop and printer connect to the TP link router correct?

4. IP management is not needed, the desktop can have a static IP if needed

5. wow didnt know that thanks for the clarification, thought I could get networking through ICS but at least the devices could see the internet. I need to rethink the printer then and maybe just have it connected to the laptop by USB and share it.

6. cool, thanks for the confirmation.

7. Lol it is a permanent solution till I find a new place to move into.

Thanks for your help really informative information.