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I have my main router running Tomato. My second router is configured as an access point using a different channel as the main router, but the same SSID/WPA2 info. All the firewall stuff, plus DHCP is turned off. It is connected WIRED to the first router using one of the LAN ports and is on the same IP range. Things are working fine and clients can connect to either one, though the main one is N while the second one is G.

I was reading about Wireless Ethernet bridge mode recently. I was thinking of replacing the second router with another N router that can run Tomato. But only if bridge mode gives me something I can't do now. Is there any advantage to using bridge mode?

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The answer to your question "does it give you something your current set up doesn't?" the answer to that strictly speaking is yes. as right now you need to use a Ethernet cable in-between the two routers with Wireless bridging you could set up the two to relay over a wi-fi link and thus no need to use a cable.

However if you got it working fine now and the Ethernet cable running between the two is not causing you any hassles then you won't really see any benefit with using wireless bridge mode over what you are currently doing. As a wired connection between the two will be generaly more stable, and faster then using a wi-fi link to connect the two routers which is the only new feature it offers.

End users, (the ones connecting to either router) will connect in the same way to their respective router in either setup. this new method only changes how the two routers talk to each other, and not to the computers that are connecting to them.

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I don't think it would. From what I understand, Bridge mode often turns off access point mode. But some devices can do both simultaneously. If you want just advantage then you'd at least need that. Then the only advantage with Bridge mode is the ability to connect 2 Bridge mode devices / Wireless Bridges to each other wirelessly. If you only have one such device and no other device also in bridge mode to connect to it, then you don't really gain anything. Besides the fact that you probably don't have a problem necessitating it.

The idea of it is if you have computers far apart, and a poor connection, they can't wirelessly reach your access point, then one possible solution, though an expensive one, is a pair of Wireless Bridges. Some do one on each floor. Computers could then connect to it with a wire, or if it can do AP with that, then wirelessly to the AP aspect of it.

For the wireless bridges to connect they I think need to be compatible, and that may require the same make.

Here is a manual for the DLink DAP 1360 it has some good pictures early on.
ftp://ftp.dlink.co.uk/wireless/dap-1360/DAP-1360_B1_Manual_v2.00(WW).pdf

Note- I don't know if 3 wireless bridges can connect.. like top floor and bottom floor connect to central one. Pairs can definitely connect though, so an even number.

But the fact is that since your computers can reach your access point wirelessly, you have no advantage in a wireless bridge and if you wanted to do it you'll need 2.

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  • @Shred why not add a picture? what you are saying in your comment seems a bit confusing to me. The setup in your question is clear. The setup of router connected to your second device, the access point with a wire is clear. But when you talk of the client/computer wired to the "second device"(access point?), and you also say it(the client?) is using wireless, and the client is using wireless to get another device onto the network, it gets unclear.
    – barlop
    Commented May 8, 2011 at 23:02
  • Thanks, but I think we're talking about two different things. What you have described is called "Wireless client mode" according to the article I read, (wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/3810281/…). I want to find out whether using "Wireless Ethernet bridge mode" has any advantages over simply using another access point. You really do not need to spend a lot on the devices thanks to the 3rd party firmware DD-WRT or Tomato. My main router was $50.
    – Shred
    Commented May 8, 2011 at 23:04
  • @Shred I didn't describe wireless client mode. What I described is the situation in the pdf I link to, showing wireless bridge. or showing wireless bridge with AP. See the pics there in that PDF.
    – barlop
    Commented May 8, 2011 at 23:30
  • can't get the PDF
    – Shred
    Commented May 9, 2011 at 0:17
  • @Shred I just fixed the link
    – barlop
    Commented May 9, 2011 at 0:31

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