How to centralize routers? Buffalo (WZR2-G300N)

[digital_pimpette]

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I have 4 Buffalo WZR2-G300N wireless routers. If I connect them all in a switch and search for a wireless network in range, 4 SSID's will appear... My problem is that i want to centralized or merged the 4 routers into 1 SSID... Could somebody help me on this please? Is this possible? My ISP is PLDT... Thanks in advance...

[acronis]

you have 4 internet lines from PLDT? or isa lang?

[digital_pimpette]

you have 4 internet lines from PLDT? or isa lang?

isa lang...

[stealthghost]

Wireless Network - Hardware Configuration Modes <-- try this.. might help..

or start searching for Wireless Bridging on Google..

[istoryanimo]

Wireless Network - Hardware Configuration Modes.

Entry Level Wireless Cable/DSL Routers cost the same or, less than Entry Level Access Points. Seemingly it is a better deal since you get for the price an additional Router and a 4 ports Switch.

The draw back is the settings. Almost all Wireless Cable/DSL Routers are set "fix" in Gateway Mode, while Access Point can be configured in few ways.

This means that if you need a flexible system with room for expansion you are better off with a good Access Point.

Access Point (AP) Configurations:

Mode 1 - Gateway. This is the most prevalent mode of all Entry Level Cable/DSL Routers, and Access Points. In this mode the hardware acts as a Wireless Hub connecting to Wireless Clients that are installed on network computers (Wireless PCMCIA, Wireless USB, Wireless PCI, etc.).

Mode 2 - Bridge. Most APs can also be configured as a Bridge. In such Configuration the AP can only communicate with another AP that is configured as a Bridge. This mode is useful to Bridge two LAN segments that are apart, and it is preferred to connect them wirelessly. Plug one AP Bridge to a Switch on the first LAN, the other AP to a Switch on the second LAN, and they are connected.

Mode 3 - Client. Few APs can also be configured as Clients. In such a configuration they act as a "Fancy" regular Wireless card that usually goes on a computer. Under such configuration The AP can only communicate with Wireless Cable/DSL Router or an AP configured as a Gateway.

Mode 4 - Repeater. Few Entry Level APs (D-Link 900AP+, Linksys WAP11) can work as a Repeaters. It acts like a client to receive a signal a Wireless source (regular Wireless Router, or AP), and then switches to AP mode to broadcasts to regular clients. Such a configuration can be used to extend the range of a Wireless LAN.

When Access Point is used in Client Mode, or configured as a Repeater it is advisable to use hardware of the same Brand.

While normal 802.11b or 802.11g are highly compatible between brands, all the special modes hardware like 802.11b+, 802.11gSuper etc. are only compatible with the same brand Hardware, or similar Hardware that uses same the version of the chipset.

Since basic Repeaters have only one Radio it alternates between Client and AP mode, thus reduces the "Speed" of the extended segment by 50%.

Mode 5 - Independent Bridges. These are units that are actually Wireless clients Independent of Drivers (Driverless Wireless Client Cards). As a result they can be connected to a device that supports Wireless but it is not a regular computer. They can turn Ethernet equipped like Printers and Game Boxes into Wireless compatible devices. (Linksys WET11, D-Link DWL-810). Plug one of these into a Switch and you can connect few computers with wires to the switch while these computers are Bridged Wirelessly to the main Network.

The word Bridge, as used for marketing purposes by the manufactures to describe this hardware is somewhat misleading.

These “Gizmos” are Drivers Independent Client Modules.

Let capture.

Mode 1 can only communicate with Mode 3.

Mode 2 can only communicate with Mode 2.

Mode 3 can communicate with Mode 1.

Mode 4 can communicate with Mode 1, and Mode 3.

Mode 5 can communicate with Mode 1 (and Mode 2 if it can be configured as a real bridge).

As far as I know, the Wireless part of almost all the Wireless Cable/DSL Routers is hard set as Gateway, and can not be configured as Bridges. I.e. one Wireless Cable/DSL Router will not talk Wirelessly to another Wireless Cable/DSL Router.

Recently some of the New releases come with more flexible Wireless Routers (namely Buffalo Tech. and Belkin, and few others).

This type of Wireless Hardware is referred to as WDS.

WDS stands for Wireless Distribution System

Basically it means that the hardware can be configured to Modes 1, 2, 3, and 4 as described above.

If you need any of the additional Modes check carefully the Data Sheet of the product, and make sure that it is describe as WDS capable.

Example: from http://www.buffalotech.com/files/pro..._DS_101905.pdf
802.11g Wireless 125* High- Speed Mode Transfer Rates When Used with 125* High- Speed Mode Adapter
Simple Web Browser Configuration
Supports WDS To Increase Coverage With Optional Repeater
External Switch To Instantly Change Between Wireless Router and Wireless Access Point

Thanks SHost

[dagski]

set 1 ssid for all ap's, that'll do the trick. afaik, wifi clients will connect to the ap with the best signal in its vicinity.

[stealthghost]

btw, @TS, do you really have a lot of deadspot in your house?
if wala gani, better sell nalang those.
but for experience, nindut na siya suwayan (I wanna try)

[boyguapo]

ang usa lang ang imong e connect sa net bro, pero ang tulo kay gateway mode lang na sya.

[digital_pimpette]

thanks to all who replied... i already have an idea... i'll try it...