Buffalo Forums

Products => Wireless => : josecmp March 18, 2009, 06:36:41 PM

: WZR-AGL300NH Bridging (WDS?)
: josecmp March 18, 2009, 06:36:41 PM
   

Hi, my router model says it supprts bridging, the guy from the shop told me it supported wireless bridging. Is this true? Is so how can i put it to work?

 

And by the way, is there any firmware update available?

 

thanks

 

J

: Re: WZR-AGL300NH Bridging (WDS?)
: slpip March 18, 2009, 08:08:49 PM
   

There is no firmware available yet.  If it works fine, don't bother to upgrade any firmware.

 

Yes, this router can use as an AP mode.

 

This AirStation supports quickly changing the

product from a wireless router to a conventional

access point.

Put your Airstation into Access Point Mode by

moving the switch on the bottom of your AirStation

from ROUTER to AP. This changes the default IP

address of the AirStation from 192.168.11.1 to

192.168.11.100, and DHCP, NAT, and the WAN port

are disabled.

Access Point Mode might be desirable if you’re

adding wireless capability to an existing network

with a router. It is not suitable for most home configurations. If you plan to use the

AirStation as an normal wireless router, make sure that this switch is in the normal

(ROUTER) position!

Access Point Mode

: Re: WZR-AGL300NH Bridging (WDS?)
: josecmp March 19, 2009, 05:45:40 AM
   

Thanks for the reply, but the feature i would like to use is wireless bridging or wds.What i want is to connect 1 router/ap to my cable modem and have a second access point connected to it using wireless, not a lan cable.

 

Is this feature available for my model?

 

regards

 

J

: Re: WZR-AGL300NH Bridging (WDS?)
: domsz July 28, 2009, 04:21:27 PM
   

Hello,

 

I am also trying to get my WZR-AGL300NH to act as a bridge. I have a Netgear wireless modem/router which allows wireless devices to connect wirelessly to the internet. I'd like to put my TV, which only has a wired LAN port, onto this wireless network. So my plan was to connect my TV to the WZR-AGL300NH, which in turn would connect to my Netgear router wirelessly. Is this possible?

 

Cheers,

Dom

: Re: WZR-AGL300NH Bridging (WDS?)
: PCPiranha July 28, 2009, 04:40:31 PM
None of the wireless "N" devices support WDS.  We apologize for the inconvenience.
: Re: WZR-AGL300NH Bridging (WDS?)
: FallenC July 30, 2009, 01:37:52 AM
   

a lot of people (including myself) had already fell for the same semi-false advertising; their so called bridging function on the recent models is actually their ACCESS POINT function which requires a physical connection between the unit and the existing network; in another word, it cannot be wirelessly connected to your current WDS enabled router to extend the wireless coverage.

 

it is somewhat confusing since the term bridge and access point were both used on the cover of the packaging as if they were two separate functions.

 

such topic was duscussed by quite a few previous posts and complaints were made on this forum by numerous users; in my case, I exchanged my 300N to a WHR-HP-G54 which actually supports WDS.

 

if the reason you have purchased the unit was because the sales person told you it supports WDS then you should take it back to the shop and ask for refund. good luck

Message Edited by FallenC on 07-30-2009 02:01 AM
: Re: WZR-AGL300NH Bridging (WDS?)
: Colin137 July 30, 2009, 06:42:32 PM

"Bridge" and "Access Point" are actually distinct terms referring to different capabilities.

 

Network Bridge - A device that connects two portions of a network atthe Data Link Layer (OSI Layer 2). With regard to a wireless router,"bridge mode" means the routing functions are disabled, and the deviceconnects to an existing wired network to provide wireless access.

 

AccessPoint - A device that acts as a hub in an IEEE 802.11 wireless network.Client devices such as computer wireless cards can connect to an AccessPoint, and then can connect to other network services such as hardwiredservers or the Internet.

 

 

As far as one of our routers in concerned, access point and bridge are easily confused, but still different functions.

Message Edited by Colin137 on 07-30-2009 06:43 PM
: Re: WZR-AGL300NH Bridging (WDS?)
: FallenC July 30, 2009, 10:37:16 PM
   

okay... but in order for the access point function to operate doesn't it need to be bridged with an existing network first?

 

so wouldn't the aceess point function implies the availability of the bridging function at the first place?

 

 

by the way, i am still hoping someone could help me with my VPN problem, i've already posted the screen shot as u requested two days ago but i am getting no response....thanks in advance

 

 

: Re: WZR-AGL300NH Bridging (WDS?)
: Colin137 July 30, 2009, 10:48:04 PM

I suppose you're right. Bridge mode on our units refers the the physical switch that allows you to change it from regular router mode to a bridged, access point configuration without having to do it manually through the web interface. However, the router uses the access point function in regular and bridge modes.

 

And sorry about the wait on the VPN thread, I'll reply right after this.

: Re: WZR-AGL300NH Bridging (WDS?)
: FallenC July 31, 2009, 03:22:59 AM
   

"Client devices such as computer wireless cards can connect to an Access Point, and then can connect to other network services such as hardwired servers or the Internet"

 

then again the access point function you are describing here sounds like the fundamental feature that a wireless router should have, no? :D

 

that's why i said buffalo promoted both "bridge" and "access point" as two separate features while they were in fact overlapping with each other and serve the same purpose in this very case; hence, confusion :o|

 

 

Message Edited by FallenC on 07-31-2009 03:27 AM
: Re: WZR-AGL300NH Bridging (WDS?)
: TonyCheung September 05, 2009, 10:42:46 AM
   

I totally agree with FallenC.

 

I bought this router because it is printed on the box it can be an AP or Bridge. After an hour of setup and fustration, I found out that it's not supported and eventually I found this thread talking about this.

 

I certainly will go back to the store to ask for a refund/change to another branded item which really support network bridging. Btw, the box is totally misleading. I will never buy any item from Buffalo! 

: Re: WZR-AGL300NH Bridging (WDS?)
: PCPiranha September 05, 2009, 10:55:20 AM

"Btw, the box is totally misleading"

 

How so?

: Re: WZR-AGL300NH Bridging (WDS?)
: TonyCheung September 05, 2009, 10:55:55 AM
   

Hi FallenC,

 

Take a look at another thread talking about the same issue on another model. 

http://forums.buffalotech.com/buffalo/board/message?board.id=0102&thread.id=271&view=by_date_ascending&page=1 

: Re: WZR-AGL300NH Bridging (WDS?)
: TonyCheung September 05, 2009, 10:57:45 AM
   

The box has the text "Wireless-N NFINITI(TM) Gigabit BroadBand Router, Access Point and Bridge", but it's not a bridge at all.

: Re: WZR-AGL300NH Bridging (WDS?)
: PCPiranha September 05, 2009, 11:06:17 AM

Router - A device that connects two or more portions of a network at the Network Layer (OSI Layer 3).

 

NetworkBridge - A device that connects two portions of a network at the DataLink Layer (OSI Layer 2). With regard to a wireless router, "bridgemode" means the routing functions are disabled, and the device connectsto an existing wired network to provide wireless access.

 

AccessPoint - A device that acts as a hub in an IEEE 802.11 wireless network.Client devices such as computer wireless cards can connect to an AccessPoint, and then can connect to other network services such as hardwiredservers or the Internet.

 

Wireless Distribution System(WDS)- A system that enables the wireless interconnection of AccessPoints in an IEEE 802.11 wireless network. This allows WDS-enabledAccess Points to connect together wirelessly, usually to expand therange of the wireless network.

 

As you can see, "Wireless bridging" is a very confusing term. This is why we stick to using the term "WDS".

 

Buffalorouters (and indeed most other consumer routers) are multiple devicesmelded into one. A typical Buffalo router is a Router, Access Point,Switch, and also can be configured in "bridge mode". WDS is an entirelyseparate feature, only supported on some models.

: Re: WZR-AGL300NH Bridging (WDS?)
: TonyCheung September 06, 2009, 12:00:30 AM
   

 

As you can see, "Wireless bridging" is a very confusing term. 

 

So, you agree that bridge is such a confusing term. You still think it's reasonable to advertise it on the box as a feature? I don't think so...

 

Even the store keeper told me, by using this, the network can be wireless-bridged, and this morning he's happy that I figured this out for him. He simply refund the money to me.


I don't think arguing the definition is meaningful/helpful to anybody. Complaints similar to us is everywhere on this forum, lets check it out before buying any Buffalo products.

 

: Re: WZR-AGL300NH Bridging (WDS?)
: PCPiranha September 07, 2009, 01:57:54 PM

Tony, you missed the point.  That is why we do not use the term "wireless bridging".  It is truely called "WDS".  We advertise it as a bridge because it can be used as a bridge.  It just can't bridge wirelessly.

 

For example, I have my house wired with ethernet cable.  I have AT&T uverse so I have to use their modem, which is also a wireless router.  Their wireless router doesn't have great wireless signal so I bridged my WHR-HP-G54 upstairs (put it into bridge mode and connected through the LAN ports).  Now I get wireless internet upstair where I didn't get wireless previously.

 

In this senario, I need my router to have the "bridge" function, but I do not need to have a "WDS" function.  See the difference?  I suggest you find a router that supports "WDS" or "Wireless Bridging", not just "bridging".

 

I hope this clears things up a little bit.  We can send up a feature request (or advertising request) but no matter how many people argue, the definitions do not change.

Message Edited by PCPiranha on 09-07-2009 02:24 PM
: Re: WZR-AGL300NH Bridging (WDS?)
: Helder February 09, 2010, 05:00:22 PM
   

Hi all

Bought my buffalo WZR-AGL300NH a few hours ago, tomorrow will return it...
Its not going to make 24 hours in my hands, what a waste of time.
It says clearly in box, access point and bridge. I was messing whit it for one hour trying to find the bridge (how could I find it!!! hit doesn't exists lol), then I asked Google (he knows everything) and found this wonderful topic.
Buffalo never more.

: Re: WZR-AGL300NH Bridging (WDS?)
: tcmujeeb August 31, 2010, 12:22:43 AM

WZR-G-300 N, This is one of old model from buffalo N technology  ...it was perfect in bridge mode..but unfortunatly they discontinued this product ..

 

: Re: WZR-AGL300NH Bridging (WDS?)
: davo August 31, 2010, 05:47:30 AM

 


Helder wrote:

Hi all

Bought my buffalo WZR-AGL300NH a few hours ago, tomorrow will return it...
Its not going to make 24 hours in my hands, what a waste of time.
It says clearly in box, access point and bridge. I was messing whit it for one hour trying to find the bridge (how could I find it!!! hit doesn't exists lol), then I asked Google (he knows everything) and found this wonderful topic.
Buffalo never more.


the unit you have is an access point and bridge and works well with this setup, no where does it mention anything about being a wireless bridge.