pluto

I have setup 4 WAP11's and a BEFSR41. Linksys sales reviewed my proposal prior to purchasing the equipment and recommended the setup. Now it will not work and their technical support team can not understand why. I was wondering if anyone has been successful setting up something similar and if so how?

Node 1 has the BEFSR41 DSL router on it and the WAP11 is configured for bridging using the MAC address to node 2.

Node 2 WAP11 is setup for multi-point bridging (no MAC address required) and is per say, the mid-point in the system.

Node 3 WAP11 is setup for bridging with the MAC address of node 2.

Node 4 WAP11 is setup for bridging with the MAC address of node 2.

Node 3 and 4 are supposed to communicate with node 2 and node 2 is supposed to forward the communications to node 1.

Heres what I get.

Node 3 and 4 can ping node 2. Node 2 can ping node 1. Node 3 and 4 can get an ip address from the router at node 1 which comes through node 2. Node 3 and 4 can not ping node 1 nor access the internet. Finally, whenever I plug the node 1 WAP11 into the network it kills the internet access in the BEFSR41 router but the router will continue to serve IP addresses.

Linksys technical support set it up in the lab and experienced the same problem with the router dieing. The said turn off the DHCP server in the router and use static address and it would work.

It does not.

All systems are setup with diversity turned off. Node 1, 3, and 4 are using directional antennas and Node 2 is using an Omni-directional antenna.

All WAP11's are ver 2.6 using 1.07 firmware

New Info........There is a wireless setup in the local school system that is about 500 yards from my omni-directional which is node 2 and also omni-directional. Is it possible that the 120' school system omni-directional installed by www.trillium.com is over-powering me at node 2

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Madhadder

Linksys WAP = Crap

Try Cisco Aironet 350 series..Much better & more secure.

pluto

Any suggestions that are not as pricey. I need something close to the same price range as the Linksys if possible.

Thorn

You need to set Node 2 as a repeater.

You might also wish to consult with someone locally who designs such systems, to ensure that it really will work they way you want. Linksys tech support is notorious for not knowing what their equipment will do (or won't do for that matter.)

Madhadder is correct. If you want to do it right, buy the high-end equipment. It costs more for a reason.

__________________
Thorn
"Read Altas Shrugged. Compare it to today. Repeat as necessary"

pluto

You know what they say, hind sight is 20-20 and while the Cisco solution is probably the best it is not economically feasible for this implementation.

BTW, I am the local expert even if I am as far out there as Pluto.

agentgrn

Thorn pretty much nailed it...Node2 needs to be a repeater, which is not really that good on performance.

I would setup node 2 to use 2 APs. One in multipoint bridge mode with an omni, and another in point-to-point mode with a uni, both connected with a crossover cable.

For channels, use two different ones, so if the school is using channel 6, then use channel 11 for your omni, and 1 for your point-to-point.

Of course, you'd need yet another WAP11 for this...but they're cheap enough.

__________________
-A.G.-

pluto

Thats kinda what I proposed to Linksys support but I, and for sure not them, were not sure. Since node 2 is the "relay point" and I maybe able to point node 1 and 4 at a neode 2 directional then I thought that I could add another WAP11 and antenna pointed at node 3. My question then would be since I have 2 WAPP11's at node 2 would they both be connected to the same hub and set for bridging using the same channel or would the set for node 3 and 2 be using a different channel and bridging. Would the set communicating to node 1 be set to bridging or multipoint bridging.

At this point in time I think it would be easier to stumble than to crawl.

agentgrn

For the two APs at Node 2, they should do their bridging on different channels...so whatever channels the school doesn't use near your location will suffice. In the example below, I assume the school uses Channel 6.

So, Node 1 should communicate with Node 2a, in Point-to-Point bridging mode, with <SSID-PTP>. Channel 1.

Node 2a should connect to Node 2b with a crossover cable...eliminating the need for a hub, reducing points of failure.

Node 2b then works in multipoint bridging mode with Node 3 and Node 4, using <SSID>. Channel 11.

N1 <--PTP--> N2A --eth-- N2B <--MPB--> N3 & N4

(MPB is multipoint bridging)

__________________
-A.G.-

Thorn

Not knowing what node is where, you'll have to take this diagram with a bit of salt, but this is something along the lines of what you want to do. Use a cross-over cable or a hub to connect the two WAP11s.

You may also want to use a WET11 instead of one of the WAP11s at Node 2.

Attached Images

repeater.jpg (9.4 KB, 87 views)

__________________
Thorn
"Read Altas Shrugged. Compare it to today. Repeat as necessary"

pluto

Thanks for the info but there is one additional req. Node 2 connects to node 1 through the node 2a ap. If I eliminate the hub and use a crossover I am also eliminating the connection for that building to the AP bridge. Hence no DSL access for Node 2.

pluto

The diagram is correct except for the info in my last post. Node 2 needs to connect to node 1 through the bridged segment.

Thorn

???

You lost me.

If you're connecting 1 to 2 via cable, why are you trying to repeat 2 to 1?

__________________
Thorn
"Read Altas Shrugged. Compare it to today. Repeat as necessary"

pluto

4 buildings.

Node 1 has the the server and dsl

Node 2, 3, and 4 need to access node 1.

Node 3 and 4 have line of sight to node 2

Node 2 has line of sight to node 1

Madhadder

EBAY