Networking – Wireless to Ethernet via WDS function

networkingwdswireless-networking

I have a TP-Link TL-WR740N router, and a (older) Dynalink RTA1025W router. Both advertise support for WDS, or Wireless Distribution System.

So I set up the TP-Link with the internet, security, etc.

Now what I want is for the devices connected via Ethernet to the Dynalink to be on the network.

So basically what I've done is set the Wireless Repeater function on the Dynalink's setup to the TP-Link's SSID. I need to know more about WDS etc but haven't found anything helpful.

Here's a diagram:

                |||||||||||||
  Internet ---- |  TP-Link  |
                |||||||||||||
                |
             (( + ))


   (( ^ ))             (( ^ ))
      |                   |
----------------          |||||||||||||
| wifi clients |          | Dynalink  |>> ---- (ethernet clients in other room)
----------------          |||||||||||||

EDIT: no responses so thought I'd give some additional info that may help – the Dynalink's setup screen for the repeater function offers "Repeater Only" or "Repeater and Access point mode", and lets you tick a box for the wifi signal to repeat. The TP-Link's setup screen offers "WDS Bridging" and let's you choose an AP to bridge, and asks you to type the password (something the Dyanlink one never does). Hopefully somebody can help. I did have this working with the TP-Link bridging the Dynalink, but that's not the way round I want it. Also that connection was erratic when it worked.

Edit 3 wks later to bump – still after a way

Best Answer

Are you sure WDS is really what you need? Based on your diagram, it looks like the Dynalink should act as a client bridge, not a WDS bridge. You may have better success with this method. The stock firmware on the Dynalink may not support client bridge mode, so consider a third-party firmware like DD-WRT or OpenWRT.

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