Netgear WNDAP330 Owner's Manual

Bridging and repeating with WNDAP330

This document describes the different options to setup Bridging and Repeating (WDS – Wireless
Distribution System) with two or more WNDAP330.

The Bridging and Repeating concepts described are valid for all the other Netgear products
supporting WDS with new firmware (from May 2009).

Bridging and Repeating can be used in either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz bands alternatively.

Table of Contents

Introduction – WDS .......................................................................................................... 2

Setup minimum requirements: SSID, Radio Channel, Encryption ........................... 2

Wireless Repeating .......................................................................................................... 3

Wireless Point-to-Point Bridge ....................................................................................... 6

Wireless Point to Multi-Point Bridge .............................................................................. 8

Final Notes ...................................................................................................................... 11

Introduction – WDS

A Wireless Distribution System (WDS) is a system that allows access points to be wirelessly
connected. WDS offers two modes of operation:

1- Wireless Repeating in which access points communicate only with each other and don’t

allow wireless clients or stations to access them.

2- Wireless Bridging in which the Access Points communicate with each other and with

other the wireless clients.

There are two different modes for Wireless Bridging: Point to Point and Point to Multipoint. The
distinction is simple, if the Access Point must associate directly with only one other Access Point
and Clients it uses Point to Point Bridging, if it must associate directly with more than one Access
Point and Clients it uses Point to Multi-point Bridging.

Setup minimum requirements: SSID, Radio Channel, Encryption

In order to setup any of the three available Bridging and Repeating options, the following
parameters must be set and be identical on all the APs:

- Wireless mode

- Wireless channel (except Auto)

- The Encryption level (this should be the same on each Point to Point link)

To perform the configuration access the GUI (Default URL http://192.168.0.235) and go to
Configuration – Wireless – Basic – Wireless settings.

• Change the Wireless mode to 11bg
and tick the Turn Radio On box (a
message will advise the user to
confirm if it is required to switch from
11ng to 11bg – click OK)

• Change the SSID to WDS

• Change channel to 6 (or any other

channel depending on what is suitable
in the local area – Just make sure it is
the same for all Access Points)

NOTE: Although the SSID is not relevant for

the setup of Bridging and Repeating it is
possible to configure this to be the same on all
the APs.

Wireless Repeating

This option is designed to allow extending the Wireless reach of an existing AP adding a
maximum of two hops, in order to connect two locations in the same network. This option does
not allow Wireless client association and the SSID will not be visible.

Since Repeater configurations communicate in half-duplex mode, the bandwidth decreases as
you add Repeaters to the network. Also, you can extend the range of the wireless network with
NETGEAR wireless antenna accessories.

Access Point 1

Access Point 2

Access Point 3

❶

➋

➌

•

In each Access Point, in the
Wireless Bridge Page, enable

Wireless Bridinging and
Repeating and select the option for
Repeater.

•

Note that two profiles will be enabled
used in Access Point 2. As it is in the
middle, it must connect to both
Access Point 1 and Access Point 3.

• Make note of the following:

MAC Adress of Access Point 1 =

MAC Adress of Access Point 2 =

MAC Adress of Access Point 3 =

❶

➋

➌