Extenders, Bridges, Repeaters, Conveters, Hotel Cheaters,
whatever you want to call them.
You say tomato, I say tomahto...
A WDS will let you ATTACH to a wireless network via the built in ethernet port
on your laptop (etc) which does not have a wireless NIC
or you need to increase your range because your WiFi NIC is junk.
Most devices will NOT act as a WDS.
The Apple Airport Express and Extreme
are some of the VERY FEW that can work in all FOUR modes:
- Client Mode.
- Traditional WAP/NAT/Router Mode.
- Ethernet Bridge Mode.
- WDS RElay/Remote Mode.
- VERY NICE unit !
- Ethernet to WiFi, WDS plus MUCH more !
- The *NEW* ones support the super fast "Draft" 802.11n.
- Plug in a USB (RAID) hard disk, and it becomes a network (SMB and AFP) SHARED (NAS) drive !!!
- Same as the Extreme (above) but has a Serial ATA server-grade hard disk drive,
500GB or 1TB (running vary fast at 7200 RPM)
Manufactures URL:
http://www.apple.com/.
D-Link, DWL-G820.
The NETGEAR WGR614, is has a VERY nice WiFi AP that supports WPA.
- And is real CHEAP, about 40 bucks!!
- Try REAL hard to get the current HARDWARE VERSION which is v9. (Bill has v7)
- And please use WPA and not WEP, and using a Access Control List can help too.
The Apple Express (small power brick we call just AX) can operate in four distinct modes.
Wireless Client Card Mode:
The AX acts as a client to an existing Wi-Fi 802.11b or 802.11g network. Think of this as a PowerBook with an AirPort Extreme card in it. It is just a client of the 802.11b/g network. In the idea of this as a client, think if you had two PowerBooks and were sending a file from one to the other. The destination computer just receives the data stream and writes the incoming stream/file to the hard drive. AirPort Express receives the stream/data and outputs it to the audio port. While using an AX in this mode, the ethernet port would not be active.
Traditional WAP/NAT/Router Mode:
In this mode, your dsl/cable modem is connected to the ethernet port of the AX. Traditional NAT services (sharing a single IP address supplied by your ISP) are available. In this mode wireless clients can output to AX audio.
Ethernet Bridge Mode:
Here, the AX acts as a generic bridge of the wired ethernet network to the wireless network. In this mode, all wireless security modes are supported, but it differs from the traditional WAP/NAT/Router mode in that NAT is not enabled, While in ethernet bridge mode, wireless clients can output to AX audio, and usb attached compatible printers are available to both wired and wireless clients.
WDS RElay/Remote Mode:
Using another AX, or an AEBS as the WDS main base station, the AX can be configured as a WDS remote or relay. In this mode, you can expand your network to remote areas of your home, keeping in mind that the remote/relay AX must be able to receive a good signal from the upstream relay or main base station. The ethernet port is available for use and is part of the full network. Any AX attached audio or usb printer can be access by the entire ethernet or wireless network.
