RT-N66 as ethernet bridge

[slidermike]

Hello,
I have done a search but came up empty so wanted to pose this.

I have retired my N66u as primary router.
Now the r7000 is there.
I would like to place the N66 as an Ethernet bridge in another room for the 5ghz frequency.

My issue, is that the router shows "router, repeater & AP" as the choices for modes to place the N66 in.
I am NOT plugging the N66 into the r7000 via Ethernet, NORE do I want the N66 to repeat the existing ssid's for range extension.
I am looking to make the N66 a strict wireless bridge for any device I physically connect to the N66 4 Ethernet ports.

Tomato offers this but the gui disables the ability to force the N66 into 40mhz. Only allowing 20mhz which cuts the N66 max wifi speed from 450 to 225 ish.

Am I missing something in the Asus firmware, maybe the AP mode really allows wireless bridging?

Thank you

 

[slidermike]

I am surprised no one else has attempted to use the N66 for a bridge like I am attempting.

I just want a wireless bridge minus the repeater mode but so far (other than tomato) not had much luck with Asus stock or my preferred AsusMerlin.

 

[elpibe10]

Mine is probably quite similar to what you're intending to do with your N66U.

Router : Asus RT-AC68U (located in computer room on 3rd storey)
Wireless Bridge : Asus RT-N56U on Padavan's latest 72 firmware (located in bedroom on 2nd storey to serve my HTPC, Apple TV and Smart TV)

Both connected to each other 24/7 via 5GHz Wireless-N.

On my RT-N56U, I set it as an 'AP Client Only' so that it doesn't repeat the 5GHz WiFi. 2.4GHz is completely disabled.

Working great and getting maxed out speed on my fibre broadband (i.e. around 200Mbps)

 

[slidermike]

Mine is probably quite similar to what you're intending to do with your N66U.

Router : Asus RT-AC68U (located in computer room on 3rd storey)
Wireless Bridge : Asus RT-N56U on Padavan's latest 72 firmware (located in bedroom on 2nd storey to serve my HTPC, Apple TV and Smart TV)

Both connected to each other 24/7 via 5GHz Wireless-N.

On my RT-N56U, I set it as an 'AP Client Only' so that it doesn't repeat the 5GHz WiFi. 2.4GHz is completely disabled.

Sounds like what I am looking for with mine.
Yours is in the "Access Point" mode?
When I chose that tick circle for mine, the description indicated that the n66 would become an access point and had to be physically cabled to the primary router while accepting wireless clients. That is not Ethernet bridging.

Main internet router is netgear r7000 (running Kong dd-wrt).
In another room (no wired connection to the internet router) is the n66. It should 5ghz wirelessly bridge the cabled device on its lan port to the internet router network.

Currently it is running Shibby Tomato in Ethernet bridge mode (I just lose control of setting 20/40/80 channel bonding) when set to this mode. It seems to default to 20mhz which cuts the n66 max 5ghz connection rate from 450Mbps to roughly 215Mbps.
The 5ghz frequency in my area is clean; only my devices (roku, LG TV's, pc's & r7000 are using it) so channel bonding in the 5ghz frequency isn't an issue.
Right now I have the r7000 set 80mhz, lower/lower.

The best connection rate either router is showing for this bridge is 216Mpbs.

 

[wouterv]

Firmware 3.0.0.4.374.979 gives you 3 choices:

Wireless router mode (Default)
In wireless router/ IP sharing mode, RT-N66U connects to the Internet via PPPoE, DHCP, PPTP, L2TP, or Static IP and shares the wireless network to LAN clients or devices.

Repeater mode
In Repeater mode, RT-N66U wirelessly connects to an existing wireless network to extend the wireless coverage.


Access Point(AP) mode
In Access Point (AP) mode, RT-N66U connects to a wireless router through an Ethernet cable to extend the wireless signal coverage to other network clients.

Is seems you need to upgrade the firmware.

 

[Pericynthion]

I think you are looking for the 'media bridge' mode (wired clients only, wireless exclusively for the uplinks). However I don't believe this exists in the N66U firmware, only the AC66U

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9415

You should be able to achieve the same thing using the WDS bridge options, and also mac filtering on the radios but there is no 'easy' button.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[elpibe10]

Sounds like what I am looking for with mine.
Yours is in the "Access Point" mode?
When I chose that tick circle for mine, the description indicated that the n66 would become an access point and had to be physically cabled to the primary router while accepting wireless clients. That is not Ethernet bridging.

Yes. I chose 'Access Point'. Not advisable to choose 'Router' otherwise it'll result in double NATing.

Ignore the description about physically cabling to the router as it is incorrect.

The wireless bridge option is actually part of the 'Wireless' options. I believe it should be in the 2nd tab labelled as 'WDS'.

Under 'AP Mode', choose 'WDS' if you don't want it to function as a repeater. Choose "Hybrid' instead if you do.

I think you are looking for the 'media bridge' mode (wired clients only, wireless exclusively for the uplinks). However I don't believe this exists in the N66U firmware, only the AC66U

Just checked my RT-N66U on Merlin 35_4 firmware (currently operating as an AP)

It does. It's called 'WDS' under 'Wireless' options.

 

[Pericynthion]

It does. It's called 'WDS' under 'Wireless' options.

I meant under the operation mode on the AC66 there is a 'media bridge' mode (as well as repeater, router and AP) that does all of the bridge configuration for you. The WDS is just the manual way of doing it



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[slidermike]

Thanks guys, I will take a closer look at the WDS section.

Over the weekend I replaced the shabby tomato (which as wireless Ethernet bridge as a mode option) with the latest Merlin firmware (using sdk6).

Again, the same options as we have discussed for "mode".
Having tried the AP mode gave me exactly what the description said & thus not media bridge/wireless Ethernet bridge (whichever term you want to use).

Put it back into "reaper" mode caused the router to want to re-advertise the ssid's or forced me to put in junk ones as it would not allow me just to bridge the existing ssid (5ghz) I wanted & to shut down the 2.4ghz frequency radio.

I will check into the WDS section you guys mentioned and see if that better suits the device.
I am surprised it isn't just another "mode" like Router/AP & repeater.