A wireless bridge allows for two locations to be connected as one integrated network. The two segments of LAN should be in the same subnet for their connection with a wireless bridge. The basic working of a wireless bridge involves the conversion of a data packet into a radio pulse for transmission. The other end of the network sends an acknowledgment to the transmitting radio, on receiving the radio pulse. Then the pulse is translated back into a wired ethernet packet and sent to the proper recipient. In the wireless bridge mode, all the devices which are connected to either access point, are contained within one unified subnet.
How to bridge two wired networks via wireless: WDS AP Bridge:
Connecting two Networks Wireless is called Wireless Bridging. The term Bridging is a rather precise term in professional Wireless Networking. Unfortunately in order to “lure the mass” the Marketers of Entry Level Wireless Hardware do not adhere to terminology. As a result it is important to understand the simple principles of Bridging rather then to adhere to words that might be misleading.
In the classic definition of a wireless bridge, the true definition, the neither of the two networks have wirless computers, each of the two networks are wired, and the only wireless connection is the connection, or bridge, between the two networks.
This requires two access points that are capable to work in Bridge Mode (Almost all Stand Alone Access Point can do it). Plug One Access Point to an available Regular port on a Switch (or the switch part of a Router) in the Source part, plug the second Access Point into a simple Switch at the Destination, and Configure the Access Points as Bridges (read the instruction manual).
For the bridging of two buildings, an outdoor bridging solution is used and directional antenna should be implemented. Putting two directional Antenna facing one the other (using facing Windows, or rooftop) in an environment with direct line of sight (no obstructions) will provide for the best and most reliable connection.
WDS Link: Wireless Distribution System. Allows access points to link together and provide repeating.
WDS can be used to provide two modes of wireless AP-to-AP connectivity:
- Wireless Bridging in which WDS APs communicate only with each other and don't allow wireless clients or Stations (STA) to access them.
- Wireless Repeating in which APs communicate with each other and with wireless STAs
Two disadvantages to using WDS are:
- Wireless throughput is cut approximately in half for each WDS repeating "hop", i.e. an AP that data flows through before hitting the wired network. This is because all transmissions use the same channel and radio and must be retransmitted to reach the wired LAN.
- Dynamically assigned and rotated encryption keys are not supported in a WDS connection. This means that Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and other dynamic key assignment technology may not be used. Static WEP keys only may be used in a WDS connection, including any STAs that associate to a WDS repeating AP.